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The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.

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Case 2: Dance of Shadows (END)

"This is truly a hassle, Ryouga! You are truly turning out in a migraine-inducer.."

I sighed as Marude massaged his temples.

Kuroiwa had decided to report the following day, praising the fact the cause of the murderers had been eliminated permanently.

The senior investigator's office was quite humble compared to the one I had previously visited. No bookshelves, some picture frames set on the walls showing other investigators and few of those actually having a younger Kuroiwa close to the man.

The desk was a sturdy, grey one and it was easy to understand the choice was one to deal with the owner's... frequent outbursts.

"But seriously, Aogiri hovering on the 20th? This just throws everything we hoped under a bus!"

"It isn't that bad, Marude. Kaizo-san managed to remove the menace from the ward-" "I know and appreciate that,kid." He nodded my direction with a sigh. "I swear I do, but the mere idea that they are branching onto the 20th? This is going to make some higher-ups flip their tables."

"If I may, Marude-san." The man gestured me to continue. "I hardly think this was a planned attack. From their skills I think they weren't even official members."

"Aogiri wannabes? Interesting and weird but... it might be possible. It would be the first time we have to deal with some delusional scum that was rejected by the terrorists for a reason or another."

Then the man blinked, remembering something he had forgotten to detail.

"Also, good work with the whole push for Yukimaru. I think the docs have explained you that we are getting some good results from the experimentations and.. I heard you wanted to optimize Douhi too?" I merely nodded and the man whistled.

"Turning that gun in something even more deadly? That sounds interesting.. I will see if I can get something out but-" He held a finger up as to hold my surprise and glee. "I cannot promise you anything quick. Maybe in few months."

I nodded slowly, letting my satisfaction at this development not appear in the visage.

"Also Tsuneyoshi-dono has requested your presence today. Something about an idea of his and... he is old."

That was... quite the curious way to downplay the director's intriguing ideas.

I gave one nod to Marude and Kuroiwa, the mentor patting my arm before focusing to chat with his old friend.

The way to reach the elder's office was short from the brash investigator and soon I was knocking once more at that unfamiliar door.

"Enter."

I opened the door and walked inside, seeing quite the sight in front of me.

A tatami had been place in the mid of the room, the desk moved farther to give space to it and.. the director was there.

Blank and emotionless eyes acknowledged my presence and I bowed slightly only to stop as I noticed the man was holding a practice shinhai, made of light-colored wood.

"T-Tsuneyoshi-dono?"

The old director blinked. "Ryouga-kun, how good are you with Kendo?"

I grimaced as I could see where this was going to end and I obviously stated.. a little issue.

"Sir, with all due respect, I am not a Kendo practicio-" A shinai was thrown in my direction and I had barely enough time to grasp it mid-air and direct it to intercept the thrust from the elder.

The two swords came in contact, the attacking one deviated to merely graze my cheek and forcing me to roll towards the tatami.

My free hand touched the now wet cheek and I blinked as I found blood on my fingertips.

"Show me what you can do for the CCG, Ryouga-kun." I narrowed my eyes as Tsuneyoshi rushed towards me, his stance easy to recognise and I fell onto mine, a version created out of personal training and barely few teaching from the swordsmanship art.

Initially my body gracefully dodged the precise strikes but my own attacks barely reached the old man, his defence way tighter than I had expected.

I noticed that something was wrong when I felt the cloth of my jacket tear at a punitive thrust, eyes wide open as I started to panic and lose focus on my stance.

"An impressive attempt, Ryouga-kun, but using only your reflexes as a defence is pathetic. You are facing an experienced fighter and you decided to use such a simple stance?" The man sighed as his wood shinai slashed once more, this time on my knee. "Maybe you thought age would matter there? Foolish and rash, what a disgusting mix of failing traits."

I gritted my teeth and decided that I needed to change tactics against someone this monster of a swordsman.

My body flexed to fit a more balanced form, focusing on reacting on the incoming attacks but having barely enough time for my reflexes to react to the continous, quick strikes.

I yelped once more as this last hit landed right on my thigh and forced me back on a knee.

"You are missing the point, Ryouga. Don't be this disappointing!"

With a grunt I got up and readied my own shinai, trying to ignore the growing pain and thinking how to avoid getting beaten too much.

It was then that I had a curious idea, one that would possibly leave me quite bruised if it failed.

My hold over the shinai softened, my eyelids half-closed as the man frowned before returning to attack and... I moved.

I could feel the cold fury of his strikes barely approaching me, failing to truly met my body as I calmly started to dodge every single strikes from Tsuneyoshi.

This lasted for a full minute before I truly focused on my first stance.

It was surprise that appeared on the director's face as I started to once more avoid his thrusts and slashes and returned to poke at his own defence.

That moment of quietness had given me an idea of the man's fighting style, of his timing and precision.

Now I could truly step around the elder's merciless offensive capabilities!

Sadly my happiness evaporated the moment I felt the shinai flying out of my hands and wood slapping on my wounded cheek, forcing me to fall on the floor.

"An impressive display of quick-thinking it was, you are still far from truly being able to hit me, Kaizo-kun."

I blinked at the different style of addressing, my legs wobbling as I tried to get up from the floor-

I turned to the front door and I saw a familiar, white-haired investigator was standing there, looking at the scene with... surprise?

There was some emotion attached to his wide-eyed face but... I couldn't truly say if this was surprise or a mere reaction to the weird situation.

"Arima. I suppose you and your team have finished your tasks."

The White Reaper nodded as I stared alternately to him and the director.

"Good. You can report later as I finish discussing with Kaizo-kun." The elder nodded to him, his voice changing to an ominous tone. "We will talk thoroughly. Of that I can assure you."

Arima nodded and merely spared a glance my direction before closing the door.

For some reason that mere dull interaction felt... bitter to me.

"Excellent capacity to adapt and an evolving fighting stance." The man nodded, then he seemed to notice the dreadful state of my clothes. "I will see to have you compensated for the damage to your clothes. Can't have a dutiful investigator lacking a proper uniform."

I merely blinked but let a nod out of my innerly confused state.

This is truly a weird day.

Making sure that Ayato was punished for his rash attitude? Tatara was going to enjoy punishing the foolish youth for having lost Aogiri the recruits under his care.

He will have to work harder if he wished to recover his previous position as he had been forced to become once more a grunt under the Bin Brothers.

Dealing with Jason's thirst of revenge for the seemingly missing Binge-Eater? his mind was already developing a migraine at the mere idea he had to reign in the aimless Ghoul and his own group.

Finally the annoying paperwork- "Tata-chan!~"

The tall Ghoul swore silently as the greatest pest of them all approached him in his dark corner. "What do you need, Eto-san?"

The petite, mummy-like girl giggled as her ears picked his annoyance through his blank tone. "Did I got you in a busy moment? If you wish I can poke at you later... but also no, I want to mess with you.~"

"What do you need?" He repeated, this time his voice stressing the fact he had no time to deal with the Owl's cheerful mask.

"No need to be rude, Tata-chan." She pouted at him before scoffing. "It isn't like you didn't annoy me with what had happened with Ayato-kun."

Tatara paused for a moment, frowning at the curious words. "You were fine with the punishment."

"I was and still am." She sighed with a bored note on her lips. "But you failed to see a crucial part of him. When he had returned."

"He returned alone and with his Kagune damaged-" "Burned. His Kagune was damaged by fire."

..."What?"

"You see, I have to thank Kishou for his continous spying as he brought up quite the interesting news for us, you in particular. Do you remember the little boy you left alive?"

Red eyes blinked in remembrance. "He shouldn't have been strong enough to-" "Oh, he is! You should have also heard about the whole CCG being interested in this... Ryouga Kaizo! Yes, that is his name."

"Why would they be interested in him?" The chinese Ghoul asked calmly, yet his mind was confused by this development.

The foolish human attacking him head-on... important? That sounded utterly false.

"Technically isn't truly the CCG... nor V, if I have to be honest with you." She swirled around before clapping her hands together. "Oni Tsune is interested in the boy and Kishou said something about... favouring him."

"The director? Why would he go after the boy?" The girl paused in her act that very moment and Tatara realised he had let some curiousity out in his voice.

"You are interested!" She threw her hand over her head. "Yatta! I got Tata-chan's attention!~"

The tall Ghoul groaned inwardly at this but he was thankful Eto continued. "Anyway, Kishou thinks the old timer is possibly having some nostalgic remembrance and he is spoiling the brat in a very indirect way... but he also seems to be grooming him."

Another Oni Tsune? That would be quite dreadful to deal with, Tatara thought with a grim frown.

"But there is more!" The girl exclaimed loudly and annoyingly. "It seems that Tsune-jiji is distrusting Kishou and... he seems eager to poke fun at him. Think that he now wants to stop one of his siblings to join his little squad."

She coughed in her bandaged hand before trying to imitate an old man's voice. "'She needs some experience before joining the team and it will give her the chance to gain some legitimacy' or something along those lines."

"V suspects our infiltration?" At the question Eto finally dropped her act with a groan.

"Possibly. I think they might as well be planning to train an Anti-Arima that will work for them but... Kishou said they were barely interested in Ryo-chan."

"Then we will wait for them to act... there is no need to remove the boy if he is unaware of this situation and his role is still unknown to us.

"Indeed but.." The girl hummed quietly, a creepy and devious smile settling behind her bandages. "Maybe I have an idea... that will help my books too!"

Tatara groaned as the Owl returned back to her cheerful attitude.

What an annoying woman.

AN

I wonder how the Canon!Tsuneyoshi would react to someone that preferred sword-like Quinques. Maybe poke around to know a little more or maybe just ignore him altogether like he does in canon.

Review Q&A!

Guest (chapter 9): I think you meant 'I like doo doo'. :)