The Eyeless Devil (HiatusRewrite)

by angelum-tenebrarum

Born to unique circumstances, rescued from the streets as a child, and raised by the investigator who found him. He wants to find a place to belong in this world but he can't decide where. With the humans? With the ghouls? Does a monster like him even belong in this world? He doesn't even know what he is.

10. A Demon's Fate

"Damn it." Touka sighed. "I totally missed the mark."

"After all that study, too," Marcus commented, his unimpeded hand tucked into his pocket in a casual manner as he walked. "You're so gonna fail Classic lit.."

"Tell me about it. Hey, are we closed today?" She pointed to the sign on Anteiku's front door. The shop closing off schedule is a rarity.

She walking to work from school and stumbled across Marcus on the way, so they were walking together. At least Yoriko hadn't been there, she would make fun of Touka till they grew old. The Kakuja had on plain dark clothes. Jeans, shirts and a simple dark jacket. The purple head had on her school uniform.

"Maybe they got roaches." He asked teasingly.

She shivered. "Hope not. We found one in one of our coffee jars once. Had to dump it all out to be sure. We were closed for over a week to restock and wages were cut to offset the cost. It sucked."

"Sure sounds like it. Fingers crossed." He stepped forward, opened the door, and held it for her. "Ladies first."

She sent him a playful glare, not happy with his respectful gesture but more than used to it by this point. He just grinned his annoyingly cute, smug grin. Subsiding she stepped into the shop, greeting. "Afternoon."

Yoshimura stood behind the counter, waiting for the two of them. He didn't want to tell them what had happened, especially Touka. She was particularly close to them.

"So you are here. The sign's on the wrong side." Touka said. Marcus stepped in behind her closing the door. "Anyway, you won't believe how badly I missed the mark on my exams."

"Touka." Yoshimura interrupted gently but gravely. "Will you come upstairs with me? You too, Marcus."

"Sure…" She replied.

'Marcus.' Xeno warned quietly. If he was corporeal his muscles would be tensing.

"I know." The Kakuja whispered to himself. "Something's wrong"

They were lead upstairs to the meeting room. There the entire Anteiku team were waiting. Irimi and Koma were sitting side by side on the couch opposite to the door. She was wearing a dark dress and jacket with a white scarf. He had black slacks with a white dress shirt, a bow tie, and suspenders. Yomo was wearing his usual dark long coat and was leaning against the adjacent wall his arms crossed. Kaneki was sitting on the couch in front of the door facing away. He was wearing his jeans and a blue jacket; his eyepatch sat on the coffee table which sat several still full coffee cups. All eyes were on the newcomers, sans the half-breed's, he was looking down in shame.

"Yomo, too," Touka noted quietly. She didn't like where this was going. She asked. "What happened?"

Yoshimura l et out an almost tired sigh. "Mrs. Fueguchi was killed by ghoul investigators. She was trying to protect Hinami."

The purple haired girl paused in shock then ground her teeth together in raw rage and slammed the side of her fist against the wall. She waited to calm down before asking. "What about Hinami?"

"She sleeping in the back." The old ghoul answered.

The high school girl let out a breath of relief before asking a more important question. "Did they see her face?"

"Unfortunately, it couldn't be helped." He replied gravely.

"Aw, man." She fell to her haunches and bowed her head in dismay. "How could this happen?

Marcus watched her worriedly for a second before turning to the manager with a cold and serious expression. "What are we going to do, sir?"

"We'll be keeping Hinami here at Anteiku for a while." The old man replied sadly. "And when the time is right, I'm thinking about relocating her to the twenty-fourth ward."

With that, Touka shot up and stared at Yoshimura like he was an idiot. "You're kidding, right?! She can't survive on her in that hell hole!"

The Brit agreed, "She's right. Take it from me who lived down there for a couple years. She'll be dead in a month. We need to come up with something else."

"Or maybe," the teenage girl interjected mockingly. "We need to get off our collective asses and go kill the doves! Every last one of them before they find out where Hinami is. We've got Yomo here, and Marcus survived the twenty-fourth and fourth wards, too. He has to be somewhat of a certified badass. If we all work together."

Yomo cut in harshly. "No. If a dove dies in the twentieth ward. They'll consider the area to have hostile ghouls. If that happens, the nest will keep sending more and more new doves until they hunt us all down. You have to understand, Touka. They're willing to march out an entire ward office when necessary."

"But…" She attempted to argue.

"Touka." The Manager said quietly, trying to calm her down. "Yomo is right. We can't lay a hand on them. It's the best choice for everyone's safety."

"Best?" She snarled. "One of our own was killed and we're sitting with our heads up our asses! That's your idea of what's best? Hinami lost her father and mother to the doves. It'll be tragic if we don't retaliate!"

"It's not tragic that we can't retaliate." The oldest ghoul present countered. "What's truly tragic is, being consumed with vengeance and not being able to live your life."

Grinding her teeth she stepped forward with her fists clenched, ready to start swinging. "What're you trying to say?"

Yoshimura didn't give any form of verbal response, just sent her a withering glare, commanding her to drop it. She widened her eyes, stunned and took a step back. She looked towards Marcus to have her back, but he was telling her to drop it also. Outrage bubbled up inside threatening to boil over but she noticed that he wasn't telling her to shut up out of spite but out of worry. She saw that silent plea in his eyes. He was saying that this fight was not worth it. She was still angry and she wanted to release in blissful violence but now wasn't the time. She turned and stormed out of the room. She didn't like backing down but she didn't really have a choice. The manager sighed sadly. Kaneki looked up for the first time in this conversation, with an expression of worry.

Yoshimura smiled softly. "Don't worry about it. She's also dealing with a lot of things. Koma and Irimi, Yomo will send out some images he had taken. I want to remind you not to lay a hand on them and please tell our customers to stay alert."

"Okay." They said.

"Can I get a look, too?" Marcus asked. "I might be able to get names to go with them and know when they move."

Yomo nodded and drew out his phone, pulling up the pictures. He held it out for the foreign-born ghoul, who took a step closer for a better look.

Marcus let out an involuntary snarl as Xeno got very, very pissed off at the sight of Kureo and Amon. "That bastard."

Kaneki looked at him shocked. "You know them?"

"The tall guy, Amon. Don't know him personally." The Kakuja corrected barely keeping his voice from becoming a full on growl. "But the other guy. His name is Kureo Mado and he is a son of a bitch that's fully deserving of the name."

Irimi blinked. "Mado? As in your mom?"

The Brit nodded. "He's her father and he has something of a vendetta against me. Thinks I'm the closest thing to Satan spawn and I'm seducing his daughter."

"That's weird." The half-breed commented.

"The power of racial prejudice," Yomo added on.

The adopted ghoul crossed arms and sighed. "That's what makes him dangerous. He has a hate for ghouls, unlike anything I've seen. He's KKK level, easily. As an investigator, his methods are near infallible and he knows his way around a Quinque. Hell, he designs them. But that's not the only thing."

"What is it?" Yoshimura asked.

"He torments ghouls, tortures them. Physically and psychologically. His hatred for us bleeds out every time he fights. Trust me when I say every ghoul in the ward needs to stop hunting activities and live off the packages for a while. At least, until we can get him out."

The manager nodded. "I'll let everyone know. Alright, get to work. Let's make sure everyone's safe."

Marcus turned to leave but was stopped when the old man asked. "What do you plan to do?"

"Talk with Touka. Make sure she doesn't do something stupid." The green eyed ghoul answered and left.

Everyone followed suit sans Kaneki. He sat there, feeling sorry for himself. He always felt he was pretty weak. He had very little muscle or combat skill to his name. He never really had any issue with it but today, he felt pathetic. His weakness had gotten someone killed. Someone really, really important. If he hasn't been so weak, Ryouko wouldn't be dead and Hinami wouldn't be an orphan. He should've known better. He wouldn't lay long in the ghoul world without learning how to fight. He should've had Marcus or Touka teach him how. If he had learned, he could've saved her. He failed her. He failed her daughter. Touka. Anteiku. Everyone. He simply just failed.

"It's nobody's fault." Kaneki looked up to see that Yoshimura was the spoke, standing over the half-breed's shoulders. "Even we ghouls are hesitant to confront investigators. One saving grace is that Hinami is safe, just as Mrs. Fueguchi wished. If only I had noticed your call. I'm sorry."

The half-breed just sighed sadly, "If it was Touka and not me that showed up. Maybe Mrs. Fueguchi would still be alive."

Touka was outside of Anteiku, in the alley that was behind it. She sat against the wall, her legs curled up to her chest, arms around them. She had her face hidden by her arms, hiding her tears. The coffee shop rear entrance located in the kitchen opened and Marcus stepped out. He noticed where she was sitting and promptly sat down next to her. He pulled off his fake cast and set it down. He flexed his arm, which was sore from being in the fake cast.

"How is it that a fake cast is more irritating than a real one?" Marcus asked jokingly. When she didn't answer, he sighed. "Sorry for not having your back. We weren't gonna win that one. No matter how much we dug in."

"I know that!" She snapped as she lifted her head to send a spiteful glare at him. It couldn't hold and the expression faded from her face, her head slumped back down to her arms. "It's just… I don't know what to do. I can't decide if I'm pissed off or depressed."

The Brit nodded. "Sounds like grief."

"Well, it sucks ass." She quipped, harshly.

"That it does."

Another pregnant silence filled the alley before Touka mumbled. "You're gonna tell me not to go after them, aren't you?"

"Yes. Please. don't do it." He pleaded. "You're angry. So am I. Vengeance won't fix anything. Even if you're able to kill all of them, the wrath you'll be bringing down on all of us. Will kill us. Will kill Hinami."

Her shoulders stiffened at that. Feeling satisfied that his message was getting through, he continued. "Think of Hinami and think of Ryouko. You would just be undoing what she did. Promise me that you won't go after them."

She didn't answer.

"Promise me, Touka." The Kakuja repeated, more sternly.

"Fine. I promise." She relented sourly.

"Thank you." Marcus smiled warmly and rubbed one of her shoulders, comfortingly. "I'll be inside. Come in when you want to talk."

Touka nodded and Marcus patted her shoulder once and left, putting his cast back on. She just sat there, thinking. She wanted vengeance and wanted it badly. It was a gut reaction that made her want to stop thinking and just act on it. Though she knew that do long such a thing was stupid and reckless. Like Marcus and everyone else was saying, it would only get a bunch of people killed. At the same time, though, any chance that Hinami had at a regular life was gone thanks to those investigator bastards. The school girl wanted to fix that for her, to make things better. That didn't matter if she was putting the young ghoul in the way of danger. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"What should I do?" She whispered to herself.

Her phoned pinged and she pulled out her phone. Yomo had sent the images of the investigators with Yoshimura's orders on laying low for a while. As she glared at the images of Ryouko's murderers, it came to her as what she should do.

"Sorry, Marcus. But I have to do this."

'I'll avenge Ryouko for you, Hinami.'

---

"Number seven twenty-three's daughter," Kureo said to the other three investigators. "No eyewitness reports of number seven hundred and forty-five yet."

"Without any leads, I think the smart move is to follow up on our other suspects simultaneously with our search for number seven four five," Amon suggested.

The elder Mado nodded turning to the twentieth ward investigators. "I agree. Let's go with Amon's plan. She's a midge after all. She can't go too far. I am surprised we were able to exterminate one so quickly. We're grateful for your assistance. I think headquarters will reward you two with a special bonus."

"Bonus…" The wiry guy muttered, happily. His partner, Nakajima, just looked pensive.

"Let's bask in the glory of this small victory for a little while." Kureo offered.

They finished their meeting in the branch office and went their separate ways. Amon made a quick stop to drop off his Quinque in storage before walking out the door of the twentieth ward office. Midway to his car, he thought about eating dinner before heading home. That's not particularly difficult as an investigator. The fast food industry knows where the money is at. The blocks surrounding all the ward offices are full of fast food restaurants, ramen shops, and various other food service shops. It's advantageous for investigators because it's easy to pick up lunch or dinner without getting too far from their jobs. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. In the darkness of the night, the dark headed investigator could see all the neon signs announcing the names and locations for the various restaurant. Especially the tall golden arches of McDonald's. He briefly thought about going there before someone called out to him

"Hey, Amon!" Shouted out the wiry investigator as he strolled out of the branch office with his partner at his side. "Are you grabbing a bite to eat?"

"I am," Amon replied.

"We know a good ramen shop that's pretty close to here. Wanna join us?" The younger investigator asked.

"Uh, sure. Kusaba."

Amon followed them to a small hole-in-the-wall ramen shop that is located directly across the street. They stepped in and sat down at the counter taking up most of the seats.

"What'll it be, boys?" Asked the elderly gentleman running the shop, jovially.

"Shrimp tempura set and a chicken onigiri," Nakajima said calmly.

Kusaba teased. "Again?"

"Shut up." The middle-aged investigator replied with the patient annoyance of someone who expects to say it many times in the future.

Amon just ordered. "Kakiage. Large."

The cook started working on their ordered and after a moment the youngest of the three investigators said. "I can't believe you dug up a grave to find some evidence. I honestly didn't think you were the type to get down and dirty."

The cook finished cooking and set down their meals in front of them. "Here you go."

The tallest of them picked up his chopsticks; they were the kind that was wood and needed to be separated from each other and broke them apart. He stated before he started eating. "Can't achieve your goals if you're too scrupulous."

The other two started eating, and the wiry man, ever so curious, asked. "So, what do they teach you at the academy?"

"Laws and facts relating to ghouls. The rest of the time I was working out." Amon replied taking a bite of Kakiage. "I can't tell you much. I'm not permitted to."

Kusaba asked another question. "There are female students, too, right?"

Nakajima winced as the younger guy put his foot in his mouth. He slapped the other guy's shoulder and whispered. "Kusaba. Cut it out."

Amon stilled for a second as he thought of brown hair and dark eyes. "There were a few. They were intelligent and determined."

"Really? Do you still keep in touch with them?" The younger man asked.

"No." Was the grave reply. "Most of them died in the line of duty."

"They died? I-I'm so sorry. I…" The inexperienced investigator stammered.

"It's not that uncommon. The more single-minded you are, the more likely you are to die." The Quinque qualified investigator finished his bowl and set the chopsticks on top of it. He stood up and left, leaving a piece of advice. "Please be careful. Especially in these upcoming weeks."

Soon after Amon left, Kusaba and Nakajima finished their food and headed home themselves.

On the way, Nakajima grumbled out loud. "The more single-minded you are, the more likely you agree to die? Maybe we shouldn't work so hard."

Kusaba laughed. "Are you crazy? There's a ton we have to do. Although not as much as the other wards. The only big case we've had recently is the Binge Eater case. What's going on with that case right now, by the way?"

"Right now it's about the gourmet more than the Binge Eater." The older gentleman replied.

The wiry man sighed. "I wish the main office would take it off our hands. They'd solve it so quick."

The investigator with the five o'clock shadow just shrugged. "Our ward director's probably keeping the case for himself cuz he doesn't want somebody else getting credit for it."

"Amon doesn't seem like he's interested in things like that. He's driven more by a sense of justice. It's incredible." The younger investigator said admirably.

The more experienced investigator shook his head and patted his partner's shoulder. "Comparing yourself to the guys from the main office gets ya nowhere."

"It's not that." The glasses' wearing guy mumbled. Then his voice grew steadier, stronger, hopeful. "All I wanted was a cushy desk job. But after watching him work he inspired me…"

A black blur flashed in front of Kusaba and he stopped. He mumbled out the last words of his sentence, a line of blood formed across his face. The crimson liquid looking black in the low lighting of the side street. It ran diagonally down his forehead, nose, and cheekbone. The top part of his face and head marked by the line simply slid off. Exposing his bisected brain in a splash of blood and his corpse fell to the ground. Nakajima didn't even notice anything that happened until the body fell. He did see a figure facing away from him. It was crouching two feet away from the Kusaba's corpse, before standing up. They wore a long dark coat going down to their calves and it had a hood pulled over it's. The person either wore shorts or something similar in length as the rest of their leg was exposed, showing tan skin. The figure turned revealing that it was wearing a cartoonish rabbit mask. Long bubblegum pink hair spilled out from the hood and mask.

The unknown combatant charged forward, bringing their hand back, fingers straight out in a dagger-like shape. Nakajima froze in shock and fear. "Shit!"

Just as rabbit lunged, Amon dove in, seemingly out of nowhere and tackled the endangered investigator out of the way. He had seen Rabbit on the rooftops following the other two investigators. The newcomer broke his fall by going into a roll and smoothly coming up to his feet while the shorter human fell into a clumsy heap. The more heavily built investigator held out his arms in a warding gesture. "Stay back, Nakajima!"

With an agility belonging to large African felines, Rabbit turned and sped forth. It leaped into the air and swung a leg in a flying roundhouse kick. Amon raised his arms in a block and instantly regretted. The kick struck with inhumane force. Pain erupted in his forearms. His feet shifted back an inch. The enemy pushed off him with her leg and threw another airborne roundhouse kick. This one made it home, striking him on the side of his head and was sent flying. He tumbled on the ground, rolling. He adjusted his body and brought himself to his feet lithely. He slid back until he slammed into the adjacent wall of the side street. Pain registered in several points on his body, especially in his back. He felt something warm trickle down the side of his face.

As Amon steadied himself against the wall behind him, he had no doubt that his opponent was a ghoul. The insane speed and agility, the battering ram strikes. Of course, to further get the point across the ghoul's Kagune released. It was an Ukaku type that was on the left side, stretching out an extra foot past her arm length. There was a stub of a wing on the other side that was barely the size of a dinner plate. Rabbit charged again and the human felt insanely stupid for leaving his Quinque behind at the office. Kureo always chastised him for being so careless with his only defense against ghouls but he always brushed it off. Now it was here to bite him in the ass.

Kureo's newest Quinque shot past Amon's shoulder at Rabbit. The red flesh glowed a dark crimson in the night. The ghoul saw the attack coming and tried to lean out of the way. Instead of a precision shot that would've claimed her head like Ryouko, it glanced off the side of the mask cutting a deep furrow where their cheek is. The blow was heavy, knocking her head back and her feet were thrown out from under her when they kept going. It fell and tumbled forward. Their mask was jostled by the blow and the Quinque-less investigator saw smooth feminine features and a few strands of purple hair.

"Amon." Kureo laughed as his walked down the alley on Amon's side. His uncovered Quinque in his right hand and a Quinque case in the other. "What were you thinking? Forgetting your Quinque? Now, look at you. Your handsome features are all messed up. How could you let a low-level ghoul get the jump on you? I admire your dedication but you mustn't lose your composure, Amon. It's a good thing that I was headed this way to return it to you."

"I'm sorry, Mr. Mado. Won't happen again." Amon shuffled over to his partner's side.

"Don't be sorry. We all mistakes." The older man chided grandfatherly. He held out the other Quinque case to the taller investigator. "The best we can do is fix them and never make them again."

Amon took his Quinque case and opened it, releasing his club like Quinque. "Understood, sir."

Touka adjusted her rabbit mask before standing up. Everything was going so well till the old bastard showed up and screwed the pooch. Her chances at revenge for Ryouko plummeted. She should've put more thought into this before going out. She left immediately after she got that text Yomo sent. She stopped by her apartment to pick up a change of clothes, and this mask. She then literally sat outside the CCG office until they walked out and followed them. She acted without thinking, just going off the storm of emotions that was swirling inside. After Marcus and the others told her not to. Now, she was screwed. At this point, it was just survival and she was going to have to fight her way out. She could see all the I told so's in the future. Assuming she survived.

Kureo lashed out with his newest Quinque towards Touka. It wiggled and writhed wildly as it flew forward, slamming into the ground, and carving gashes into the concrete. Touka dove forward and to the side avoiding the blow and charged the two investigators. Amon jumped forward as he raised his Quinque overhead and brought it down upon the rabbit in an earth shattering blow. Without letting go of her momentum she dropped into a baseball player's slide, going right underneath the taller investigator as his club struck the ground cracking the pavement. She twisted to the side, getting to her feet and sped towards the investigator's exposed back. Then he suddenly dropped to the ground and the centipede-like Quinque batted the ghoul to the side like a student flicking a pencil shaving off their desk.

She tumbled a few times letting out grunts of pain, before getting up again and running towards Kureo. Her Kagune formed and crystallized firing a burst at the older investigator. In a blink and you'll miss it move, the older investigator brought his Quinque back to him, folding it up in a ten-foot diameter shield in front of him. Touka's Ukaku spikes shattered harmlessly against it and dissolved before the shards hit the ground. Amon came in at Touka's side like a freight train, shoulder bashing her to the ground. Standing over her, he raised his Quinque, weighted end down, and attempted to crush her skull. She placed her hands on the ground on either side of her head, kicked up her legs and slammed a foot into the side of the human's face. The Same one she kicked earlier. Unlike the last time, this blow didn't have the same strength or speed, but it did aggravate the injury some more. He was jerked to the side by the blow and the club landed an inch from her head.

Amon's eyes swam from the blow as he stumbled, dizziness. If he hadn't been holding onto his Quinque he would've fallen. He could feel the warm blood that dripped down his face and eye, as well as the swelling that was starting to form. Leaping off the ground to her feet, she turned to throw a punch but the dark-haired investigator swung his Quinque in a wide wild strike. More meant to discourage than to actually hurt. Thoroughly discouraged, she jumped away when Kureo discouraged her some when he attacked with his anti-ghoul weapon, aiming for her head. She back flipped, the demented weapon clipping off a few strands of the pink hair.

Kureo brought his Quinque back to his side and stepped up beside Amon. "Are you alright, Amon?"

"I'm fine, sir," Amon replied, covering the cut with his hand to stymy the blood and covering his eye in the process. "I'm just dizzy from the blow. I'll be fine in a few minutes."

"Kick back for a few minutes. Recover. I'll take of our little rabbit." The older investigator suggested, slurring the r into a w.

"Yes, sir." The younger human stated, and dropped to one knee with a hand on his Quinque to steady him.

The more experienced investigator strolled lazily forward, twirling his Quinque vertically at his side like a ribbon dancer. He said in a partially approving tone. "You're not half bad, rabbit. Haven't seen anybody dodge this during the three months I've been using it. Very well done. Actually, you remind me of the ghoul I got this from. He was quite strong, too. Though you're not quite like him, but you're definitely not like his breeding partner. She was quite pathetic. Dying miserably without much of a fight. It was rather hilarious." He ended with a maniacal laugh.

"Bastard." Touka snarled as she straightened her mask again. The old man's blow screwed up the straps that held it to her head.

She charged him and started swinging wildly, enraged; throwing punches and kicks. The older investigator dodged nimbly and swiftly, stating calmly. "Amon, let's review what you learned at the academy. Ukaku ghouls like this one are distinguished by their quick and light attacks. Relying heavily on speed."

Rabbit did her signature airborne roundhouse kick, and the old man dodged that no less lithely than before, continuing his summary of Ukaku types. "They typically lack endurance. As the battle draws out, their combat capabilities drop dramatically. Ain't that right, rabbit?"

She yelled out fiercely. "Shut up!" Bringing her arm back for another dagger-like strike.

Kureo calmly hopped to the side, facing her still, and Amon appeared where the old man stood, swinging his Quinque in a wide under swing that caught her in the chest and chin. As she was sent flying, she picked up a strong sympathy for golf balls. Several meters later she reached out to the ground and grabbed onto it, fingers carving a furrow into the ground. Her legs swung up as the first law of motion kicked in and she went ass over tea kettle before coming down to earth. She looked up to see Kureo's Quinque lunging for her with the intent to pierce her cracked ribs and come out the other side. She leaned to the side hoping to avoid it but it struck her across her arm, cutting deep into the deltoid muscles. She spun from the blow, making one full turn before landing flat on her stomach.

Kureo looked at the suddenly standing investigator in surprise and asked with mild amusement. "Up and moving already? You're gonna hurt yourself."

"I'll be fine, sir," Amon said, wobbling slightly.

"If you say so." The older man shrugged but his attention was drawn as Touka got her legs under her and sat up. His grin widened as he asked. "Mind if I ask a question, Amon?"

"No, sir."

"I have this sense of déjà vu. Where is it coming from?" He scratched his chin in thought.

The taller investigator replied straight-faced. He didn't particularly like his partner's antics but he tolerated them. "I don't know, sir."

The more experienced investigator pretended to think for a minute before snapping his fingers in a faked epiphany. "I know! It's because this is just like when we fought that female ghoul the other day. She stood against us to save her precious daughter. She gave it her all but in the end, died on her knees. Just like you will."

Touka's breath hitched as she heard that. She was going to die, here. She could tell that. That was the plan from the get-go. Kill all the investigators that saw Hinami and killed Ryouko. Then go down in a blaze of glory. Hinami would be safe from the guillotine of the CCG and the others at Anteiku would be safe from any repercussions. After all, any investigator planning vengeance would be satisfied with her death. There would no reason to send investigators into the twentieth ward. There would've been no evidence that she even operated there. She never wore this mask before now, even though Uta made it for her. It was perfect. Now, she was going to die just like Ryouko and it was going to do more harm than it would do good.

"Would you like to take this one?" Kureo politely gestured to Amon.

The younger investigator nodded and stepped forward. "Any last words?"

"Fuck off." Touka spat.

"Fine, then."

Amon took a long leap, closing the distance before she could retaliate, and brought his club of a Quinque down on her head. Her eyes were open, ready to meet her death face to face. So she saw the shadow that grew on the ground just before her as a figure descended from the sky and landed on the Quinque, forcing it down a few seconds early. It passed her head by less than an inch, taking part of the left ear on her mask. The anti-ghoul weapon collided into the ground throwing up a dust cloud. As it dissipated, everyone could the person who saved her life either by accident or purpose.

Touka barely recognized him. He was a few inches shy of six feet with a well-sculpted physique from years of life or death battles. Black hair that was slicked back. He had on a mask that covered his face from the cheekbones down. It was the mouth area of a skull in design but it wasn't human. Too angular. It covered his nose to create the illusion that he didn't have one and the jaw went back behind his ear. The teeth were the glaringly obvious difference. They were pointed and long especially the canines. They were also a metallic silver. He only had on tight, rock star leather pants. Nothing else not even shoes She only knew who it was because of the decade-old collection of battle scars that adorned Marcus' body. He had one foot at the end of the Quinque; the other close to Amon's hand raising his knee high enough for him to rest his elbow on it to help support him as he leaned over to look at the human dead in the eyes.

Marcus' kakugans were cold and emotionless and he said impassively, his voice lower than usual. "Get away from her, you bitch."

Without any warning, he jumped and planted both feet solidly into Amon with a front dropkick, flipping backward and landing on his feet in a crouch. Meanwhile, the taller investigator learned why dropkicks suck. They're good winning moves as the force behind them is more than enough to knock the wind out a person and can crack ribs if done hard enough. Put a ghoul behind one then imagine the damage. The human was tossed several feet as a few ribs cracked. He was lucky that Marcus was holding back to hide his alter ego. Otherwise, it would've been a dozen feet and many broken ribs. The dark haired human fell on his back and Kureo rushed to his side crouching to make sure the younger investigator was alive. Once he was sure that the temporarily incapacitated man one live to fight he stood and faced down the Kakuja.

Marcus stood, slowly and calmly, but his muscles had the same tautness as those of a lion as it readied to pounce. Touka stood also ready to voice her opinions on being saved like a damsel in distress. Then she felt the thick palpable tension in the air. She could swim in it if she tried hard enough. She looked at the Kakuja whose anger filled eyes were locked squarely upon Kureo's. His eyes were overflowing with maddening glee and recognition like he had been waiting for the Brit to show. She shifted her gaze back and forth between the two of them, trying to piece together what was with them. Then something Amon said came back to her memory when the old man first showed up. "Mr. Mado." Holy family feud, batman.

Kureo grinned madly and laughed as he attacked. "How nice of you to join us!"

His Quinque shot forward like a snake lashing out with its fangs. Marcus didn't blink or flinch; he just moved with lightning speed. His hand reached out and redirected the centipede-like Quinque with a gentle push. It passed within inches of his head and shoulder, missing Touka by feet in the process. Kureo pulled it back, hopping to get the Kakuja on the back swing but he had already leaned out of the way. The Brit charged forth like a horse after it was released from the starting gate, closing the distance. Kureo brought the anti-ghoul weapon around in a wide side swung hoping to cleave him in half about the waist. The Kakuja wasn't having any of that. He jumped clearing the weapons attack arc with stunning ease. By the time he touched the ground he was in the older investigator's face.

Marcus landed with a wide balanced stance. He pulled his fists in close to his chest, then punched with both fists putting his entire upper body behind it. It collided into Kureo's chest with the force of freight train propelled by an ICBM. The old man was thrown back a dozen feet as air decided to completely evacuate his lungs. He landed on the ground, gasping for air. The body armor he was wearing was dented in. The Kakuja had held back once more. As much as he hated the old bastard, he was still Akira's father and the Brit loved her and would never hurt her. That and him trying to keep a lid on Xeno in front of Touka were the only reason the two investigators weren't painted all over this damn street. Especially after he pieced a few things together about the elder Mado's actions.

Both investigators were out of action for the moment but Amon was starting to get up. Marcus turned and ran for Touka. He grabbed her by the waist and hoisted her over his shoulder. She protested vehemently. Then he jumped and he didn't hold anything back. To put this into context, the average vertical jump height for an NBA player is twenty-eight inches. The fittest and trained investigators can bring that up to about three feet Ghouls on average have ten to eleven-foot verticals, Touka's got twelve; thirteen if she tried really hard. Marcus has a sixteen-foot vertical jump if he gives it all and that's without the help of Xeno. With his help, he can clear thirty. In three bounds, he reached the top of a building and vanished behind the roof.

Kureo looked towards the roof, with a disappointed expression. "Just when I had the chance to rid my daughter of your influence."

Marcus hauled ass, jumping from rooftop to rooftop. He made sure to not stay in a linear path, taking random turns even backtracking some. Doing everything he could to avoid being followed and or tracked. After several blocks, Touka had enough of the damsel in distress treatment. "I think we're far enough! Put me down or I'm gonna kick your ass!"

Marcus made one last leap to a roof before setting Touka down, gently. As soon as she was on her feet, she shoved him away from her with her good arm, screaming. "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"Saving your bloody arse from your own daftness!" He answered sharply, his accent letting loose. "What the fuck were you doing!?

She growled, tearing off her mask showing her angered expression. The pink wig went with it. "I was just fine on my own. I didn't need to be saved. As to what I was doing, that should be obvious!"

"If you mean getting yourself killed, yeah, it was quite obvious." He quipped, crossing his arms.

Her face became more enraged; her hands clenched and unclenched as she contemplated taking a swing at him. Though she had a feeling that she would end up on her ass. So she just replied, still angry. "No. I'm trying to make sure Hinami can live a normal life."

"A normal life?" The kakuja laughed scornfully. "No such thing with our kind, love."

"Then one without being under the CCG's hatchet," She corrected before commenting. "And 'love'?"

He ignored the comment and said. "We already discussed that it would be useless and you would end up raining down the CCG's wrath on Anteiku."

"Not if they don't have a reason." She countered glaring at him with defiance.

Marcus looked at her confused for a second. Then he found a line of logic and followed it till he learned exactly what she meant. Surprise, then horror flickered across his face then absolute outrage. He couldn't believe she had the audacity to think that let alone do it. Touka didn't see his reaction coming. She had expected harsh words meant to scold. Sympathetic words to talk her off the edge. Anything but physical violence. He slapped her. Any anger, outrage or defiance vanished from her face to be replaced with shock

"You're a bloody idiot!" Marcus yelled then he further surprised her by hugging her. His voice lowered and softened to a sadder tone. "I understand why you would think this, but why you would do it? You would've died. That's it. No memories, no dreams, nothing. You would leave Anteiku, Hinami. Me. And I don't want that. I don't want you to go."

Touka leaned her head against his shoulder, wrapping her arms around him, and whispered as she cried. "I'm sorry. Asshole, now I'm crying."

He snickered and gave her a little squeeze. She tried to squeeze him back but she forgot about her messed up arm. She hissed in pain and let go of him to grab at her injury. "Damn. It hurts."

"Here, take off your jacket. Let me look at it." He muttered.

Touka shrugged off her jacket till it was hanging off her arms leaving her shoulders bare. She was wearing a pinstripe t-shirt. The edge of her sleeve on her injured arm was torn revealing the wound. It was two-inch long gash that was cut just below the deltoid muscles at least three-quarters of an inch deep. It was also bleeding quite profusely.

"Missed your shoulder muscles by a few centimeters." Marcus turned her arm gently looking at the cut from a different angle. "An inch or two higher and you wouldn't be able to move your arm. How attached are you to that trench coat?"

"Not really. I picked it up from the closet in the meeting room a while back. Never returned has several coats in their for ghouls to use." Touka said.

The Kakuja then proceeded to tear off the bottom hem of her coat and use it to bandage her arm. "Let's get home and get some real bandages on that."

"Okay. But you are not throwing me over you shoulder again." She pointed out with a playful glare before putting on her mask and getting her coat over her shoulders.

He smirked before picking her up in a lover's carry. With one arm beneath the crook of her legs and the other behind her shoulders. Once again, she protested indignantly and he started jumping from roof to roof again headed home.

---

"Uh. You, the new boy." Said an elderly gentleman at a table with a cup of coffee.

Kaneki walked over to him and replied. "Yes, sir?"

The old man held up his coffee and asked. "Is this different from what I usually have? I think I usually have a darker roast."

"Oh, I'm sorry." The college student apologized as he bowed his head respectfully. "Let me get you another cup."

The elder man shook his head. "Oh, no. Next time will be fine."

The half-breed nodded. "Alright, sir."

Kaneki bowed his head respectfully again and left. He went over behind the counter and started looking for the dark roast. So that he knew where it was next time a customer ordered it. When his search didn't yield anything he headed to the back kitchen to continue his search. As he stepped into the kitchen, he stumbled across Touka organizing cans of coffee beans. He blinked in surprise as he didn't see her walk in. Marcus did walk in front, though. The half-breed just assumed that she had taken another day off. Of course, he didn't know that she was trying to hide from the manager. That was a talk she did not want to be a part of.

Touka looked at him blankly and asked. "What?"

"Uh, I used the wrong beans," Kaneki said nervously expecting to get yelled at. "Where do we keep the espresso beans?"

Instead of yelling at him like he expected, she sighed and said tiredly. She walked over to the shelf with the cans of coffee beans. "Don't let it happen again. Use the ones with the blue labels."

Touka reached to grab one of the cans she described but had stupidly forgotten to not use her injured arm. A thousand needles of pain lit up in her arm; the worst of it located around the patched up arm. She completely regretted not taking the ibuprofen that Akira offered after she had bandaged the teenager's arm. She tilted the can over to pick it up when the pain hit so that when she brought back her arm to hold it, the Coffee Can went with it. The can fell to the floor and the lid popped open spilling beans all around her. She dropped to her knees in a knee jerk reaction crying put in pain.

"Touka!" Kaneki cried out worriedly as he took a step forward to help her.

"Stay away!" Touka yelled stopping him. She hated this feeling of helplessness. "Leave me alone."

She stood up and ran past him brushing her wounded shoulder against his both accidentally and purposeful defiance. She headed out the door and into the alley. As he watched her, go he noticed a splotched of red staining the shoulder of his shirt. Exactly where she bumped him. It had the infamous scent of blood.

Yoshimura's footsteps sounded as he stepped from around the corner and nearby Kaneki. "So, she really did attack the doves."

"Touka attacked the investigators." The college student mumbled to himself then said out loud. "She needs to get looked at."

"No," Yoshimura stated coldly. When Kaneki looked at him in shock, the old man stated again. "I said. No."

The dark-haired-ghoul faced the old man fully and exclaimed. "What are talking about? She's bleeding!"

The elder ghoul explained coldly like he was pointing out a fact. "Attacking an investigator means she's prepared to suffer the consequences. It's not our concern whether she lives or dies."

The half-breed stared at the old man in horror as he contradicted what he said Anteiku was. The student stammered. "W-what? But… y-you said we help each other at Anteiku."

The manager paused frowning before asking. "So do you think those of us at Anteiku can stand up against several hundred, several thousand investigators on our own?"

Kaneki could see the army of trench coats and attaché cases marching down the street towards the coffee shop. Blood stained the windows. He turned his head aside as he let Yoshimura get his point across. He got it. The manager had to make decisions based on the bigger picture he had to have anger towards the Fueguchis' deaths. Which he did and despite his anger and rage, he couldn't just act out on it. It would put everyone in danger. He has to think about everyone and make decisions that keep them safe. Touka acting on her own endangers that. So now he has to decide how to deal with that. It's not easy and it makes him seem cold but he genuinely cares. He just doesn't have any choice.

"I understand you make your decisions for the greater good." Declared Kaneki. "But I don't know a thing about dealing with investigators or the laws of the ghoul world. So, I'm going to see it for myself before I decide what I'm going to do."

Kaneki turned and stepped over to the counter, opened it and fetched the first aid kit that they had before heading out the alley door. Yoshimura watched the student go with a smile on his face. He liked what he said. It was a good attitude and could get him quite far.

Kaneki found her sitting by door still holding her hurt arm. She looked up at him and snapped. "What?"

"I brought some…"

"I don't need it!" she interrupted.

"But you're bleeding!" He protested.

She scowled and looked away. "Stop scampering around, it's annoying. You're just a human."

The college student frowned sadly. "I have some ghoul in me, too."

"Acting like you think you're one of us." She looked up at him with a cavalier smile. "If you're so concerned about me, go and kill those stupid doves for me."

Kaneki froze in shock at the request and didn't answer. When she didn't get a reply, she scoffed and said expectantly. "Well? Maybe if you used Rize's kagune like you did with Nishiki. Can you do it? You can't, can you? A wuss like you wouldn't have the balls or the resolve. I can't depend on the manager or Yomo. I know that. Despite what Marcus says and does, it doesn't matter if a murderer like me dies. And I know some humans are friendly but, I won't stand for ghouls like Ryouko and Hinami to be unfairly killed. You don't know a damn thing. So, shut up."

"A murderer like me." Kaneki was aware that she knew she was in the wrong, yet she kept going. She kept going because it was what she felt was right.

"Like you said, I can't kill anybody." He said softly. "I don't think the existence of investigators is wrong and I don't think you're right either. But seeing Mrs. Fueguchi in her last moments that day, I strongly felt whether it's a human dying or a ghoul dying if it's somebody I know, I can't stand it. If you died, I'd be sad."

Touka's eyes widened in surprise and she stammered looking away in bashfulness. "W-whatever. What is it you're trying to say?"

"Teach me how to use the Kagune. I won't kill the investigators but…" Resentment grew in his voice as he declared. "I'm tired of being helpless."

She raised her eyebrows questioningly before letting out a chuckle. "What's gotten into you? You asswipe."

Later that day Kaneki received a text from Touka telling him to meet her out front of Anteiku. He's been waiting there for forty minutes, now. He felt like he's always waiting for her. He had on Khaki pants and a light gray jacket over his usual blue sweater. His eyepatch was present as always. He still had no control over his eye. The purple haired ghoul finally showed up with Marcus at her side. She wearing tan shin length pants, and a dark jacket with faux fur lining the neck with a cartoon rabbit head with its mouth sew into a smile and the words "Smile your grief away" printed on the back. That was over a white and navy blue striped shirt. The brit had dark jeans, a plain black shirt and a dark jacket that went down to his thighs. He had on his fake cast. His hair was back in it's poufy, bed head style.

"Yo," Touka said plainly. As though she wasn't late.

"Hi," Kaneki greeted. "You're la-"

She ignored him and walked to the door and unlocked it with the spare key she has. She ordered. "Come with me.

"Okay." The half-breed replied deadpan.

Marcus scoffed and shook his head. "Think nothing of her attitude. She's just having a temper tantrum because she's on suicide watch."

She glared at the Brit and grumbled. "I'm not having a temper tantrum."

"Which is exactly what someone says of they're having one." The Kakuja quipped.

"Suicide watch?" The college student queried.

"Oh, she planned to let herself get killed after she got rid of the investigators." The adopted Mado explained nonchalantly.

Touka growled warningly and stepped inside the shop, the boys followed. After hours the shop was dark and quiet. An oddity to Kaneki as he was only present when the shop was open and present. They walked towards the back room to go down the stairs to the basement. They reached the stairwell and Kaneki noticed the second floor was lit.

"Hey, should the light be on up there?" Kaneki asked pointing up the stairs.

"Hinami's scared of the dark," Touka said softly before heading down the stairs.

Kaneki followed quickly but Marcus waited a moment to look up the stairs. A burst of rage shot through him for a second before he calmed it down and following them. The half-breed got the chance to see the basement storage for the first time and his first opinion of it was "cold". He knew what was inside all the fridges. Those packages containing human flesh that Anteiku passed out to ghouls in need. They went past that to the trap door which surprised the half-breed. They had a second basement? The Brit took off the cast and set it to the side before climbing down the ladder after Touka and Kaneki. When they reached the bottom, the purple haired ghoul flipped a large electrical lever and a series of floodlights installed onto the load bearing supports and wall of the underground passage flicked on.

Marcus looked around in disbelief. "Wait. You guys had floodlights and Yomo made me fight with torches?"

Touka shrugged stepping a few meters away from the ladder. "He may be a quiet guy but he does have a flair for the dramatic. He's also a night owl."

"Where are we?" Kaneki asked stupefied as he followed her..

"An underground passage." She explained. "Ghouls made it a long time ago to hide from humans. This is technically part of the twenty-fourth ward, a maze of tunnels and halls that run throughout Tokyo's underground, though it's sectioned off. Don't go any farther than this lit up area. Go in there alone and you'd get lost and eaten."

"Okay." The nineteen year said hesitantly.

The Kakuja frowned in thought as he looked around. "I've wondered around the twenty-fourth ward a lot and I don't remember this place."

"Yoshimura and Yomo worked hard to keep ghouls away from this place. Physically and politically booting them out. As I said, technically it's in the twenty-fourth but technically it's not." Replied the female ghoul.

Marcus snorted in amusement. He thought he had been everywhere in the unofficial ward. First time for everything. He popped a squat by the ladder, one leg stretched out and the other leg rested it's foot on the outstretched leg's knee.

Touka shrugged off her jacket and tossed it to Marcus. "Since you're here, make yourself useful and hold that. I don't want it to get dirty."

"Hey, Touka?" Kaneki asked hesitantly. "What are we doing down here?

"I'm gonna teach you how to use your Kagune." She stated. The half-breed looked up in surprise. "Not really teach. You'd never get it if I explained it to you. I'll teach you the way I learned. Hope you've got all your affairs in order."

"Huh?"

Suddenly she shot forward and planted a fist in his stomach. It was like getting hit with a softball fired from one of those machines after it had aftermarket adjustments. Once, again he had issues with air as it left his body. He should stop messing with its little girl. Then he threw up. At least Touka brought back her hand before he spewed. Otherwise, his death would be guaranteed. She didn't give him a chance to recover and she threw a roundhouse kick to his chest. He was sent flying into the pillar that held the ladder and fell to the ground in a gasping heap. The entire front of his torso was let aflame in pain and agony. She walked over to the suffering half-breed with a look of complete disappointment.

Touka planted a foot on his shoulder and leaned down to remove his eyepatch. His eye was still in its normal form. "Not quite feeling the sense of danger, are you?"

Her foot shifted over to his hand and started pushing back his first finger. Kaneki froze and whispered terrified. "T-touka?"

Snap.

Touka pushed his finger all the way back till his fingernail was touching the back of his hand. There's no other way to put it except for it hurt. A lot. Kaneki let out a howling scream of pain and when she lifted her foot off his hand, he brought it to his chest and held it tenderly.

'Dude.' Xeno said, impressed. 'Fucking savage.'

Marcus seconded that notion. This was the best way to teach how to the Kagune. Pain and danger. The ghoul claw is based on a ghoul's instincts. He knew this quite well. It was why the eyes changed every time it was brought forth. An involuntary reaction to both the elevated level of RC and the instincts. Ask any ghoul and they will tell you that the first time they used their Kagune was under duress. The Brit could be the only exception as his instincts had their own damn opinion. A ghoul has to be able to draw upon their instincts at will to summon the Kagune at will. The best method to this was to get the ghoul used to the feeling of those instincts. So that they would remember to what to look for when they needed to draw upon it. That meant putting them through danger that would make them start using the instinct of survival. They would react naturally and use their Kagune without thinking. From there it was repetition till they were used to the feeling and could use it at will. Which Kaneki was at a disadvantage because he keeps resisting his instincts and he was not eating to boot.

"Relax. It'll be healed by tomorrow." She scoffed. Then her Kakugans flashed and She willed forth her Kagune. "But this won't heal so fast. You might die from it. If you do, I'll make sure you're disposed of."

Touka lunged. Fear and adrenaline pounded through Kaneki's veins. She truly did not care if he died and the half-breed was fully aware of that fact. He was going to die here and would have just as much dignity as the time he fell off the cliff. Can't he catch a damn break? He literally just said that he was done being helpless. He was fucking tired of this shit. He was tired of being helpless. He said he was going help Touka and help Hinami. He was not going to die here, Fear was replaced with rage as his ghoul instincts were brought forth. His Kakugan flared to life with defiance showing in his eyes and pair of his, rather Rize's Rinkaku Kagune tentacles exploded from his back and shot around in front him deflecting Touka's strike. It was thinner than before and not as dark of a red.

Touka huffed and let her Kagune flicker and die out, saying with a hint of exasperation. "There you go. Though it is weaker than the one you used to kicked Nishiki's ass."

"That's because he's still scared of it," Marcus commented from his seat. "And he's still not eating properly. I can smell it."

She shook her head. "That's no good. If you want to be more involved like you said you wanted then you can't be in that halfway state you were before. It's either all ghoul or dead."

"Okay," Kaneki said slowly. His Kagune was still formed but it was got thinner and lost it's color till it fully dissolved.

"Let's go back upstairs ." She suggested and went over to the ladder. She grabbed her jacket off of the Kakuja's lap, threw it on, and started climbing.

The half-breed's Kakugan faded as he leaned forward and sighed. Marcus stood up and walked over to him. The Brit held out his hand. "Don't take it personally. She's had a hell of a time lately. It's been grating at her."

Kaneki took his hand and the green eyed ghoul pulled him up. The college student said. "Thank you."

They worked their way up the ladder and back up to the shop. On the way, the adopted Mado explain Rinkaku type ghouls. "Rinkaku ghouls are built sturdy and they heal quickly. Faster than the other three types. However, they can be quite brittle. Like swords, they can take a beating and with help recover but hit it just right and it breaks. You have great striking power and can pierce almost anything. You also have Rize's Kakuhou, ghoul organ. You have her strength, I've seen it. You actually landed a few heavy hits on me the other day. Train hard and you could be hell in a fight. Though you shouldn't rely on your Kagune."

By this point, they had reached the shop again, and Touka had heard the last sentence and commented from her place leaning against the counter with her arms crossed. "You might be forced to maintain your cover or not have enough strength to bring it out. You'll need to bulk up. Build some muscle. Do a hundred sit-ups, back extensions, push-ups and squats every day."

"Uh, Touka. That's a bit much right out the gate. You gotta take it slow starting out." The Brit noted.

"Whatever." She scoffed and held and unfolded one of her arms and held out a couple of rolls of medical gauze and tape. Kaneki reached out to take them. With his guard down, he couldn't do anything to defend himself when Touka reached out with her other hand and quickly pulled his shirt up revealing his untoned, undefined, smooth torso. "Take it slow, my ass! You planning on fighting with a body like this! You'll be creamed! Put on some muscle!"

The half-breed floundered about trying to get his shirt back down. He replied frantically. "I will! I will!"

Marcus just leaned against the counter to watch the show. That was when Uta opened the coffee shop door that Touka left unlocked. He had on a checkerboard designed long coat, white trousers with black does on it like a bucket of paint splattered next to it, with black slippers and black socks. He also had a black beanie on and sunglasses. He held a cloth bag in his right-hand Everyone turned their attention to the newcomer. Freezing in the positions they were in.

Uta gazed at them blankly then said. "Sorry. Am I interrupting?"

At which point Marcus starts dying of laughter. Kaneki shoved back Touka and straightened out his shirt. "No, no! It's not like that!"

"Hey, Uta." The violet haired ghoul greeted calmly. "What are you doing here?"

"I finished the mask and I wanted to deliver it right away. I was going to drop it off, but since you're here, I'd like to see it on you" The gothic ghoul shut the door as he stepped into the shop, walked over to the counter, and set the bag on it, explaining the whole way.

Kaneki's eyes widened in anticipation. Uta pulled it out and showcased it for a few seconds. Its appearance was startling but the half-breed allowed the goth to put it on him. The mask was black leather. The kind they use for biker jackets and furniture. It covered the lower half of his face from the cheekbones down. It didn't go all the way over his nose like Marcus'. It just covered the tip. It went down and wrapped around his neck in a collar that fastened with Velcro in the back. A zipper ran over his Adam's Apple, from the base of the chin to the bottom of the collar. A strap that went over his ear and around the top of his head held the face part on. There was a black leather eyepatch that went over his right eye instead of his left and was held onto the main part of the mask with some string. As to not detract from the appearance. Over his mouth was a large lipless mouth with gnashing teeth and another functional zipper between the teeth. There large bolts on either side of the neck.

Uta stepped back and let the others see it. "Well, what do you think?"

"Not bad," Touka said with approval. "Very Frankenstein. It suits him, nicely."

"When he came into my shop, he felt like he was uncomfortable in his own skin and Yoshimura had told me of his particular nature. So I thought a physical manifestation of his ghoul side might help him adjust." The goth explained.

"It might actually." Marcus agreed. He had taken the time to calm down from his laughing fit while they put on the mask. "I like what you did with the eyepatch."

"I thought the eyepatch style was his thing, so I threw it in there." The mask maker replied. "I would've had to you yesterday when I dropped off Marcus' but I had run out of leather. Had to borrow some from a guy who sells masks for those bondage guys. Actually, he asked if he could buy it off me but I told him it was already sold."

"But I wear it on the other side," Kaneki noted pointing to the eyepatch. Missing the last sentence entirely.

"I wanted to see the eye you were hiding." The tattooed ghoul stated.

Kaneki fingered the leather on the cheek. The cold feel of leather. Peeking at the world from my other eye. It was strangely exciting.

The half-breed nodded his gratitude to Uta. "Thank you. I like it."

"That's good. All that hard work is worth nothing if the buyer doesn't like the product." Uta said then he grabbed the cloth bag and turned to leave. "I've got a few more deliveries make. I'll see you later."

Marcus hesitated for a few seconds before chasing after the goth, giving him a chance to get halfway out the door. "Uta, wait."

"Yeah?" He mumbled in response.

"Where did you get inspiration for my mask?" The Brit asked.

The gothic ghoul blinked. "You don't like it?" He sounded genuinely worried.

"No, no, no. It's nice." The green eyed ghoul assured. "I'm just curious."

He paused to think about it, if his eyes were visible the Brit would have seen them drifting up and the left. Then Uta looked at him and answered. "I'm good at reading people. It helps create masks that fit the wearer. When I read you, you seemed different than most ghouls. When it comes to our predator nature, there are three views that most ghouls have. That I've seen, anyways. Some avoid it and can't kill, like Kaneki or Ryouko. Some accept it with regret and treat it like a necessary sin. That is quite common. Nearly all of Anteiku have that attitude. Then there's those who take it in and are driven insane by it. The most notable in that category is Rize and Tsukiyama."

Marcus leaned against the door and nodded.

Uta continued. "You're different from them. When a ghoul come into my shop, it's like viewing a human pretending to be a wolf. When you walked in, it was like a real wolf had stepped in. The others' nature is on the surface, yours is bone deep, a part of you. When you waited for your turn on the measuring seat, you were by the door and kept Touka by you. Ready to leave at a moment's notice. When I was measuring you, every time I was behind you or around your neck, you tensed. I knew if I made any quick movements you would take my head. There's a purity about it. I know when you hunt it's unclouded by conscience, remorse or delusions of morality."

Marcus snorted a laugh and grinned as he recognized the paraphrased quote. "And I happened to be wearing my Nostromo jacket."

"And you happened to be wearing your Nostromo jacket." The goth added on then asked jokingly. "Am I free to go?"

The Kakuja nodded. "Yeah"

Uta left, letting the door close on its own. Marcus stayed there leaning against the door frame. He wondered if the goth was telling the truth or if everything lined just right for him to lie convincingly. The mask was a perfect fit, in more ways than one. The gothic ghoul was right, he was a predator down deep inside. Even though he was more logical than his other half, he was a hunter. Any profiler worth half his salt could pick that up. Alien is a cult classic. It would've made it's way to Japan by either official transport or bootlegs. It all lines up but that may be the issue. The mask maker was a fourth ward native. He might have been able to put the pieces together or he knew from the get go. Either way, Uta needed to be watched.

Marcus shook his head. He would have to worry about it later. He has to take care of the investigator problem first. He walked back to the others with a purpose. "Right then. We have a mission. We have the will. Now, we have the ability to protect out identities. Now, we need a plan."

"I've got something," Touka replied and pointed a finger at Kaneki. "You. Meet me at the train station. Four o'clock."

Kaneki was in the middle of taking his mask off, which he was having difficulty with. The latches kept catching. "Uh. Sure."

'Great. She'll be late again.'

---

Which she was. Kaneki bowed his head annoyed. It's four twenty. If she kept to her usual pattern she would be another twenty minutes. If that were the case. Nope. Touka showed up not a minute later.

"Yo." She greeted.

"You're early today," Kaneki said surprised. He noticed that she was holding a couple of shopping bags. "What's in those?"

"Our clothes." She held one out to him. "Change into that. I borrowed them so don't get 'em dirty."

"Okay." He said slowly before heading to the men's restroom to change.

When he came out he was wearing a school uniform to a high school that he didn't recognize. It consisted of dark blue themed plaid slacks and navy blue tux jacket that had white lines that ran along the edges of the collar. He had on a navy blue tie with a standard white dress shirt. It was a little embarrassing for him. He hoped that no one he knew saw him. He thought he looked like a cosplayer. He didn't even know what this was for. Touka then walked out of the adjacent girl's bathroom wearing the girls uniform for the same high school. The only difference was that it had a mid-thigh length skirt instead of pants. She had her hair done in a couple of short pigtails still keeping her hair covering one eye and she had a pair of glasses.

Touka gave him a one over and commented. "It fits you perfectly and doesn't look unnatural at all. You still have a kid's face. But you could still use a little touch-up."

She then proceeded to grab his head and start mussing it up. A slightly difficult task as she was at least five inches shower than him. She grabbed his eyepatch and ordered. "Unbutton your jacket, loosen your tie and unbutton the top button of your shirt."

Once that was done, Touka stuffed the eyepatch in her jacket pocket and started walking down the street. Kaneki rushed to over to her side. Walking together side by side mace them look like the lucky bad boy who scored with the hot straight A student. The walked on for close to fifteen minutes in silence, all the while the half-breed grew more and more curious. The residential buildings soon became unending walls of restaurants of multiple varieties.

"Mind explaining what we're doing?" Kaneki asked slightly peeved. "Wearing a uniform, messing up my hair. What's this all about?"

Then they entered a city block with only one building. The twentieth ward's only skyscraper. The branch office for the CCG. It was menacingly tall at height of twenty stories. It was oddly designed. Like someone had cut a square wedge out of the corner of the bottom seventeen floors. There were windows on either side of the wedge and the top. Those were the only windows on the building, the rest was just black steel. A sign the size of a car proudly identified the place as the CCG's twentieth ward office.

"This is…" Kaneki muttered slowly, as his eyes widened in fear at the realization of where he was.

"The CCG. Commission of Counter Ghoul. Their branch office anyway." Touka finished his sentence with nonchalance.

"You can't be thinking about going in there!" He exclaimed.

"Not "Me." "We."" She then grabbed him by the tie and started dragging him towards the entrance.

He protested quite strongly. "You gotta be kidding! We can't just go barging into enemy territory!"

"Shut up." She grumbled. Touka pulled him towards a large display case that was installed in the wall a dozen yards from the main entrance. In it were several wanted posters and seeking information signs. She commanded pointing the half-breed towards the case. "Look at this."

The college student stumbled as he was thrown off balance by the girl's forced direction. He balanced himself and looked at the posters and quickly found Hinami's poster. It only mentioned the description of the clothes she wore the day Ryouko died.

"The investigators take tips from the public. Putting up these posters. Gets more eyes looking. Another thing to worry about with human friends." Touka explained. "So, today we're Shuyu high school students and we're turning in a tip. I'll do the talking, just nod your head."

"Okay. Though I'm nervous without my eyepatch." He said uncertainly.

She pulled out a small plastic bag that had one of Yoshimura's special sugar cubes in it. "Gnaw on this. It'll keep it at bay while we're here."

Kaneki took the bag, opened it, popped the cube in his mouth and stuffed the empty bag in his pocket. Together they stepped into enemy territory where the slightest mistake could kill them.

The CCG lobby was huge. It was about the size of a college classroom . The kind that can hold sixty students with plenty of stretch room. It was wider than it was long by a fifteen-foot margin. About twenty feet from the door was the reception desk, and off to either side of the desk were a pair of waiting areas. Five feet behind that was a low aluminum wall barely three feet tall. Another wall ran perpendicular towards the back of the room that connected to the mall wall directly behind the reception desk. It created two sectioned off pathways that went in opposite directions The main wall was only interrupted twice by openings that look like metal detector gates on either side of the reception desk. Behind the gates to the side are small desks with a computer screen and a pair of men in suits. The gates opened into their respective pathways. The one on the left went into a group of discussion rooms. The one on the right went to the elevators and stairs.

The two ghouls went up to the reception desk and declared that they had information on an investigation. The reception girl was cute and way too peppy for it to be real. She handed them a fill-in form for contact information and told them to sit down in one of the waiting areas after they filled it out. Touka put down some bogus information and handed it back. The two of them occupied a couch in a waiting area and sat down in it. Men and women wearing suits walked in and out, some of them carrying Quinque cases, some not. A good majority of the people were investigators. Kaneki could hear some of the conversations they were having about cases. Both of them felt uncomfortable in here. Every time someone carrying a case passed them it felt like they had been caught. This was bad for their health.

Kaneki looked at the gates and asked. "What are those?"

Touka's eyes flickered at it blankly and answered. "It's an RC scan gate."

"RC scan gate?" He repeated curiously.

"Don't know much about it but a ghoul's RC factor is something like ten times that of a human." She explained. "if a doctor can analyze a blood sample they can find out away. That gate's designed to respond to those high numbers. Ghouls can't go any further than that. It's still under development and costs a hell of a lot of money. It's not that widespread yet. I hear some of the big companies use it but that's about it."

"If it becomes widely used…" He said slowly and finished in his head. 'There would be nowhere we could hide.'

A few moments of pregnant silence passed before a women walked up to them in a dark pinstripe suit. She greeted with a smile and a peppy voice. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Ruisawa with the intelligence department. Aren't you two just the cutest little tipsters? It's nice to meet you."

'Is she for real?' Kaneki asked himself.

Ruisawa sat down on the couch and pulled out a notepad and pencil. "So, what did you see?"

Touka fed the investigator a bogus story about seeing a girl wearing the same clothes that were described on the wanted poster for Hinami down by a river at a random school near the edge of the twentieth ward. Kaneki commented at his fellow ghoul's prompts.

Once Touka finished her little tale the woman asked. "Did you notice anything else. Anything at all? Every detail helps."

The high school girl shook her head. Looking forlorn. "No. I ran out of there as soon as I could. I heard ghouls are a lot stronger than humans. It got me wondering to how investigators fight them. What gives them an advantage of those things?"

"I'm sorry I'm not allowed to disclose that kind of information but…" She clapped her hands and said positively. "Don't worry! The main office sent some highly trained investigators! And one of them is tall and rather handsome. They're the ones who took care of the mother. I'm sure they'll be able to take care of this one, too!"

The female ghoul let out a fake sigh of relief. "That's good to hear, but…"

"But what?"

"It must break their hearts to kill a little girl."

It was a baited statement but it answered something important. It answered how determined the investigators would be to hunt them down and kill them.

Without missing a beat or having to pause to think about it and be any less peppy, she answered. "Not at all. They're a threat to us. They deserve to be exterminated."

"I guess you're right." The violet haired girl responded slowly.

"Well, if that's everything then I'll let you go," Ruisawa said. "Thank you for your help, you made a great contribution today."

She stood up and left. They sat there, letting the statement sink in. The way she said it. "They deserve to be exterminated." She said it with such assurance it was like she had been indoctrinated like the Nazis were. That everything they had been taught was the truth, the whole and nothing but the truth and they were taught it to the point where it was the only thing they can believe. The ghouls got up and started heading towards the door. They had learned a lot here but was it really worth the risk? The weight of what the woman said was especially taxing.

Touka was engulfed by the thoughts the statement had brought on. So engulfed that she didn't see the oncoming man that accidentally walked into her injured arm. She cried out in pain and dropped to her knees, holding her arm. Twice in two days. She needed to be more careful.

"I'm sorry, young lady." A white-gloved hand was held out to her. "Are you alright?"

Touka looked up to respond but froze when she saw it was Kureo who had bumped into her and was offering to help her up. She hesitated; her brain short-circuiting. "I'm… I'm sorry!"

She shot past the human and grabbed Kaneki by the arm and ushered him towards the door. She wanted to kill the investigator. She wanted to kill him so badly, but she knew it would be a bad idea to do that in the middle of dove central. It was literally the fastest way to die for a ghoul. She had to get out of there or else she would end up doing something life-ending level of stupid. That would end this whole thing before she had a chance to do anything. She wasn't going to screw up Marcus' plan that he had spent the entire night working on. Between the two of them, Hinami will be able to live her life as close to a normal girl as possible.

"Touka! That was-" Kaneki whisper yelled.

She replied sharply and quietly. "Not now! And don't say my name here!"

Kureo looked at them oddly. That was some unusually rude behavior. The girl looked rather upstanding to act like that towards an elder. He would've expected that from the boy but not from her. Actually, looking at him now, the investigator noticed that punkish kid looked too meek. His clothes and hair looked right but his movements weren't a match. He seemed too unsure of himself. If he was fake then most likely so was she. There was her arm as well. She acted like it had been freshly injured. It was also the same side he struck rabbit.

Ruisawa passed by at that moment having already passed the report up the chain of command. Kureo turned to her and demanded politely. "Miss, who was that?"

She answered still as peppy as before. "High school students with some information about your case."

Kureo squinted his eyes suspiciously before calling out running up to them. "Excuse me! You two!"

The two of them froze in their tracks. Touka was subtle about while Kaneki about jumped out of his skin. They turned while Touka said, keeping her alias. "Yes, mister?"

"Your eyewitness report on 745. I'm Investigator Mado and I'm in charge of that case. Would you mind telling me a bit more about what you saw…" In a wide sweeping gesture; that every investigator in the room who were previously curious before, saw making them fully invested; he beckoned them towards the RC scan gate. "…inside?"

It wasn't the first time a ghoul had been caught trying to give false information on a case. It had actually happened enough times and they hadn't been ready for it that it was now an unspoken agreement to make all investigators in the lobby aware of any suspicions. Touka was well aware of it. She could see, no, feel all the eyes on them. Most of the doves were casual about it, making no particular change to the way they stood or held themselves. The others, notably the younger ones, were obviously tense and ready. Some even had their hands on their guns, those who had them. Just two words to sum this up: shit, fan.

"Don't worry. I won't take too much of your time." Kureo said assuring. Though the crazed look in his eyes and the psychopathic grin showed his real intentions. "Please."

"I-I'm sorry. This took longer than we expected." Touka excused hurriedly. Fumbling over her words. "We need to get going."

The older investigator held up a hand with his fingers spread. "Five minutes. That's all I ask."

Touka gritted her teeth. They had nowhere to go. Kaneki saw her tense up. He knew how screwed they were.

Suddenly, the older investigator stepped forward in front of the half-breed and pointed a finger at him. "You saw her too, didn't you? You'll do. I'll keep it short come with me."

Kureo grabbed Kaneki by the arm and started dragging him through the gate. The half-breed starting freaking out in every sense of the phrase possible. He was going to pass through the scan gate. The ghoul organ that was transplanted in him was going to set it off. He was in such a state of panic that he couldn't do anything to stop it from happening. His heart was pounding, his thoughts were a jumbled mess. Capable of only thinking about how he was going to die. Painfully. Painlessly. Slow or fast. Tortured, experimented upon, tore apart by a hail of bullets, or perhaps all the above. Nonetheless, he was going to die as soon as he stepped through that gate. In three, two and one. Kaneki stepped over the threshold of the gate.

.

.

.

If there were crickets, they would be chirping.

'Well. This is awkward.' Kureo thought. Though there still was a chance. As far as Kureo saw it, she could've brought a human in preparation. Use him to validate her. Just then Amon walked in. The elder investigator requested pointing towards Touka. "Amon! Could you please escort the young woman over here? She brought us information about number seven forty-five and I want to ask her some questions."

Touka turned around to see Amon looming a few feet from the entrance and a few feet from her. To be fair though with his massive size, he probably looms over everything like an over watching titan. He wore the same outfit he always seems to wear to work. Black suit and tie with the silver cross over the tie. Though today he had added a medical eyepatch. Not like Kaneki's. Closer to a bandage than an eyepatch. His eye injury was still fresh. The doctors said that he was lucky he wasn't losing it. He was also smart enough to bring his Quinque case. He learned that lesson.

Amon heard that, looked around, and was able to put two and two together. He grabbed Touka firmly but gently by the shoulder. His requested. "Please, miss. Come with me."

Touka gritted her teeth, keeping her enraged growl to herself. Then she let him direct herself towards the gate. There were only a few investigators on the other side of the gate including Kureo and Kaneki's there. If she cup-checks Amon as she reaches the gate, grab Kaneki and make a break for it. She could go out through the windows and run for the hills. If she moved fast enough they might have a chance. In the end, that planning was pointless as a thunderstorm of motherly rage walked.

"Terrorizing one child not enough for you, dad?!" Akira demanded out loud.

All eyes shifted over to her. Touka barely held her sigh of relief until she noticed Akira expression. The high school girl unfortunately never had the chance to witness motherly rage. Ryouko was too nice to ever reach that level of rage. The only other major female figure in her life was Irimi and hers was a sisterly kind of rage. Not as great as motherly. She can scratch that off her things to do before she's twenty. Though it's not one to be too proud of.

Akira stalked straight towards Kureo, who looked legitimately terrified. She slapped Amon's hand away from Touka and nodded to her. "Get outta here."

Touka nodded to the youngest Mado present then gestured to Kaneki. "Let's go."

"I'm sorry, sir, but I have to go!" Kaneki bowed respectfully then caught up to his fellow ghoul where they ran like hell.

The blonde investigator walked right up to her father. The tall investigator followed her tentatively. She said. "You didn't think I wouldn't figure out what you did? What you're doing?"

"What do you mean?" Kureo asked. 'She hasn't figured it out, has she?'

"I know you've had issues with my adopted son. That you antagonized him. I was unhappy with but otherwise unperturbed. " She snarled. "But raise a hand against him one more time and I'll tear your career apart."

Amon paused when he heard that. Akira had a son, an adopted son? It wasn't unheard of for investigators to adopt some of the children that were orphaned by the ghouls. Particularly children who were orphaned on their cases. On their watch. Investigators do it as some sort of penance or redemption for not being fast enough to save the child's parents. Knowing what it was like to be an orphan, he can certainly understand the sentiment. Though he never expected Akira to adopt one. She seemed too involved in her work to think about that. Kind of like someone else he knew a long time ago. Aware that this wasn't a conversation that he should be involved in. He stepped away. No, he's not running, he's taking cover. Much more manly.

Kureo clenched his fist and snarled a whisper. "What the hell are you doing?"

"Keeping my son safe from you." She shot back quietly. "I know what you did. You've gone too far. Starting today, I'm using all the leverage given to me by my position to get put in the Cage or off the force entirely. Which one happens, depends on whether or not you stop this charade."

The Cage. Where Quinques are stored, managed and maintained. It also a career ender for investigators. With her piece said, Akira and left. Her rage still more than evident. Kureo's fists tightened to the point where the gloves started stretching. That bastard. That ghoul bastard had completely taken his daughter. She had been so completely convinced by his fake search for redemption that he made her hate her own father. That ghoul had taken away the only he had left in this world that was worth fighting for. He was done with this shit. No more pussyfooting around. No more of this indirect bullshit. He was going straight for the kill. He was going to make Marcus pay, even if he died while doing it. In the determined walk of a man on a mission. Kureo moved towards the exit.

'Anything to keep him away from my daughter.'

Amon rushed to catch up. "Where are you going, sir?!"

"Out," Kureo said tersely. "I have work to do."

"But what about Kusaba's memorial service in the auditorium?" The younger investigator asked.

"I would rather spend that time working. Wouldn't you?" countered the elder Mado.

Amon paused to think about that, letting Kureo leave. Despite his partner being gone he still answered the question. Maybe he was making sure it was the answer he wanted. "Yes, sir."

The memorial service was nothing special. The only speech given was that by the Manager of the twentieth ward office and it lasted about half a minute. Then they were asked to give a moment of silence. Amon was glad that Kusaba's family wasn't present, they would've abhorred how impersonal and it's failure to honor his memory. The tall investigator couldn't say that he knew the guy personally or really respected him as a friend. He was young, naïve and green. Though he was determined enough, if he lived long enough he might have been good at his job. Even if he never rose any higher in the chain of command. It just seemed like a waste of good person's potential.

As Amon left, he ran into Nakajima who looked worse for wear. He had sunken eyes and his five o'clock shadow thickened some. The mentally strained investigator asked wearily. "Wanna grab a bite to eat?"

See that the man really needed to talk, the younger investigator answered. "Sure."

They left and headed for that ramen shop they ate at earlier. Kusaba was quiet and brooding the whole walk over and for few minutes after they ordered their meals. Amon just wondered if the guy was going to talk when he said. "I'm glad he wasn't married. It would've been a pity if he had a wife."

The taller investigator nodded. "That it would be."

Writing letters to a spouse telling their loved one died, is a responsibility no one wants.

"He looked up to you, ya know." The bedraggled investigator stated.

The younger man sighed. "I'm not-"

The cook came by and dropped off their meals. "Here ya go. Hey, where's your friend with the glasses?"

The more righteous investigator winced. When the cook didn't get an answer, he just shrugged and went back to work. Nakajima looked at hid food solemnly.

"I always order this combo here. Every time I did, he teased me about it. Then the idiot would make me pay. I never did anything about but just think 'shut up and eat'. I never realized how much I depended on that." He covered his eyes and tears overflowed from them. "He was my partner, dammit. Who am I gonna buy lunch for, now?"

Amon sighed picked up his chopsticks then devoured his meal with the intensity of a man proving a point. Downing the entire bowl of ramen in less a few minutes. He set it down and place the chopsticks on top of it. As though he didn't turn into a raving ramen monster for a few seconds. "There was no good reason for Kusaba to be killed. The world is wrong. We have to correct it. Nakajima. Buy me lunch sometime. Although, I'm a bigger eater."

Nakajima stared in blank surprise. Then a faint smile touched his features. "Just eat my paycheck and get it over with."

They parted ways, Nakajima paid the check. Amon headed home. The whole night he couldn't stop thinking about how wrong it all was. A man just trying to uphold justice. Children robbed of their loved ones. People who fought to protect others. Why did they have to die? It was all just so wrong. He was going to have to change it. Tear it down and rebuild it. That meant killing every ghoul. That meant preventing anyone else from dying. This world was wrong and it was his job to change it. He was an investigator of the CCG.

---

Kaneki was looking through the newspaper when he saw a small article with the title "investigator killed." They had a picture of Kusaba and the college student was sure that he recognized the dove. He was there when Ryouka.

Touka came by and snagged the paper out of his hand. She only glanced at it for a second, she locked onto the article like the half-breed had. She frowned tersely and said. "You should be working."

"That man in the article. He was one of the investigators." Kaneki said slowly. He already knew the answer but he had to ask. "Was that you?"

"What if it was?" She replied sharply without a moment's pause. "I'm a murderer. If I have to kill to protect those I care about then I'll kill them all. Every last one."

Kaneki's eyes widened in surprise for a second. He realized that being born a ghoul. She must have a different value on life. Kind of like Marcus. They were rather similar on that remark. They only cared about them and their own. They really didn't care about anyone else, and god forgive the people would try to harm those the two of them cared about. Maybe that was why they got along so well. They thought the same way. The half-breed felt like the third wheel. He didn't quite understand that the same way they did. He placed value on all life. It was part of why he couldn't eat flesh. He couldn't get past the fact that people died for that food. He wondered if maybe it was time that he reconsidered that point of view.

"I'm gonna bring Hinami some coffee," Touka said. Reaching for a tray that had a fresh cup of coffee.

"About Hinami." Kaneki notified solemnly , glad for the distraction from his thoughts. Though this wasn't much better. "She doesn't seem to be doing that well. I don't think she's sleeping. Mr. Yoshimura said she hasn't eaten since that day. I'm a bit worried."

She looked at him silently. That was a good thing to worry about but she needed the half-breed's head in the game. She walked towards him, rolled up the newspaper she still had and thumped it against his chest. She complained in playful annoyance. "She's not sleeping because you lent her that long-ass Sen whatever's book. She's having issues because she's stuck in that room. Only one way to cheer her up and that's to get her out. That's why we risked our lives going to the CCG."

As Touka left with the tray that had the coffee on it, running off with his newspaper in the process, Kaneki pondered what she said. Was it actually what she meant, or just a convenient and partially true excuse for revenge?

Hinami was laying on the couch in the meeting room, a white sheet pulled over her up to her shoulders. She wasn't sleeping. She couldn't. Every time she closed her eyes she saw the beaten and bloodied form of her mother before Kaneki covered her eyes just as Kureo cut off Ryouko's head. She remembered the sound of tearing flesh and the thump of something hitting the ground. The smell of blood and death in the air. It all came back to her every time she even thought about sleeping and the few fitful minutes of sleep she might manage to get were filled with nightmares of the old man coming and taking her head, Touka's head, Kaneki's. Everyone she ever cared about lost their head. A knock at the door interrupted those dreary thoughts, Hinami sat up as Touka stepped in.

"Hey, Hina. Sorry, were you sleeping?" The high school greeted, trying to be lighthearted. Hoping that Hinami might be helped by it. "Heard you haven't been eating. You're still a growing girl, you gotta eat."

"Yeah." The girl said drearily. There were dark circles under her eyes from the lack of sleep.

The violet haired teenager looked on sadly. Then she put an air of nonchalance and sat down next to the heartbroken child. "It's all right. You don't have to worry about a thing. I'll take care of everything. I'll show you a bigger world than this tiny room. So just hang in there for a little longer."

"Okay." The last Fueguchi replied, her eyelids lowering in tiredness. She noticed the newspaper in the teenager's hands and a bit of childish innocence came back to her eyes. "What's that?"

Touka looked at the girl blankly in surprise for a second before answering. "Oh, It's a newspaper. The manager has a business subscription to a few of them for the customers."

"Wow. So many words." Hinami said with honest to goodness amazement. The first positive emotion out of her in a few days.

The high school girl smiled at that. It showed she was recovering, slowly but surely. The purple head tossed the newspaper to the girl, who caught who fumbled with catching it for a short bit. "Keep it. You're studying, right? It'll teach you about the human world also. It can be kinda interesting at times."

"Wow! Thanks, Touka!" The young girl exclaimed with glee. If it wasn't for the dark circles she would seem like herself again. "I'll ask Kaneki if I come across any words I don't know."

"You're not gonna ask me?" The older girl asked with feigned disappointment. "Fine."

The young Fueguchi looked up in alarm. "Oh! No, no. I didn't-"

The seventeen-year-old chuckled and patted the preteen on the head. "It's fine. Have fun, alright?"

The brown haired girl nodded enthusiastically. "I will!"

Smiling Touka left giving Hinami a little wave. She missed it. Already engrossed in the newspaper. The high school girl just closed the door quietly and leaned against it. A weight seemed to have been lifted off of her chest. She had briefly worried that despite everything she was doing for the girl, it wouldn't matter in the end if she would never recover from this depression. It was nice to see her heal some. Seeing the young girl smile again did wonders for the high school student. It definitely was a relief. She wondered who the visit helped more. Her or Hinami?

---

Kureo looked around the opening to the underground waterway ran beneath Tokyo. Amon and Nakajima were there too. The latter was looking a little better after a night of real sleep. The Quinque qualified investigators had the anti-ghoul weapons with them and wearing their trench coats. The old man also had a leather bag with him.

Amon took one last look around and sighed. "There's no sign anyone's been here. Their backgrounds were fake and so was the tip. Shoulda listened to you, sir."

"Yes, you should've," Kureo replied never diverting his attention from the large underground passage.

The location. Something about it doesn't seem right. This waterway connects straight to the sewer system that runs throughout in Tokyo. Which can be used to access the Twenty-fourth ward. Which means one can go anywhere in Tokyo from here so long as they knew the tunnels like the back of their hand. Marcus did. He was more than involved in this little showdown. He would know what location would best to take on the old man. This place worked. It had a lot of pillars, both load bearing and not. The older investigator wouldn't be able to use Fueguchi One in here all that effectively, which would force him to use which one of his smaller ones. The Kakuja was well versed in hand-to-hand for his age thanks to Akira especially Wing Chun . Which in the Brit's hands could render any small size Quinque near useless. This was the spot. No doubt.

Amon shrugged. "We have to consider this could just be a prank."

"We get plenty of those," Nakajima commented.

"We're only wasting time here. Let's go." The youngest of the three of them said.

"Go on ahead." Kureo waved a hand dismissively waving the bag in the meanwhile. "I want to look into something."

Amon watched the bag in scrutiny. He had already asked about it but got a cryptic answer. He just shrugged it off and walked away. The man was having some family issues he was entitled to a few secrets. Kureo moved down the tunnel. A manic grin on his face.

On top of a building nearby, Marcus was crouched, wearing his hunting attire, and watched the investigators. He pulled out his phone and sent a quick message to Touka. Then he vanished.

---

Hinami read the newspaper with enthusiasm. She agreed with Touka. It was interesting to read about what was going on in the human world. Between learning more about humans and new words, she was feeling pretty good right now. She came across a new word. Condolences. Curious she looked it up in a dictionary. It meant: expression of sympathy, sadness. Kind of like how she was right now. Being reminded of what she was going through, she went back to the newspaper. Maybe she could get her mind off things again. She paused at an article titled "Investigator Killed." She looked at the picture of Kusaba and her eyes widened in horror as she remembered him. He was there in all her nightmares.

"I'll take care of everything." Touka had said.

Hinami rose slowly, tears fell from her eyes. "What did you do, Touka?"

Touka and Kaneki were charged with closing up shop at the end of the day. She asked, putting on a dark jacket to go with her school uniform. "Did you lock the back door?"

"Yep," Kaneki replied. He had on jeans and a blue hoodie over a dress shirt. He looked and said worriedly. "It's awfully quiet up there."

Touka shrugged. "Maybe she's getting some sleep finally."

"Nah, you said she was really interested in that newspaper. She wouldn't sleep until she was done with that and I didn't get a response earlier." The half-breed countered.

Frowning in thought and worry, Touka headed upstairs and Kaneki followed. Once she reached the door to the meeting room, the violet haired ghoul knocked. "Hinami?"

No answer. Touka opened the door. Kaneki was standing off to the side so he didn't see anything but he saw the pure-blood freeze in her tracks. "What is it?"

"Kaneki, check the other rooms."

"Why?"

"Hinami's missing."

A quick search revealed that Hinami wasn't in the shop as was the bag that held some clothes they brought over from the Fueguchi's house. Touka was now running in the streets, looking for the girl, and she was hauling ass. Kaneki was several paces behind her struggling to keep up. He was no runner, that's not his thing. Physical activity is not his thing. He also had to make sure the shop was locked up. Also, she was an ukaku. Outrunning people is kind of their thing.

"Move it or I'll leave you behind!" Touka shouted back to him.

Kaneki barely heard her. "Huh?!"

Snarling in frustration at the half-breed's incompetence, her Kakugans flashed to life as she drew upon her ghoul nature. Touka took a great leap and started scaling the wall of the building they just started to pass. Using the railings of the balconies on the building as foot holds she climbed it a couple floors at a time. Getting to the top of the five-story building in a few seconds. Kaneki was only able to see her in the night because the building was white. From there she started to hop from rooftop to rooftop. Keeping her eyes towards the ground, hoping she would see Hinami in the alleys and get this damn search over with. Her only hope was that the investigators weren't out hunting.

Kaneki pulled out his cell phone and called Marcus. He was the best person to find Hinami. He can track her and was the only one who was unaffected by the unlit night thanks to the new moon. When the call was picked up, he didn't even give the chance for the Brit to say a greeting. "Hinami's missing."

Marcus swore in English. A rare event. "Do you have any idea where she went?"

"No. Not a clue." The half-breed answered. "That's why I called you."

"'Cause I can track, right. I'll head over to the shop try and pick up her scent. Keep an eye out. I never saw Kureo and Amon go back to the branch office. Assume that they're still out there." The Kakuja notified.

"Okay!" The college student replied before hanging up.

As Touka jumped from roof top to roof top, she thought about what would make Hinami leave. It didn't make sense. What could upset her so much? Unless, that newspaper. There was that article about the investigator she had killed. She gave it to the young ghoul, practically forgetting about it. The high schooler might have even thought that the child might not have put it together that she was the one who killed him. She should have know better. The Fueguchi was bright. The violet haired ghoul felt she always keep messing things up with those that she cares about. A certain person came to mind. She said his name sadly to herself

A strong scent drifted on the winds and up her nostrils. "What's this smell?"

Then Hinami's scream followed the scent. Touka quickly turned direction and moved towards the direction the scream came from. It was the direction of that high school they baited the investigators towards.

'Why is she over here?'

Touka landed next to the waterway opening that she specifically pointed the CCG towards. She heard sobbing down the tunnel. She hopped into the waterway that it opened up into. Hinami was sitting nearby the opening, curled up against the wall. She was holding something but the high schooler couldn't see it. The teenager felt pity as she noticed that the girl was still wearing her clover print nightgown but she had at least had a jacket on. Though the little girl was shivering from the cold. The hems of her pants were soaked from the ankle high water, too. Which also didn't help. If there weren't walkways that were placed next to the walls, her entire bottom would've been soaked and she would have been on the verge of hypothermia.

Touka walked over to the girl and said with the voice that one uses to usher young ones to bed. "There you are. Had me worried for a second. Come on, let's go home."

"No," Hinami replied quietly, surprising the teenager. The little girl started releasing all the thoughts she's been holding in, no longer having "No matter where I hide, I'm going to be killed anyways."

The violet haired ghoul looked at the Fueguchi in dismay. "No! No way! I won't let that happen!"

"That's why you killed that man? That was you, right?" The brown head asked but didn't wait for an answer. "They probably think I did it. The people who killed Mom are coming to kill me too. So I have to keep running and running. I don't want that. I just want mom. I want to go where she is. Send me to where mommy is."

"Hinami." The violet haired ghoul said softly, trying to figure out what to say in response to that. The young ghoul didn't respond and clutched tighter at what she was holding. Touka caught a glance at it and froze in shock. "What are you holding?"

Hinami shifted her arms and revealed a dismembered hand. Ryouko's hand. Touka's stomach churned at the sight. The young Fueguchi said despairingly. "Why does this happen to us? Aren't we allowed to live? Why?"

The high schooler watched the child sadly. Such questions were a terrible burden on a young girl. She couldn't answer those questions, she didn't even know the answers herself. What she could answer was what she was doing for Hinami. "I went to the CCG's headquarters for the twentieth ward. I talked to them directly. Hinami, they barely have any information on you. They don't have a photo of you or even a sketch. The only people who know you face are those four bastards that were there that day."

Touka stepped towards Hinami, lowered to her knees and hugged the little girl. "Hinami, I'll protect you. I won't let them kill you. That's a promise. I don't know if ghouls are allowed to live either but there has to be a reason we exist."

Hinami started crying and let go of her mother's hand to return the hug. The limb fell to the ground.

"Let's go home." The high school girl said softly.

Touka stood up and took a few steps back. She called Kaneki. He answered exhausted. "Hello?!"

"Kaneki? I found her." She told him.

"Good." He sighed in relief. "Where are you?"

She replied. "Near Kasahara elementary."

"Why was Hinami there?" Alarm filled the half-breed's voice.

The violet haired girl missed it and looked at Hinami, who was setting down the arm with solemn care. "She was attracted here by… Ryouko's hand. Must've been washed down here by the rain."

Panic bubbled over as Kaneki remembered that Ryouko still had her hand when he showed up. "Get out of there Touka! The doves! They're still out there!"

A shiver clawed up Touka's spine as she felt the presence of a third person. She didn't hear the panic ridden ghoul continue to warn her of the impending danger unaware he was too late. She turned slowly to the opening in the underground waterway. Standing there on the same walkway as the two female ghouls was Kureo. Dressed in his full hunting attire with a Quinque case in either hand. One eye wide the other squinted, and a mad grin that could split his face in half. He greeted in a voice that would impress the late, great Hannibal Lector.

"Hello, rabbit."

---

Kaneki looked at his phone in despair. "Touka! Damn!" He hung up and started running towards Kasahara.

Thank god, he was already on his way there. When Marcus told him that the doves might still be out he ran for the elementary. He couldn't help but imagine getting there too late to help and wanted to get ahead. Fat load of good that helped. He was by the same waterway that went near Kasahara High school but he was some ways from Touka. He was on the sidewalk that was set near the edge of the wall of the waterway. What kept people from an unfortunate fall or an unexpected was a three-foot high railing. As he ran, the half-breed heard another set of running footfalls. They were heavier and of a wider gait than his. He looked behind him. No one there. He looked over the edge down towards the pathway next to the waterway beneath where he was running.

Amon was there running parallel to Kaneki several paces back. The teenager almost tripped as he panicked some. Then he noticed that the investigator hasn't noticed him yet. Matter of fact, he looked too focused to be aware of his surroundings. That's when the ghoul noticed that the Kureo wasn't there. He quickly put together why. That meant that that Touka was fighting a fair one on one match with the old man. She had a chance to win that. So long as the taller investigator wasn't there. If she was to have a chance at saving Hinami and getting their plan completed. That fight needed to stay one on one. It was going to be his job to make sure it stays that way.

Amon moved with the determination, his tech coat flapped in the wind and against his Quinque. Kureo had called him not too long ago, telling him to head towards the waterway opening near Kasahara, that there were ghouls present. No need to be told twice, he immediately ran for his partner. Suddenly, Kaneki dropped from above and landed in front of the investigator, stopping him. The half-breed had his hood pulled up and his mask on.

'I don't want to go through what I did with Ryouko. Never again.' He told himself bolstering his moral.

"Who are you?" Amon asked coldly. When he wasn't answered, he snarled. "If you won't tell me, then move."

Kaneki didn't hesitate. He charged forth, winding up a punch. All he had to do was buy time, he couldn't let the investigator get to the others. Now, he had been told by both Touka and Marcus that despite his lack of any real muscle definition, if he threw a punch with all he had he could knock an average guy to the ground. Amon may have been bigger than the average human but he was just that. Human. The half-breed threw his punch at the human's chest fully believing he had this. Unfortunately, the college student could never be that lucky. His fist thumped against the towering man's chest harmlessly. He might have done something considering that the investigator had some cracked ribs but he took high-end painkillers designed by the CCG, he barely felt a thing.

A look of derision flashed across Amon's face and he grabbed Kaneki and threw him to the ground with one hand. He planted a knee in the half-breed's chest to hold him down and snarled. "As an investigator, I've run into a few idiots pretending to be ghouls, like you. You shouldn't be wearing that mask.."

He reached down to take off the ghoul's mask. Kaneki really didn't want that to happen. He twisted, Amon's knee sliding off, giving the half-breed freedom of movement. He swung a leg around to kick at the investigator, who flinched in surprise as the foot moved towards his previously injured eye. Not in the mood to have it worsen, the taller investigator brought his arm up to block it. Clear of the pin, and the chance of getting back in it, the ghoul rolled away. Putting some distance between them. He came up to his feet.

Kaneki felt like an idiot. He should've known better. Touka had also said that a properly trained human would be strong enough to not be affected. There was no way that an investigator wouldn't be properly trained and be an average guy. They hunted creatures who were several of times stronger than them. They had to be trained to even survive a fight with a ghoul, let alone win. This didn't change what he had to do. Touka needed every second to beat Kureo and if she couldn't that then Marcus needed time to get to her. Holding off this guy was the best way to do that. All that training meant that he couldn't do this half-assed. He was going have to do this without holding anything back. For the first time, he drew upon his ghoul instincts willingly and his single Kakugan formed.

"You were so inept I thought you were a human," Amon commented derisively, he was surprised that a ghoul could have such a weak punch. Though that didn't matter much. His face settled into a mixture of anger and determination. "But if you are a ghoul, I can't let you live."

He pressed the button that opened the Quinque case and it dropped empty as his club like Quinque formed in his hand. Kaneki froze at the sight of the weapon. He had only glimpsed it when Ryouko died but he had no idea of what it could do. No idea that the advantages he thought he had were countered. So, when Amon charged forth and swung his Quinque in a wide baseball swing, the half-breed just tried to lean out of the way. It went by with a rush of air and the edge of the weighted end brushed the side of his face near the eye socket. It kept going, throwing Amon off balance. He adjusted his stance so he wasn't thrown onto his back and the massive weapon slammed into the ground carving a bevel into the concrete.

A small cut formed where the Quinque grazed the side of Kaneki's face and blood slowly seeped out. The college student held a hand to it, dabbing his fingers in the blood and held out the red stained fingers so he could see it. His blood froze. That thing can harm ghouls. Newly renewed terror flooded through him. He felt really screwed. No wonder the investigators were so terrifying. They had a way to kill ghouls and no one in the ghoul community knew what it was. The one advantage his kind had was torn away from them. It left them weak in a world where they were hated and everyone wanted to kill them. If he was going to survive this he was going have to fight with everything he's got. Including the part of him that he doesn't want to use.

---

Kureo walked slowly towards the two female ghouls and greeted as though they were old family friends. "Good to see the two of you again so soon. Fueguchi's daughter and Rabbit. Or do you want me to call you by your fake name Yamaguchi? Entirely your choice."

Touka glared at him and didn't answer. He just continued on without interruption. "I don't get why the gate didn't sound for that boy, assuming that he was human, but I do get why you walked through the front doors of the CCG. A literal death sentence for your kind. At first, I thought it was just to disrupt the investigation with false information, a pathetically crude plan. Then I thought, it must be for the daughter and I took a look at this place. That's when I realized your true plan. You were going to kill me and place the blame on someone else. That way she can live a peaceful life without incurring the wrath of the CCG."

She twitched. That was exactly the plan. She now knew that Marcus wasn't kidding when he said that the man was terrifyingly intelligent.

"You don't need to kill Amon as he is a righteous man but he won't go out of his way and disobey the CCG's orders to get revenge. He's young like that. Nakajima doesn't have strength or will to do anything like that. There're quite a few organizations who would be more than happy to get involved in this. It's an ingenious plan. The threat would be gone and everyone could go back to their relatively peaceful lives. Honestly, though the idea of a monster like you wishing for a peaceful life make me sick." His expression seemed to grow more and more impossibly insane. He was goading her, she knew that but that didn't mean that it wasn't working.

He turned his attention to Hinami. "Did you like my gift, little one? I figured you were missing your mother, so I decided to give you a little memento to remember her by."

With that, Touka's last bit of self-control snapped. A roaring battle cry made of rage echoed out from her as she charged forth. Kureo accepted her challenge with his mass-murderer grin and released the Quinque made from Asaki's Kagune, now officially dubbed Fueguchi one. It threw off the case as it shot towards the ghoul combatant in a spiral movement. She jumped and spun in mid-air, flying through the center of the spiral, the inhumane weapon passing her within inches.

"Impressive! You are certainly no small fry!" Kureo complemented. "If you weren't destined to die today, you might have become troublesome!"

She flew towards the old man, coming at him with a high powered leap kick. He brought his weapon back to block with it. He threw her away with it, sending her towards the wall on the other side of the underground waterway. During flight, she tore off her jacket and summoned her Kagune. She landed against the wall with her feet braced against it and her hand reaching out to dig her fingers into the concrete. There she crystallized her Kagune and fired a barrage of Ukaku shards at the investigator. Like before, he swung his arm back bringing the Quinque back to him having it coil in front of him to shield himself from the ranged attack. He uncoiled it and like a spring, it snapped forth towards her.

Touka jumped off the wall, dodging the demented weapon while her ukaku reverted to its normal form. The anti-ghoul weapon bounced off the wall, cratering it in a cloud of dust and rubble before following her. She landed and sped to the right going around one of the many pillars. More than eager to play cat and mouse, Kureo commanded the Quinque with a flick of his wrist to follow her and impale her in the back. As it neared her, she juked it and leaped into the air. She landed on the centipede-like Quinque between the pillar and the old man. It turned with unnatural speed going around another pillar, seeking to taste her blood. The high school girl jumped off towards another pillar. Her ghoul claw reached out and stabbed into the pillar, swinging her around it.

The Quinque chased her blindly around the pillar. She made her descent, landing in the water in a crouch and sliding back fifteen feet from the speed creating a small v-shaped wake in the murky water. She watched as the Quinque as it sped towards her face. She didn't flinch as it suddenly stopped a few inches from her face. Kureo looked around in appreciative surprise as he noticed that she had led Fueguchi around into wrapping itself around three pillars while forcing him to stretch it into its max length. She smirked in victory reminding herself to thank Marcus for choosing this particular spot. It's width giving plenty of room to run around with speed but all the pillars and columns made it cumbersome for him to use his Quinque.

The nimble moving ghoul ran towards him, throwing her dagger hand strike. The experienced investigator tossed the released Quinque to the side, causing it to go limp and fall from the pillars and splash into the water. He deflected the lethal blow with the other Quinque case and with his newly freed hand, punched her. It was way stronger than it should have been, coming from an older human. It struck her across the face and all momentum she was stopped and spun from the blow. She landed on her back. Her cheek already started to swell and blood dripped down from a cut on her lip.

Touka was dizzy for a second and her eyes were blurry. As the fog vanished from her head and her vision cleared, she saw the old man lift his boot over her head and bring it down in a curb stomp. The violet haired ghoul rolled out of the way and she saw him crater the ground with his foot despite the water cushioning the blow. Wasting no time, she came back at him with her aerial roundhouse kick. He brought his free arm and blocked it wholly, without having his arm broken or being shoved back or even flinching. She quickly retaliated by coming around with another roundhouse kick from the opposite direction with blinding speed. He caught her leg with the same arm with just as much speed. Before she had the chance to wonder what the hell was going on, he threw her into a pillar.

Touka bounced off it, coughing up blood, before splashing into the water. She shook it off and charged with her Kagune ready to strike. "Block this, asshole!"

Kureo grinned and said. "Okay."

He opened the other Quinque case and Ryouko's Kagune spilled out. Much like it was with Fueguchi One, Fueguchi Two was just like it was when Mrs. Fueguchi still had it except it was paler and the red flesh had a darker tone. The high schooler's Kagune slammed into the Quinque harmlessly. She bounced back and stared at the abomination of a weapon in shock. That's how the investigators can kill ghouls, by using their own bodies against them. Then she looked at Fueguchi one and finally realized that it was Asaki's.

Kureo's grin grew well past what should've been possible for a human as he saw Hinami's eyes widen in horror. "What do you think?! I told you that I figured you would missing your Mom! So I decided to bring her along, I even brought along your papa! It's one big family reunion!"

Hinami closed her eyes, tears spilling from her eyes as she clutched the sides and let out a blood-curdling scream. Touka, filled with rage, charged screaming out. "You bastard!"

"Haven't learned anything, have you?!" He held the Quinque handle above his head. It curled down around him, creating a bubble of impenetrable Koukaku flesh. "Still impulsive, short-sighted and rash. Perpetually careless and thus you'll die."

He spun it around letting unravel around him and turn into a fleshy rotor blade of death. One of the wings latched on to her leg and threw her into one of the pillars. Then with a sweeping gesture of his arm, one of the wings impaled her to the wall as she started falling. Her agonized scream echoed throughout the waterway.

"That's it." He encouraged wrapping one wing around her arm and crushing it. She screamed more. "Scream louder! Make sure Marcus can hear you!"

"Touka!" Hinami cried worriedly, taking a few steps forward.

"Don't think I've forgotten about you." He laughed maniacally. Two of Fueguchi's wings lashed out to wrap around the little girl. One grabbed her legs, the other went around her arms and chest. He lifted her up and held her beside her fellow.

Once she adjusted to the pain, The violet haired ghoul asked, gritting her teeth. "What does Marcus have to with this?"

Kureo then started laughing. Full on evil overlord style. "He has everything to do with this. He's the whole reason I'm doing this!"

"What?" She asked disbelievingly.

"I have been waiting for years to get the chance to kill him and get him away from my daughter but he was too careful. I kept an eye on him, waiting for him to slip up. He never did. I knew I had to force his hand. I saw how he acts around you, he likes you, then Mrs. Fueguchi and her daughter step and interact with you. You were like family. It was the perfect line up. The Fueguchis were on our watch list, so I could hunt them freely and the twentieth ward was having issues with the Binge Eater, giving me an excuse to be here. All I had to do was agitate you, get you to act out in vengeance and he would to the rescue like a knight in shining armor." He stopped and thought about it before correcting himself. "Black armor."

Touka asked. "If you knew me, then why didn't you kill me at your headquarters?"

He just shrugged. "I'll admit I'm old. The whole look you two had thrown me off enough and the anticipation of getting you caught as imposters made me overlook some details. I didn't piece it together till much later."

She shook her head. "Why all this? He's not corrupting her, he loves her. Akira's his mom."

His face broke from his usual mad gleeful expression and contorted in rage. "Ghoul lies! He is a bad influence on her! He's feeding her lies and false ideas of ghouls being like humans! You're not! You're hyenas gnawing on dead flesh! You're trash. Why is it that your kind insists on living off of the sins you commit on others?"

"'Cause we want to live." She replied through gasp of pain as she tried to lift herself up some and lessen the pain. "What's wrong with that? We may be different but we were still given life. Given a chance. If we can only eat human to survive then that's we'll do. How else are we supposed to live? Tell me! You guys think you're so much better than us but could you say that if you were in our shoes. Just die, you asshole. All of you can die and go to hell! Ghouls want to live like you guys. I want to live like you guys."

Touka's eye brimmed with tears as she confessed the one thing she had never confessed to anyone. She didn't know why she said it. Maybe she thought if he knew the real truth about ghouls, he might understand and let them go. Unfortunately, she couldn't get past the lifetime of racism towards ghouls and the bone-deep hatred Kureo has for them.

"Inane prattle of a bug trying to save its own hide." He scoffed. Crouching to pick up Fueguchi one. It twitched to life, slowly untangling itself from the pillars and moving towards the teenager. His manic grin slithered back onto his face. "Marcus likes you. So there has to be a physical quality about you that he likes most. Natural hair color like yours is particularly rare. It was introduced by scientists close to two decades ago to see how a new gene could spread in the population. Today only one every two million people have it."

The curved blade like barb at the end of Fueguchi one brushed a few strands of her hair. The edge was sharp enough to cut them. Then it lowered down to her exposed eye and hovered half an inch away. Her pupils dilated to pinpoints in fear. "You also the unique eye color gene, too, how lucky. Maybe he actually is that romantic that he pretends to be and likes your eyes. Or, it's all an act and he is the beast that resides within and appreciates you only for your body."

The tip of the weapon traveled down and caressed the side of her breast, brushing her stomach and tracing the inside of her thigh before lifting up in front of her. Touka's skin crawled at the sensation as she felt sick from this foul action. She snarled "I'm gonna kill you."

He ignored her. "Since it's clear he's not going to be here anytime soon, I say we leave him a message and we'll carve it on your flesh. He'll be so enraged he won't be able to think properly and he'll charge into the office where dozens of investigators will take him down."

Fueguchi two grabbed her intact arm and held while Fueguchi One came down and tore the sleeve of her shirt. Then it slowly started carving into her arm. She screamed in pain and fear. There was no dignity behind it, no defiance. Just the cry of an animal who can do nothing but scream in response to what's being done to her. It hurt so much she was crying. She thrashed wildly, instinctively, not even thinking anymore. Just reacting. It hurt so much. Hinami wailed and cried, begging for him to stop, saying anything that might end the torture. Kureo ignored it all and laughed.

Then a voice louder than all the others, ringing with rage and the desire for vengeance cried out. "KUUREEEOOOO!"

---

Kaneki attacked with his weaker, frail version of Rize's Kagune made of only two tentacles. Amon swiped at them with his Quinque, breaking a foot off of each tentacle. Then he brought his weapon back around and batted the half-breed off to the side. He rolled and tumbled before slamming into the railing that separated the man-made stream and the pathway. The investigator has been passing the college student a beat down. He was no match even with his Kagune. How could he be with that pathetic thing? He wasn't trying to win, though. Just keep this guy busy for as long as possible until either Marcus or Touka finished up with the other guy and come this way. No problem.

"Mask wearing demons." Amon snarled to himself then addressed the ghoul. "There's a question I've been meaning to ask your kind. Killing innocent people, feeding on them as you desire. Many children have lost their parents at your hands. The sadness, the loneliness, the emptiness of those left behind. Have you ever imagined what it's like?"

'Why is he telling me this?' Wondered Kaneki.

"There's a ghoul know as Rabbit. She killed one of my colleagues just yesterday." The investigator's grip tightened on his Quinque till his knuckles whitened and anger hardened his voice. "Why was he killed? Because he was an investigator? Because he was human? Why?! What possible reason was there for him to be killed?! This world is wrong! And it's you monsters who are screwing it up!"

Kaneki stiffened at that. He couldn't blame the guy for feeling angry about his colleague's death. That investigator that Touka killed. The people who are killed and eaten by other ghouls. Ghouls have brought a lot of pain and sorrow to people. Just like he said. Ghouls are distorting this world. He had a point and the half-breed couldn't argue with that. But. What about Ryouko? Wasn't the way she died just as wrong? She hadn't harmed a soul, probably not even a fly? She was murdered just for her relation to her husband who killed to feed his family. And Hinami. Her parents were taken away just like those human kids. Is there any difference? Ghouls have feelings too, just like humans. It should mean something. Doesn't that mean something? Can the investigator even see that? Or can it be that he can't see past the fact they're different?

Wait… what if only I can? What if the only one who can understand both sides, is someone who can stay impartial? What if that person is me? Someone who's both human and ghoul?

Just like Marcus had said. They had a different view on the relations between ghouls and humans. Marcus could see it because he belonged to neither world with the way his is and had an objective view. Kaneki saw it because he has personal experience on both sides. He could understand the feelings of both ghouls and humans. Maybe even better than Marcus. He had to show Amon this. But how? He remembered the woman at the ward office, how she seemed like she was indoctrinated. Most likely the dark haired investigator was too. So, how? Investigators are trained to look at the evidence and make inferences of that. If the ghoul presented evidence, then he might listen. Of course, he had to get the guy to listen first.

"You are exactly right," Kaneki said. "Many ghouls have gone astray. The ghoul you call Rabbit is probably one of them. I understand what you are saying but to be convinced someone is wrong without truly knowing all the facts. That can't be right. You have to understand who you are judging."

"What are you saying?" Replied Amon. "I don't understand."

The half-breed brought himself to his feet, eye shining with determination. "Then I'll make you understand." 'Because I'm the only one who can.'

"Understand what?" The investigator snapped.

Suddenly, Kaneki shot forward. Amon raised his Quinque instinctively to block, which the half-breed counted on. He grabbed onto the club like weapon and started shoving for all he's worth. The investigator's boot started sliding on the concrete and he was being pushed back. The college student had no idea where this strength was coming from, neither did the human. For the first time in this fight, Eyepatch actually seemed like a ghoul. The taller male tried pushing back but couldn't stop till he had put his full body into it. By that time they had moved fifteen feet and his back heel was within an inch of the wall to the waterway.

"You had asked why your colleague died, right?" Kaneki asked.

Amon looked at the ghoul oddly and replied hesitantly. "Yeah."

"Then let me tell you about the innocent woman you murdered two days ago at five fifty-three in the evening." The half-breed stated.

"Innocent? None of your kind is innocent." The investigator snarled. Using his larger size and body weight he shoved back the ghoul and swung his oversized Quinque. "Why should I believe anything you say?"

The younger male ducked beneath the man-made Kagune then grabbed it from behind bringing the two combatants side by side. This newfound determination and strength were sudden and foreign to him. Maybe he was so focused on showing his enemy the truth that he gained strength from it. "None of us are innocent? How do you know that? Were you told it or do you just think that?"

The righteous investigator surprised himself when he hesitated. "I know it. I witnessed the true nature of ghouls when I was a child. Since then all I've seen from ghouls is the harm and despair they bring. You kind is evil!"

"When Al Qaeda ran those planes into the Twin Towers, they killed close to three thousand people. Does that make every Iraqi person murderers, too?" The half-breed was suddenly glad he took that World History class in high school.

The investigator gritted his teeth answering through them. "No."

The high school nodded and continued. "Two days ago. Five fifty-three pm. Her name was Ryouko Fueguchi. Wife and mother. In her entire life, the number of people she killed is zero."

"If she told you that and you believed it, then you're naïve. If you're not lying" The older male countered.

The teenager squinted his eyes in scrutiny. "You fought her. Can you look me in the eye and tell me that she's capable of killing someone?"

Amon slammed his head into Kaneki's making him stumble back in pain and confusion. The investigator only was stunned for a second, having trained to recover faster from a head butt. He raised his Quinque over his head and brought it down on the half-breed. He was only stunned for a couple seconds longer. Ghoul toughness. He sidestepped the lethal blow. It slammed into the ground with earth shattering force. The ghoul planted a foot on the spot where the large weight made of Quinque material met the plain steel shaft. He grabbed the human by the collar and pulled him down forcibly, pressing their foreheads together. Giving the tall human no choice but to look his opponent in the eye.

"Tell me," Kaneki demanded.

For a second, for one second. The message got through. A flicker of doubt went through Amon as he really thought about it. Ryouko did not seem like a killer. She didn't have the guts. He remembered this one point in his fight against where he misjudged a swing and it left his back open to her. She had the chance to kill him, to take her Kagune and stab him in the back, to tear him in half, to break his spine in a thousand places. She could've used any method to kill him and she just knocked him back a few feet. From that point of logic, he followed the path. If she wasn't willing to kill and the daughter was able to. Then how did they feed? That job was left to the father. Ask any husband and father. Would they kill to feed and protect their family? The answer, ninety-nine percent of the time, would be yes. In that moment of doubt, the line between human and ghoul blurred.

Kaneki saw this and started pressing that advantage. "The daughter had her mother killed three months after her father died. Rabbit was a friend to them. Between seeing innocent people murdered and the agony it brought on the daughter. She got angry and wanted revenge. Like you and like you, she didn't look at who she was taking out her vengeance on. Did she kill an innocent person? Yeah, but so did you."

Amon's shoulders slumped as the full realization of what he did hit him. He hated ghouls primarily because of the kids they orphaned, which came from his own experience as an orphan. With this new view, how was he supposed to hate ghouls for the same thing he has done. Flashes of all the ghouls he had killed came to his mind. He wondered how many were people looking to feed their families, how many were just trying to live with what life had given them. Then that thought stirred another. How many of those ghouls gave the people they killed a second thought let alone a first. How many just killed without a care for who they were hurting. He thought back to that bloody altar he saw before. That moment of weakness was gone.

"You know, in battle, you're not supposed to talk this much." Amon snarled.

Kaneki saw that the investigator was no longer frozen by doubt and started to move away but then human said. "This is how you use your mouth in a fight."

Amon's head snapped forward and he latched onto one of the bolts of Kaneki's mask with his teeth. Unable to get away, the half-breed couldn't do anything to stop the investigator from inverting his grip on his Quinque, tilting it forward and thus throwing the ghoul off balance. Once he was sure his opponent was unbalanced enough. The investigator let off the bolt and shoved the college student with his anti-ghoul weapon. He then adjusted his grip on the weapon again and swung it like a golf club, striking the teenager in the side and sending flying away. The dark haired ghoul landed several feet from the investigator, gasping for air and suffering at least one broken rib, maybe two. He was left gasping for air.

"Save your prattle for someone who actually cares." Stated Amon.

Kaneki got himself to his knees and watched the investigator. He almost got the guy to believe him for one second. Perhaps the reason he snapped back, was that he wasn't willing to accept anything else but what he's known all his life. At least in the subconscious level. Though he started doubting and that might be all that's needed. Maybe that seed of doubt could grow into a curiosity to know the truth and he might be more willing to accept the idea then. Which was fine and dandy but now the half-breed needed to get out of this situation. He only saw one way to do that and that was with his Kagune. Not the pathetic one he's been using, but the one he used against Nishiki. Rize's Kagune.

I'm scared I might lose control .

He charged forth.

That I might hurt him more than I might have to but…

Amon flinched as Kaneki leapt into the air.

At least while I'm fighting,

He unzipped the zipper that ran between the teeth on his mask that coincidentally ran over his mouth.

I need to embrace the ghoul inside me.

As he descended down upon the investigator, he opened his mouth wide.

Rize!

Then Kaneki bit down on Amon's shoulder, the opening in the mask wide enough to bite unobtrusively. Then he tore a chunk of flesh off taking some of the clothing that was in the way with it. The investigator growled in pain and threw the ghoul off. The half-breed rolled and tumbled before stopping in his feet in a crouch. The swallowed the flesh in his mouth, clothes and all. Ghouls may not have been able to enjoy the same pleasures as humans can but in that place was the taste of human flesh. He could feel the hunger start trying to consume him as he stood. He held his right hand out as three of Rize's quality of Rinkaku tentacles formed following the direction of the outstretched hand. As though they were directed by it. He could now understand why ghouls like Rize existed, having felt the pleasure of tasting human flesh. But he refused to lose sight of who he was.

Kaneki jumped into the air, his fully developed Kagune gathered loosely around his arm. Amon yelled out a battle cry and swung with his Quinque. The half-breed attacked aiming straight for the weapon made from ghouls. The tentacles pierced the weighted of the Quinque, tore it to pieces and chunks scattered everywhere. He landed behind the investigator with grace. The investigator blinked in surprise at the new and surprising strength the ghoul was displaying. He was screwed without his Quinque. A gash opened up in the opposite shoulder of the bite wound, blood staining his coast. He dropped to his knees, pressing a hand against his wound trying to slow the bleeding.

"Seems I've woken up a hungry lion." He mumbled. "I'm sorry, Harima. I couldn't-"

"Run." Kaneki's strained voice interrupted. He held his right keeping it down. Like it had its own will. "Please. Run. Before I kill you."

"I'll never turn my back on a ghoul!" The investigator shot back defiantly.

"Go! Please!" The ghoul shouted. He looked at the human with desperation, fear, and sadness. "Don't make me a murderer."

---

Marcus sped down the waterway as he seemingly flew with a hundred foot long jump, closing the distance. His Spartan battle cry echoing off the walls, the water splashing behind him in a massive, wing-like wake. He cocked his fist back and threw an uncharacteristic full-bodied punch. Kureo grinned as he brought around Fueguchi One to defend himself from the guaranteed to be an overly lethal strike. The enraged Kakuja's fist collided into one of the segments. It fragmented beneath the force of the blow, slivers and shards flew off and the water beneath was disturbed by a shock wave that was created from how strong the blow was. The old man threw the Brit back with his Quinque. Who tumbled in the air before twisting lithely like cat and landing on his feet.

Kureo chuckled and faced his enemy fully. "I was beginning to wonder if you would ever show up."

"Well, I'm here now. Let them go!" Demanded Marcus. He didn't have the time to change out of his hunting attire. So, his mask combined with his glare gave him a terrifying look.

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I can't do that." The investigator said gravely. He twisted the handle to his Fueguchi Two sharply and a crackling sound came from it as it solidified into a hard stone like substance. When he let go of the handle it didn't go limp or move, just shift slightly from the unsupported weight.

Touka and Hinami struggled against their bonds but no more luck than the when the Quinque was flesh. Marcus snarled. "What the bloody hell?!"

"Incentive." The elder Mado responded spreading his arms out like it should be obvious. "There is a timer on it. In fifteen minutes, it'll come back to life and start attacking randomly, targeting things it's in contact first."

The Brit looked at the violet haired girl worriedly who looked back with the same expression but with a hint a fear then she looked at Hinami and the emotions on her face doubled in intensity. Marcus bowed his head in defeat then stood. "What do you want?"

"To fight me," Kureo stated. "In my chest, I have a heart monitor and it's synced with the Quinque. My heart stops within the next fifteen minutes the lock releases and it lets the girls go. No harm done. Otherwise, well you know."

The Kakuja snarled like an animal. "Why should I believe you?"

The old man laughed. "I may be tricksy, but I am a man of my word. After all, it's why we're here."

The teenager sighed, looked up at Touka. He asked tenderly. "Will you be alright up there?"

"Yeah, I'll just chill and hang here." She tried for some levity but she winced in pain and the still damp tears subtracted from the image. Seeing the usually tough and strong girl in such a weak position angered the Brit even more. She saw that and chose to go the direct route. "We'll be fine. Just win."

Hinami nodded encouragingly. The Kakuja frowned and stared down the investigator. "Fine."

The Kakuja took a stance. He had his left leg out and bent slightly; the ball off his foot the only part that was touching the ground. His other foot was solidly beneath him and that leg was bent slightly too. His left arm was held out relaxed and bent at an obtuse angle at the elbow. His hand was open, palm facing out to the side. His right arm was elevated slightly, forearm brought around to point the palm of his open hand over the crook of his other arm. His back was straight but not ramrod, drill sergeant approved straight. More relaxed.

Touka blinked at this. She knew this stance. Not personally but she had a Netflix account and she watched Ip Man. That was Wing Chun. She wasn't entirely sure Marcus could win this. Kureo wasn't anything nice as she can attest to. She may have only faced off with two other investigators and that was years ago but she could tell. This old man was leagues above the younger guys she fought so long ago. However, there was that strength he had shown when he charged in. That punch was way stronger than the one that broke his arm and Yomo's arm and far as she could tell he suffered no damage. Had he been holding back? If he had then he has a lot more strength than he lets on. Maybe if he used that then he won't lose.

Kureo chuckled. This was going exactly according to plan. He knew the brit would refuse to show his true form in front of his fellow ghouls. With his little gift from Chigyou, this fight was his. He activated the newest modification to Fueguchi One. The Quinque condensed and shrank, each segment thinned, getting smaller and smaller till it was two feet long. Then it stiffened going ramrod straight. Resulting in a two-foot long katar with a serrated edge of the outside with an inwardly curved point. He took a wide stance with his empty hand out and the transformed Quinque held close and pointed at his enemy.

Confusion flickered across Marcus' face. That modification was a completely ineffective thing in this fight. Kureo knew that the Kakuja was specializing in hand-to-hand, transforming the Quinque into that brought the fight into his realm. Then there was the tension. Fueguchi one didn't change its shape. It just tightened the muscles and collapsed in on itself. It was now like a spring attached to the strut on a car. Eventually, the strut will wear and break and the spring will-

'Oh, shit!'

Kureo stabbed forward the Quinque in a punching motion and pressed the release, and it shot out like a bullet from a gun. Extending at a rapid pace, moving at five times the speed it did before. Marcus tried redirecting it off to the side like he did before using a Wing Chun Technique but as soon his hand touched the speeding weapon, it decided to go with it. He was sent careening through the air, getting thrown back ten feet. The old man flicked his wrist and the weapon circled around with the same blinding speed, and as the Kakuja landed on his feet, it struck him across the shoulder. Flesh tore and a fountain of blood spewed out. The teen was sent flying back another five feet. Fueguchi one was brought back around to attack with a lunge. The brit brought his hands up and caught the barb between them. It pushed him back even further before yanking itself from his hands and twirling high and coming down on him. He rolled out of the way of the blow and it slammed into the way shattering the concrete beneath the water.

Kureo brought his hand back and Fueguchi returned to him, condensing into the katar form again. Seeing that if he stayed out of close combat range, he would lose, the dark haired ghoul kicked up to his feet and charged. Marcus rarely uses such aggressive tactics, usually being one to wear out his opponent with dodges and light punches before making the final blow. Like the predator he was. Which was why Wing Chun appealed to him. It redirected the enemy's attacks and let the user get in close to deal a bunch of light blows which eventually wore down the opponent. Also, the small, simple, and fast movements let him conserve stamina, pairing so well with his Ukaku based abilities. He may have had all the types but his strongest was his Ukaku. Hence it's massive size.

Marcus ran, wielding the same speed as when he came to stop Touka's torture. Kureo chuckled again, his grin never ending and released the Quinque again. However, this time he spun it in a wide horizontal twirling motion which when combined with the speed created from the built up tension made a Quinque blender of death. A Quinque blender of death that was pointed at the Kakuja. Showing a wisdom well beyond his years, the Brit slid to a stop, the ankle high water helping him to slow down. Even so, he stopped within a foot of the blender. Then the Elder Mado swung his Quinque in a circle over his head barely missing Touka and Hinami and struck the male ghoul across the chest carving a deep gash all the way across. He spiraled from the blow in a spray of blood.

"You're not doing all that well, are you?" Kureo mocked. "I would hurry up too. A minute has already passed."

Marcus got a hand under him, that one that belonged to his uninjured and shakily got himself to a hand and knees. He held the other one to the still bleeding wound on his shoulder. It was the deepest of his two lacerations and it may have severed the artery, he couldn't be sure. He did know that he lost some movement. Most likely tore up the trapezius. He should have known better than to think that it would be easy. Kureo is a slippery bastard and he wouldn't enter a fight that he couldn't win.

He looked up at the old man. There had to be a way around Fueguchi One. Then he heard it. A clanking sound as the Quinque retracted. The first time the Quinque transformed it did it all at once. Every time after that it did it segment by segment. One segment shrinking and collapsing before retracting to the handle, then the next one did it and when it thumped against the previous segment, a sound close to bones striking each other lightly. He watched the weapon mesmerizingly as it fully retracted to the katar form. As he did, a remembered something. He should have seen it before, especially considering how much of an anime buff he is.

"A revolver can be fired six times, a missile only once." Marcus quoted to himself, laughing. "I've got you, old man."

"What's that?" Kureo asked, frowning.

The Brit ignored him. Getting to his feet and drew upon more of his ghoul powers just enough to heal the trapezius muscle and sew back up the artery. He didn't completely heal the wound, left it open and bleeding. Just took care of the worst. Any more would take too long and too much RC cells. The old man grew wary, not liking the new confidence and surety the teen was carrying. From what the dark haired ghoul had seen; for every wind-up, his opponent had either five consecutive attacks or fifteen seconds of a single continuous attack. That's if he wanted to use the high-speed attacks. Otherwise, it's normal speed and normal Fueguchi one. That he can deal with.

Marcus settled into his Wing Chun stance and said with a wolfish grin hidden by his mask. "Let's dance."

Kureo lost his cool for a second, fearful that he had miscalculated somewhere in his plan, and he attacked first. Fueguchi One lashed in a lunge, it's speed seeming to be impossibly fast. In a bold decision, Marcus leaped diagonally to the left, the weapon speeding past. The Brit ran for the elder man in a full charge.

'One.'

The investigator continued to panic and swept the Quinque sideways towards the Kakuja, who dropped into a baseball player's slide in response. The demented and modified weapon passed overhead harmlessly.

'Two.'

The old but capable human circled the weapon around and brought it down vertically on the ghoul's head. He just calmly side stepped it and kept going.

'Three.'

The Quinque was brought around for another attempt to stab the abnormal ghoul. He jumped into the air using his full power like before. The centipede-like Quinque crashed into water and concrete.

'Four.'

The contested Mado came down upon his challenger, fist brought back and ready to go through the old man's head. The investigator panicked and instead of attack at his opponent while he was open and weak in mid-air, he brought back the CCG issued weapon to defend himself. Wasting the fifth attack.

'Five.'

By opting to defend, Kureo also brought the same, still damaged segment over his head. Marcus slammed his fist into the segment with the same strength that damaged and as expected it shattered, tearing Fueguchi One in half. The Brit didn't know what to expect on Kureo's face when he broke through. Surprise, fear, 'oh, shit,' but not a mad victorious grin. The old man threw the useless Quinque away, raised the free hand and caught the punch. Surprise registered on the Kakuja's face as there was no apparent damage done. The investigator threw his enemy to the ground face first. He twisted the teen's arm behind his back, grabbed his and shoved it into the disgusting water. The Kakuja struggled against the hold, trying to avoid drowning. He could vaguely hear Touka shout his name, but the splashing and the blood rushing in his ears covered it.

'How is he so strong?' he thought

Seeing no other way, Marcus jerked his body and dislocated the pinned shoulder. Just to note it hurt, but that barely registered against the burning in his lungs. Since the arm lock depends on the pinned person not wanting to do that, all Kureo had was a limp arm that couldn't be used as leverage. The teen brought his other arm behind him and slammed the back of his fist into the old man's face. He was knocked back several feet, releasing his grip in the process. The Kakuja pulled his head out of the water and gasped for fresh air. He just got his breath back when the investigator kicked him in the side, sending him across the waterway and into the wall.

Kureo charged as Marcus got to his feet, holding his dislocated arm, trying to relocate it. He threw a punch, ready to pound his nemesis into the wall till he was paste. Suddenly, the Kakuja leaned to the side and let the punch strike his limp limb. It popped back into place and the tables turned. He brought his arm up, placed his wrist under the investigator's and guided it over his head to the other side. Bringing him to the inside of his opponent's guard. He snapped out a burst of fast jabs to the chest. The elder Mado threw another punch only for it to be redirected to the side, bringing the ghoul to the outside who then delivered another burst to his side. Another punch was thrown by the disadvantaged human. The Wing Chun user grabbed it, then the front of his enemy's coat and shirt spun once, and threw him.

Tumbling in the air, Kureo fell into the man-made river. He stood, stumbling for second. The threw had torn his clothing and instead of revealing his toned and scarred chest. There was a ribcage-like object that stretched across. It was like bone and crimson.

He looked down at himself and sighed. "Guess the secret's out."

In a single movement, Kureo tore off his coat and suit tops. Attached to his body was a skeletal-like frame. It ran down his arms and disappeared under his gloves where it split into five digits that went across his hand and fingers. The bone like frame crawled over his shoulders and to his back into a spin that ran parallel to his own all the way down and up. The ribcage ran around him and connected to the spine. The frame ran down the sides of his legs, beneath his pants. It was the prototype to a Quinque exoskeleton. A Little bit too literally. It was how the old man had been matching Touka and Marcus blow for blow. It gave him the strength and speed of a ghoul but at a cost. It forced his body to move faster and stronger, over-stressing the body. It fractures his bones and tears his muscles. Eventually, he wouldn't be able to move and die. Though that was long term.

Marcus reentered his stance, he had a target now. That target was… His mind went blank for a second as he became dizzy. He swayed drunkenly and fell to his knees. He looked down to his chest and saw that the gash there had been bleeding profusely, coloring his entire front. Covering the now pale skin. In his rush to do the quick patch on his shoulder, he has forgotten about his chest injury. It may not have severed any arteries but enough veins had been cut that became enough of a problem in the long term. His heightened heart rate made the wound drip with blood like a waterfall. He had been careless and he was paying the price.

"How sloppy of you, Marcus!" Kureo laughed gleefully. "You've let yourself bleed out and now you can't fight. Even if you tried, you probably couldn't touch me, let alone land a punch. Which means, I won."

Marcus gritted his teeth as he realized that the investigator was right. 'I fucked up.'

"Although, if you released your Kagune, you might be able to heal yourself. Maybe even win." The old man suggested in fake thoughtfulness.

'So, that's your angle.' Kureo's plan from the get-go was to have Marcus get exposed in combat, and get killed. It would have been uncontested by Akira, she would've have been unhappy, yes, but she couldn't argue with it. That was the one condition to keeping the Kakuja secret. If Marcus fought openly as a ghoul then the elder Mado had the full ability to kill him, as he as an investigator and his duty was to the CCG. However, when it was discovered that he targeted the Fueguchis to get the Brit to act, Akira found room to disagree and push back. Destroying the relationship she had with her father. Leaving him nothing.

As a man with nothing left to lose. He planned accordingly. He wanted to discredit the adopted Mado which meant that he had to die. Plan "A" was to have Marcus kill him in cold blood, leaving Akira unable to love him. If that seemed unattainable, plan "B", was to discredit him in front of those he cared about and be reveal as Xeno. Making him into a monster in the eyes of the one person whose opinion mattered most: Touka. He would then leave, unable to face her fear and hate filled violet orbs. Getting him away from his daughter. The first one had no chance of working as the old investigator still failed to understand his daughter's love for the boy. The second one, though. It couldn't fail.

For a brief second, Marcus considered just doing nothing and bleeding out. A sort of 'Fuck you' to the old man. He would die, thus Touka and Hinami would die, leaving Kureo with nothing to show for it. Akira wouldn't believe anything he'd say at this point, so he would forever be hated by his daughter. It was only a second. He glanced over to the girls. Touka watched curiously with a tear stained face. She wanted to see his Kagune, wanted answers to a million questions. Hinami was still crying, terror and worry for him on her face. He couldn't do that to them. He couldn't arbitrarily decide their fate for petty vengeance. Something that the investigator was trying to do, something he couldn't let happen. He couldn't do it alone, he needed help.

'Xeno. I need your help' Marcus called and immediately got an answer.

Xeno chuckled as he awakened from his rest. 'So. Am I finally allowed to take on the old man?'

'You wouldn't win.' The British ghoul countered. 'You know that. Kureo has at least one more trick up his sleeve and he knows your tactics. Combine that with his wiles and that exoskeleton. He's more than a match for either of us, but not both of us.'

'You're opening the cage? How bold.'

The cage. Something Marcus has never told anyone about, not even Akira. Before he met his adopted mother, his connection with Xeno was much stronger. They weren't so divided. They thought similarly and agreed to most of everything. They had a synchronization about them that allowed them to tap into some of the inner ghoul powers. It was why they were exceptionally strong, besides their uniqueness. Only things holding them back was experience and age. A few months after the Brit started living with Akira, he had chosen to change the way he was going to be and separated himself from his alternate personality. He then locked it in a mental cage where it couldn't reconnect. Unfortunately, like any wild beast when it's locked up, it retaliates. The cage wears down. Letting Xeno hunt every two weeks is actually, Marcus swapping places with the predator, putting himself in the cage so he can be protected as he repairs it.

'If you had done this sooner, then you would've been strong enough to kick his ass.' Xeno grumbled.

Marcus scoffed mentally. 'At what price? I read 'Berserk'. Power comes at a price. I could end up like Guts. Unable to be with those I care because I'll have a demon influencing my actions and thoughts.'

'You would risk that now? For her?' Clarified the alt

'Yes.'

'Alright then, let's dance.'

Marcus tore down the cage and let Xeno out.

In the real world, he hefted himself to feet slowly making sure not to make himself dizzy again. Kureo laughed at this. "Getting back up, are we? Will you take this fight seriously now and release your Kagune, or are you gonna cling to that dying dream of yours?"

"I've always wanted a life with being known as a monster, to be looked at with love, not fear. That was my dream." The Brit said sadly, vision blurring with tears. He didn't what to lose that dream but he had no choice. "I locked up my inner demon so that I could be loved and I was."

Then his eyes hardened with rage and vengeance and his wounds started healing. Closing nearly instantly. He skin starting regaining its composure. All his Kagune slowly crawled out of his back as did the black ooze that formed the chitin-like skin of his Kakuja form. It didn't transform him yet just started fanning out in black tendrils behind him like his Kagune.

"Now, you threaten to destroy that life and those I love. So, I letting my demon out to play and we're coming after you." He snarled.

All three people who witnessed this had shock spread across their faces as some the tendrils came together and formed a shape. A face. It was Xeno's face after he had transformed. With the carapace covering his eyes and forehead. He had an open mouth grin that showed his sharp fangs, and it rivaled Kureo's. Between the way it's face hovered over Marcus' head, the arm like Koukaku and the tendrils of black ooze. It seemed like there was a demon hovering over him. Touka's eyes widened in horror recognized the Kakuja for who he was. She had never seen him personally before but she had heard more than her fair share of stories. Most of them were from Uta. In the end, She knew it when she saw it. Marcus was the No Eyed Demon of the fourth ward.

Betrayal washed over her. 'He didn't tell me.'

Suddenly Marcus just vanished. One moment he was there, the next he was gone. Even for Touka's acute ghoul eyesight, she could only see him for a second and even then he was just a blur. Kureo looked around warily. The Kakuja never moved that fast. The hair on the back of his neck rose and his gut told him to move. One to follow his gut, he dove to the side just as the Kakuja came down from above, his leg slamming down like the blade of a guillotine in an ax kick. The old man turned the dove into a roll and came up facing his opponent.

Xeno had changed. The carapace that covered the top part of his head had changed. It melded smoothly with the mask making it seem like once piece. The only way to tell where chitin ended and ivory began was the color. It no longer covered his head as a single smooth piece, now the only smooth portion was over his eyes and forehead then it made a sharp transition into a ridged pattern that extended past his head at an upward angle for a couple of inches and ended in a point. From underneath the main carapace ridged bone plates came down the back of his head and flowed into a spinal column where the most drastic changes were connected.

His Ukaku was now a single pair of large wings that was folded up against his back. He no longer had two thin quick tails but one thicker and stronger tail. Curling around from the spine to his chest was a single piece of armor shaped like a rib cage. The chitin hide crawled over his arms and legs like before but with changes. His legs were now digitigrade like a wolf's and on his shoulders were sets of three spikes placed horizontal and evenly spaced where each deltoid muscle would be. On his forearms and forelegs was boney plate armor and the talons weren't long and cumbersome but shorter, nimbler and dexterous.

The changes weren't just on the surface, it was also in the mind. They now thought and felt the same way. It was no longer that one was Xeno, one was not. They are Xeno together. They were no longer a street rat, scavenging in the streets, scrabbling to live. They were no longer some recently domesticated dog, leeching off their owner. They were wild, they were mighty, they were proud. They were what Uta had thought they were. They were, no, are the wolf. They are the one who fights for and protects the pack. Goddammit, that's what they were going to do. They weren't a drone anymore, they were a warrior.

Kureo exclaimed. "H-how?"

When Xeno spoke, it had an echo to it like two people were speaking simultaneously. He said coldly. "Because fuck you, that's how.

In an instant, Xeno closed the distance and brought his hand forward and slammed his palm into Kureo's face. The force of his leap towards the man carried, through and he shoved the investigator to the ground while him pushing him back. He was dragged through the water which splashed behind them in a huge wake. The old man planted a foot against the chest of the Kakuja and brought his hands behind his head and dug his reinforced fingers into the concrete. He stopped suddenly and used his foot and inertia to throw off the evolved ghoul. As his opponent flew overhead and away, he kicked up to his feet and faced the ghoul. Who had twisted lithely in the air and landed on all fours. Then for no particular reason the demented investigator's shoulder spurted out blood and the exoskeleton severed where the wound was

Xeno rose. He no longer stood in that hunched over raptor-like stance with his arms close to his chest, but straighter with his arms held out. Though his shoulders were still hunched slightly. His tail curled around in front of him and Kureo's blood dripped from the barb. "You're too slow, old man. Keep going like this and you'll lose."

"Don't get cocky, maggot!" Kureo growled angrily and with a quick flick of his forearms, fifteen-inch blades extended from the exoskeleton, jutting straight out over his hand.

The enhanced investigator charged forth with a battle cry, winding up for a lunge. Xeno waited patiently till Kureo attacked. The stab was guided to the side like the punches that were thrown earlier and leaving him open to another quick burst of punches to the chest. He was shoved back several inches from the force of the blow and if it hadn't been for exoskeleton made from Koukaku type Quinque steel his chest would've caved in. Another attempt to stab was thrown and deflected but this time the tail came in for the counter attack. It was parried by the other blade. That blade came out of the parry into a downward slash meant to dismember his opponent's arm. The Kakuja grabbed onto it and pulled it down as he brought up his knee into the elbow breaking it. Then he took the same leg and kicked at the investigator who caught it with both arms; his exoskeleton making his broken arm move, and he threw him across the waterway, into and through a pillar then slamming into the wall. The shattering of the concrete created an obscuring dust cloud.

"You may have a new look but it seems to be doing diddly squat!" Kureo mocked.

Only to eat his own words as Xeno stepped out of the dust with nary a scratch. He tilted his head from side to side and aa series of loud pops could be heard. He looked at the old man, his smirk barely visible between the teeth of his mask, and said, "Looks like I'm gonna have to invest a little more into this fight."

Kureo spread his lips in a mad grin and cried out gleefully, "Then bring it on!"

Xeno then leapt back into the still lingering dust cloud, flipping backward so he can brace his feet against the wall and bounce off it towards his enemy. The cloud parted with all the dramatic flair that it needs. He came out, hands reaching out like a wolf that came down on his prey. He took a swipe with his talons at Kureo who deflected with a flick of a blade. He turned the swipe into a spin that brought him behind the human and facing him while bringing his tail around to lash out while landing in a single simultaneous motion. However, the old man had followed his movements and parried the tail, who then tried to stab the Kakuja again. The attack was countered with another Wing Chun deflect and grouping of quick jabs to the chest.

Kureo lifted both arms and brought the blades down upon the British ghoul. Only to miss when his target flipped backward, catching a foot against his chin. He stumbled back stunned for a sec. Xeno flipped back several more times before jumping into the air. The old man came out of his daze just in time to see the Kakuja start spinning in the air like a top. His Ukaku creating a look of a black and red tornado. Suddenly, three foot long Ukaku spikes started shooting out towards the investigator who wasn't in the mood to be impaled. He hopped backward avoiding the spikes. Then to his and Touka's surprise, even Xeno's surprise, they exploded on contact. They weren't grandiose, about the size of an explosion from a cherry bomb. Using his enhanced senses to keep track of the old man and where he went he laid down suppressing fire.

As he felt himself descending, Xeno stopped firing Ukaku crystals and landed on the ground in a crouch. A lot of new changes to plan around. A faster speed boost, stronger chitin armor, and now explosive crystals. He had a theory about the crystals, though. As he was taking a moment to concentrate, to think about what he wanted and will on to his Ukaku, Kureo came charging towards him, swords ready to skewer the ghoul. All for naught as said ghoul leapt into the air and over the investigator. His Ukaku fully crystallized, the large spikes giving the impression of feathers. He reached an arm across himself and grabbed a few of the spikes of the opposite wing; One between each finger and threw them in a group. Then he grabbed a few more off of the other wing with his other hand and threw them. Six shards in total he threw and the all impaled the ground around the old man in a perfect five-foot diameter circle. A second passed for people to realize that they didn't explode on contact before they all blew in one simultaneous detonation.

The explosion parted the water and shattered the concrete in a wide crater, throwing up a dust cloud. Xeno landed several meters away from ground zero on all fours, poised to pounce like a cat in any direction, his Ukaku reverting to the standard. As expected Kureo came charging out of the cloud, calling out Marcus' name in blind insane rage. His body was battered, bruised, broken and bleeding. More than a dozen wounds, and certainly a more than equal amount of bones broken but the exoskeleton kept him going. He came at the Kakuja with a berserker's rage, swinging one of his blades wildly. It deflected again but this time the counter attack was a solid boxer's jab to the chest. He was thrown back several feet. A deep crackling sound attracted the ghoul to Fueguchi Two, as it seemed to soften and list slightly for a second before solidifying for a second.

With a new understanding of the situation, Xeno turned his attention back to Kureo who charged forth again. He met the charge with his own. The old man brought his arms overhead and brought the blades down in a heavy blow. It was countered when Xeno lifted his arms in a v shape and the blades struck the natural armor on his forearms. Then they were shoved outwards when the ghoul spread his arms suddenly. Exposing the investigator's chest to a pair of heavy jabs. The ribcage of the exoskeleton cracked under the force and the Quinque softened slightly again for a couple seconds longer than last time. The investigator brought a blade around to be impaled in the Kakuja's skull. Only to miss the mark when the target hopped to the side out of the way, who then turn the hop into a spin that brought the Rinkaku around to strike at the ribcage. The barb severed a rib and carved a furrow into the investigator with a splash of blood.

Seeing that the Quinque was unaffected by that attack, the Kakuja knew what to do. Kureo came around and attacked with a wild haymaker propelling his blade. Having the perfect opportunity, Xeno countered with the move he had copied off of one of his favorite animes and only ever used once. On Yomo. He reached and pulled the investigator off balance, stepped forward and simultaneously swept the human's legs out from under while shoving him back and down to the ground. The old man splashed into the water while the trip was followed up with a fist to the chest. The ribcage cracked more as the ghoul grabbed onto it and promptly tore it off.

A trail of blood followed it as the heart monitor that was in the form of a one-inch spike and was attached to the ribcage of the exoskeleton, left where it was pierced into his chest. For good fucking measure, Xeno tore off the heart monitor with his other hand and crushed it. As it had been programmed, when it no longer detected a heart beat Fueguchi Two became it's usual flesh like self and with no one at the control handle it went limp freeing the female ghouls. Touka winced in expectation of the pain to come as she fell. Fueguchi two's wing was stabbed through her stomach her and it Instead of falling into ice cold water and the hard concrete, she fell into Xeno's arms. He caught her bridal style while Hinami fell into his outstretched wings where she slid to the ground harmlessly. He crouched and set down the violet haired girl's legs in the water. She shoved at his chest and wriggled out of his arms. Meeting no resistance from the Kakuja, she fell to the water harshly, aggravating her injury and causing her to gasp in pain.

As he moved to help, he was stopped when Touka snarled. "Get away from me!"

He rocked back as though physically struck by her words. "I… I'm so-"

"Shut up." She snapped in response, glaring at him with betrayal and fury. "I don't want to hear it. I don't even want to see you."

He stayed frozen for a second. She could see his mouth open in shock and sadness through the teeth of his mask. Then he nodded, stood and walked around her towards Kureo. Hinami ran over crying out. "Touka! Are you all right?"

The high school girl wrapped a protective and comforting arm around the girl who knelt beside her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Gonna need some help with getting this out. The wing's stopping the bleeding but without it, I'll gush out like a waterfall." She gestured to Fueguchi Two's wing still impaled inside her.

"We'll get some help." The little girl said assuredly then lost her positivity as tears welled up in her eyes. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. If I hadn't run away this wouldn't have happened."

The older girl ran her hand through the adolescent's hair. "Nah. This fight was going to happen anyway. Just happened a little sooner than planned, that's all."

Hinami buried her face into Touka's shoulders as she burst out into tears. All the emotions she's been feeling the past few days flooding out. The teenager did her best to comfort the young ghoul. "It'll be okay. It's over."

Her attention was drawn to Xeno as he stepped beside Kureo, his Ukaku was wrapped around him, making it look like he had a long cloak hanging off his shoulders. The old man looked up at him and asked. "So, are you going to kill me?"

The Kakuja turned his head to the side as though he was looking off into empty space as he thought. He faced Kureo again and said. "No."

Touka's eyes widened in shock as did the investigator, who coughed out. "What?"

"When I first put this plan together, I was acting on the rage I felt after learning what you had done to drag me out. I wanted you dead, to pay for your sins." He explained without a thoughtful tone. He chuckled. "Looking at you now. I see that you're not worth it. You are just an old man who was blinded from the truth by his own racist hatred. Killing you would only make you right. Besides, a more harsher punishment would be for you to live and suffer the hatred from your own daughter."

Xeno turned and started walking down deeper into the underground waterway. Kureo gritted his teeth angrily. How can that savage speak so highly? He was a lowly maggot! He had to get his revenge. He couldn't let a ghoul take his daughter after one took his wife. He had to have his revenge on him. On that one-eyed bastard.

Touka barely saw the old man climb to his feet and leap at Xeno. "Marcus!"

The Kakuja turned sharply and saw the investigator lunged with his blade aiming for his spine through his throat all the while crying out. "I'll have vengeance!"

Ghouls have heightened healing abilities, true, but the more delicate the area injured the harder it is to heal. The spinal column and the nervous system attached to it is as delicate as you can get. Any number of places can induce paralysis of many forms, the right place can kill. Assuming one survived, healing that kind of injury takes time and patience. An average ghoul would be laid up for a year before they can even think about rehabilitation. Marcus might take a little more than half that but that was six months heal and at least an equal amount of time for rehab. Minimum. The Kakuja couldn't block it or deflect it, or anything. He had been caught up in his own brooding and couldn't react properly. He was still at the 'Oh, shit!' stage.

Kureo had him dead to rights.

---

Amon shuffled along, far away from Kaneki. He had run like he was asked to. Though, he couldn't get why he was given that chance. He was an investigator, the ghoul's enemy. Why let him go? Why was he crying? The whole thing didn't make sense. What was with all that bravado? Why had he been told all those things? Just what was the half-breed trying to tell him? And what did he mean by 'Make you understand'. There were so many questions for the ghoul and himself. He shook his head to disperse those thoughts. It was all just ghoul gibberish. He could pick at it later. Right now, he had to get to his partner. Something in his gut was telling him that something was wrong. He shuffled along down the path to the underground waterway.

Back at the scene of the fight, Kaneki was at war with himself. He could feel the ghoul instincts clawing at his mind. He tried pushing it back down and retracting his Kagune but had no avail. "My kagune won't retract."

His grip on sanity slipped for a second. His voice became harsher. "I know! I'll someone and eat them."

"No! What am I saying?!" He cried, regaining his loose hold on sanity. He grabbed his hair, pulling at it, and dropped to his knees pressing his forehead against the ground. He wept in despair. "Please. Someone. Help me. If I'm not stopped…"

A pair of boots thudded as walked towards him, stopping a few meters away. He was a tall man with a hooded trench coat, the hood was pulled up. He had on a black hawkish mask like those of the plague doctors. His distorted voice said. "I've been watching you."

The presence of another person, the presence of food pushed Kaneki over the edge. He sat up pulling his mask down, it would only get in the way. He leaned his head back to look at the man with a hungry smile. He purred. "Hey, you. Nice timing. I was getting hungry."

Kaneki suddenly sped over, his Rinkaku tails winding around each other tightly like a rope. Making them sturdier as one than each was on their own. They went right through the stranger's abdomen, who didn't cry out in pain or even flinch. Just let it go right through him.

"I think I know why Mr. Yoshimura has taken an interest in you, now. I too would like to see what you can accomplish." The stranger said calmly, placing a hand on the wound Rinkakus. He took off his mask and revealed himself to be Yomo who said softly. "Come home, Ken."

"Y-yomo?" Kaneki stammered in horror as he slowly came back to his senses. "No. What have I done?"

Yomo as calm as ever pulled one of Anteiku's signature meat packages. "Eat. You'll feel better."

Kaneki took the package, letting Kagune and Kakugan fade. The behind-the-scenes employee of Anteiku nonchalantly held his guts in as his wound healed. The half-breed opened the manila package and ate the flesh inside. He couldn't help but notice how easy it was for him to do it.

---

Xeno stumbled back as blooded splattered across his face and chest. He slipped a hand through the fold of his cloak and wiped a couple of fingers through it. He looked at it oddly. It wasn't his. It was human. Kureo stood from where he had fallen to the ground. He raised his right arm, the one he tried to blade on it to stab the Kakuja with. Not only was the blade gone but his entire hand was not there. Just a bleeding stump. Which was why he had fallen because he didn't make contact with his target so he couldn't stop his jump and fell. Touka's eyes widened in shock as what looked to be Fueguchi one hovered in the air. For a second she thought that it was somehow back in play again but she noticed that it had the healthy paler when Asaki had it still. So she traced the long tail back from the barb, down the body, and to the little girl in her arms. Extending out from Hinami's back was her Kagune. It was made up of both her father's kagune and mother's kagune. She had the top two wings of Ryouko's Koukaku and she had a pair of Asaki's Rinkaku. One's barb was dripping with blood.

Hinami stood and took a few steps away from Touka prompting a response from her. "Hina?"

The young ghoul ignored her, sniffling as she tried to wipe away the tears, covering her eyes simultaneously. She didn't get anywhere as the tears kept flowing, so she just let them go. Thus revealing the Kakugans the were covering her hazel eyes. She managed to choke out past her sniffling. "Please. Stop. Don't hurt them anymore. Don't do to them what you did to Mom and Dad!"

Her sudden outburst launched her Rinkakus into action. The twin tails lashed out with terrifying speed, twice that of what Fueguchi One had normally. It was wild and random, just lashing out at everything in front of her. It tore and shredded at the water and concrete, liquid and solid flying everywhere. When they come at Kureo, Xeno had to dodge with the old man to avoid being shredded himself. They were acting on the rage and hatred and despair deep within Hinami's mind and moving as if they had a mind of their own. She had no training or experience on how to control this. Right now she was a loose cannon or run away train that destroys everything in their path with no self-control. That was the nature of the first time use of a ghoul's Kagune, though. He definitely didn't want to be in the path of that.

Kureo laughed maniacally. "How amazing! This is incredible! You've only inherited the best qualities of both your mother's and father's Kagunes. A chimera! Truly exceptional. I want it!"

He dashed towards Hinami with full intent to kill. As the old investigator closed the distance, the young ghoul brought her arms up and around her in a feeble attempt to protect herself. Her Koukakus managed to do a much better job than her arms could've. One wing folded in front of her as the human attacked with his remaining blade. The Rinkaku based Quinque steel pierced the toughened Kagune flesh with ease but did not get anywhere near the girl. The wing flexed and threw the old man away but before he could get too far, one of her Rinkakus reached out and grabbed him about the waist, slammed him into a pillar before throwing him down to the ground. He coughed up blood as veins ruptured in his lungs from the trauma. He didn't get the chance to recover as he was tossed in the air and while he was in free fall, a tail came around and took his leg. He cried out in pain while wearing that signature grin of his.

Both Touka and Xeno were in awe as the elder Mado fell to the ground. The whole thing had happened so fast, neither of them had any time to respond or react. The Kakuja bowed his head acceptingly. He hadn't wanted it to end like this but now he didn't have a choice. Between the wounds from the explosive Ukaku shards and the loss of both an arm and a leg, the old man's blood loss is too great and he would bleed out before anyone can help him. If he wasn't dead already. Accepting the way things had gone, which followed the original plan, the Brit turned to complete it.

Then the sound of water being disturbed stopped him; he turned to watch Kureo start to get himself to his knees. Laughing as the last remaining sliver of sanity left him. "I will make you my Quinque. You belong with your family."

Touka said quietly. "Hinami. Finish him."

Hinami shook her head slowly. "No. I can't do it."

"He killed your parents! Get your revenge!" Yelled the teenage girl. Rage coloring her voice before grimaced in pain as the action aggravated her injury.

"But I don't want revenge!" The young girl cried. "I want Mom and Dad! I want to be held by Dad's strong arms again. I want Mom to sing me to sleep every night. I want to feel like I'm safe again. Revenge won't bring that back. It won't make this feeling go away. Revenge doesn't matter to me. I'm just sad. I'm sad because I miss them. I want to see my Mom and Dad, again. I want the three of us to be together again. It's lonely being by myself."

Her Kagune folded in and condensed till they became foot and a half-stubs resembling their full size. Tears streamed from the adolescent's eyes openly and without any signs of stopping. Xeno muttered under his breath. "How cruel is this world, for such words to come from a child's mouth?"

Kureo suddenly roared in laughter. "Well, then! Let me reunite you with them!"

With a galloping leap towards Hinami, Kureo tried to kill her. Before he could deliver any harm to an innocent girl a streak of red light streaked across the psychopath's throat and it was slit. A Ukaku spike shattered against the far wall of the waterway. The old man fell into the water grabbing at his throat trying feebly to stop the bleeding. Xeno had moved to take action but would've been too late if it hadn't been for Touka. Her crystallized Ukaku wrapped around her arm for accuracy and point towards the dying investigator. Her face had a grim expression before she exhaled sharply in exhaustion and her Kagune returned to its standard form then dissolved. Blood spurted out from the gash on the investigator's throat in quick bursts in succession with his heart. The shard slit his throat but it wasn't deep enough to damage his larynx or vocal chords but it did sever an artery.

Giving up on stopping the bleeding Kureo started crawling towards Hinami. His voice was a rasp as he laughed. "I let myself be killed by a ghoul. I slipped up."

"Hinami! Get away from him!" Touka cried out reaching for the girl.

Hinami took a fearful step back before speeding around him and towards the high schooler. The old man tried to grab her weakly but missed. The girl threw herself into violet haired girl's arms who winced in pain but didn't refute the young one. Xeno flashed over and crouched behind them his Ukaku coming down softly over the girls. The little girl was covered completely shielding her from both harm and the gruesome sight making its way towards the three of them. Touka's head was above the Ukaku cloak draped around her but it was next to the Kakuja's head. She grimaced at the thought of being near the liar but didn't say anything. She felt an arm wrap around her shoulders and pull her close in a protective gesture. She could vaguely see his other hand reaching across her and laying a hand on the adolescent's head.

Marcus had once shown her an image of the Sci-Fi horror creature Xeno resembled so she always imagined the Kakuja as a slimy, cold, disgusting creature but he wasn't like that. There was no slime and the chitin felt like the shell of a turtle. Rough but not enough to be hurtful, actually it felt quite nice. Also, he was warm, really warm despite the cold. There was no way he was at average body temperature. She actually felt safe underneath his Ukaku, being held by him and she might have welcomed it. Maybe cherished it. If he hadn't lied to her.

The splashes of water caused by Kureo drew Touka's attention. The old man had turned and was clawing his towards the three of them. His eyes were hazy and he really wasn't all there. He was close to death but refused to go. A rasping chuckle bubbled from his throat. "Look at you huddled close together. None of you deserve to live. The value of your existence? Now that's funny. How ridiculous. You damn ghouls."

He was getting close, within several feet. Xeno raised his tail over head ready to strike like a scorpion. The old man continued his inane babble. "It's not over… You have to pay… All of you… Until I can bury that One-eyed bastard with my own hands… I can't die yet."

Kureo was within arm's reach with a hand outstretched towards Touka when he let out a long sickly and raspy exhale before going limp. He fell into the water motionless, his hand landing on the Ukaku cloak. Hinami felt the limb hit the speed type Kagune and flinched. Xeno and Touka comforted her by rubbing her head and arm, respectively. The two older ghouls watched the dead investigator carefully, waiting to see of he popped back for one last scare. It may seem childish but it had been one hell of a night. The Kakuja heard the old man's heart give a last weak heartbeat before going silent. Yet they stayed there watching for a few minutes longer. The adrenaline and terror lingered before settling down.

Now sure that Kureo wasn't going make a last come back, Xeno let his Rinkaku rest and he rose to his feet. Letting go of Touka gently in the process. As the massive Ukaku left them the two female ghouls shivered as the cold came rushing back to them. The Kakuja turned to the wall closest to them and walked towards it. The high school girl watched as he lifted his hand and with all five of his talons start carving the name of the ghoul group they had decided to put the blame on. Just like they had planned from the get go. The Brit may have decided that he didn't this to end the way it did after he beat Kureo. It didn't matter anymore. What did was just making sure that everything wasn't in vain. He finished the last Kanji symbol for the ghoul organization they planned to blame

As Xeno turned and started walking down deeper into the waterway, Touka yelled out angrily. "Hey! Where are you going?!"

The Kakuja stopped. As he turned the carapace covering his head turned into the black ooze like tendrils and crawled back of his head and stopped just past his hairline. He looked with sorrow and regret, responding simply with. "Home."

With that, the carapace reformed and he left. Touka scowled in his direction before scoffing. Hinami was still clinging onto her, weeping. The high school girl rubbed the little one's shoulders comfortingly. Then she stiffened as she felt a presence on her stomach. She slowly turned her head to see Kureo's limp left hand resting there. She relaxed slightly upon seeing that it wasn't moving. It had fallen there after Xeno had moved and it took her this long to notice. She stared at the torn glove that still covered it somehow.

A surge of rage ran through her at the sight. "Were you so sick of us you couldn't even touch us with your bare hands?!"

Touka reached down and removed it with a sharp tug, tearing the cloth. Her eye widened slowly till her whites could be seen all the way around the irises in pure horror. Kureo's had removed the ring finger digit of the exoskeleton to accommodate for the gold wedding band that was on his finger. She had a new and sudden perspective. She had never thought about if anyone would miss him. If there was anyone he had cared about. That was then she hit a thought path she had been able to ignore until now. Akira. She remembered reading in the file Yoshimura had gotten for her, that her mom had died, killed by a ghoul, by the One-eyed Owl.

And Touka had just killed her father who sought out vengeance. Just like her.

Touka covered her mouth to stop the bile that threatened to come up. She started scrambling away from Kureo's corpse and that hand frantically. Her eyes were locked on that ring. She ignored the pain as she dragged the Quinque that was still in her. Hinami who being dragged along also lifted her head worriedly. "What is it?"

The little girl tried to look where the high schooler was but was stopped when her face was pressed against the older girl's shoulder, whose voice was as frantic as her actions. "Don't look, Hinami. Don't look."

She stopped when she was several meters away from the floating body of Kureo. Her breathing was rushed and fearful. Her eyes have yet to look anywhere else but that ring.

"Hey! Are you guys okay?!" Called out Kaneki as he jogged down the walkway closest to the female ghouls. Yomo was following with ease with a large medical kit in hand

They both were bandaged. Yomo shockingly had more than Kaneki. Although, he had been stabbed through the gut and was nearly disemboweled when they tried to patch him up and the half-breed had received mostly blunt force trauma. They rushed over and started taking care of the girls. The Black Ops member of Anteiku had noticed Touka's intense gaze towards Kureo's body and placed purposefully on the way as he worked on her. They had to move the high school girl out of the water before they could remove the Quinque, in order to keep her intestines from falling into the bacteria infested water. They kept everything from falling out and got some heavy duty bandages on the gaping hole. After giving her both topical and ingested antibiotics. They left. Moving as quick as they could with injured

Hinami rode on Yomo's back, the man more than strong enough to carry her, while Kaneki walked beside Touka ready to help if she needed it. Everyone stopped suddenly when a sorrow and rage filled cry echoed in the night. The half-breed recognized it to be Amon's voice making that sound. The violet haired turned to look at the underground waterway. It a hundred meters off but she swears she saw a dark figure carry off a lighter one up the nearby stairs.

"Touka," Kaneko said softly. He had seen it too. "We have to go."

She nodded and let him direct her back after Yomo who had already resumed walking. A few moments of silence passed before Hinami said quietly with tiredness. "Is it okay?"

"I'm sorry?" The half-breed responded.

"Is it okay for me to live?"

The two teens flinched at the dark question that should have no business leaving a young girl's mouth. The oldest ghoul present didn't show any response to it. Though he did look back at the girl. The college student thought about how he should answer.

When he settled on something, he said. "Hinami. In Mrs. Fueguchi's last moments she had seen us run up behind the doves and hide. At first, she looked distraught then she smiled."

Hinami looked behind her at him in surprise, so did Touka. He continued his answer. "For the past few days I've wondered why she did that and it never made sense till now. She smiled because she knew you were safe. That you would be protected. She had also tried to say something but… never got the chance. What I think she was trying to say was that you should live."

Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes as she imagined her Mom's smile and her saying that, and nodded. Pressing her face against Yomo's back. "Yeah."

Yomo turned his head forward again and no one saw the flicker of an approving smile except for Kaneki. A faint smile appeared on his face at the thought. Then he saw Touka stumble slightly. She was looking rather pale and her walk had turned into a shuffle. He asked. "You need a hand?"

She looked up sharply, surprise registering on her face for a sec before she snapped angrily. "Hell no. I don't need your help."

Her retort lost effectiveness as she stumbled again. So the half-breed ignored her response and slipped one of her arms over his shoulders and helped support her weight. "Here."

She looked at him confusedly commenting. "I don't get you."

Otherwise, she didn't fight it. She was too tired to do so. She rested her head on his shoulders and let him support her. Kaneki let her have her pride and didn't say anything. He was too preoccupied with his thoughts anyways. Things were changing. The CCG was still going to be after Rabbit and whatever codename they had given Marcus. He knew that the two of them had something planned to take care of that. The investigators will still be back, though. Tomorrow, the day after that, a month or even a year from now. They'll be back. Something had to be done. There had to be something he could do. One thing Amon was right on. "This world is wrong."

'Then I'll have to do something to make it right.'

---

Back at the waterway, amid all the ruin and clutter, the blood stained walls and the water shaded red by what Kureo had bled out into it, a woman stood in front of the name that Xeno had carved into the wall. She was unusually tall, standing near or even taller than Amon, and she was in her late twenties or early thirties but she wore the age well. Her skin was like smooth porcelain and her face carried the angular features of a European, maybe Russian. High cheekbones and a sharp jawline and a narrow nose.

She had short, shoulder length, bleach blonde hair that was swept back and her almond shaped eyes were ice blue in color. She wore black BDU pants that were tucked into black combat boots. There was a Russian standard issue pistol in a tactical holster on her leg. She had on an unzipped black military vest and nothing else but an azure sports bra underneath that. The ensemble showing off her more generous body, especially her breasts which were emphasized more so with her arms cross under them. If the cold fall air seemed to bother her she didn't show it, actually, she seemed quite comfortable with her weight resting on one leg and her arms crossed. The only sign that the cold even touched her could be seen through the pointed ends of her bra.

Her eyes were filled with thought as she looked at the writing on the wall. As the Russian woman stood there, a man wearing full black military grade combat gear, with a Bushmaster ACR assault rifle with a handle grip and a thermal scope, walked up to her. Her voice held authority and experience as she said with a hint of a Russian accent coloring her English. "Report."

"High-Value Target X has entered the twenty-fourth ward. There are scouts at the investigator's place waiting to report when he arrives home." He reported quickly in soldier-like precision.

"Good." She nodded her gaze never leaving the writing.

He looked back and forth between the Russian woman and the Kanji. He then spoke with a more casual tone. "Looks like the rumors were true. The search is over."

"Yeah, it is." She replied with a hint of disbelief. "Didn't think it would be over that fast."

"We were bound for some good luck eventually." He answered with a shrug.

"Guess so." She muttered drifting off at the end.

He let her have a moment of silent thought before gesture with his rifle towards the writing. "What do you want to do about that, Ma'am?"

She sighed as she turned to look at him fully. "Leave it. We need to keep the attention off him as much as possible. Let's go, I have to brush up on my Japanese."

She turned started walking down the waterway and as she passed the soldier he clicked his heels and replied. "Yes, Ma'am." Before following her.

He couldn't help but notice the patch on the back of her tac vest. He had no idea started that trend in their group but it more or less stuck. He had one himself. It was the design of a black knight's helmet lined in red, with gashes in it resembling battle damage and a gray sword going behind the helmet diagonally. In the eye holes were a pair of crimson eyes glaring at whoever would be looking at it. All the patches were the same except for the lettering that was on a banner beneath the helm. It was a different language that pertained to the home country of the wearer but they all meant the same thing, or at least as close as possible.

Knightmare

---

35,388 words.

HOLY SHEEEIT! Not gonna lie, did not expect this. Not even close. I had only planned for this chapter to be 20,000. I hit thirty around Halloween and was nearing the end so I kept going. Hit a few speed bumps but finally cranked it out. I took a lot more artictic licence with canon events than usual but i thought it made more sense that way.

Hope y'all enjoyed this one, I'll post another chapter before December, a sort of aftermath chapter. Then I'll take a brake during December to plan more of Shivering Grasp, perform maintenance on my profile. Things like that. So onto reviews then I'll see you next.

I'd like to welcome AlphaF34r to our little fandom. Thank you for following my story.

stormANDjessi-626: Yeah, I'm back! Sorry for taking so long but hey at least it was good. Glad you liked it. Like the new name!

Twain Apprentice: Always the curious one.
1) I get it now, during the twentieth ward raid. Uh, haven't thought that far ahead hence the established planning break. Though if I did, I wouldn't say. Might allude to stuff. I will say a showdown might happen. When? I have no clue.

2)Forgot about Harima there for a second. He will be thinking about her, and I already have an explanation for the way he acted towards Akira in Chapter Five: Newt. But, yeah, Harima will be in his thoughts.

3)I don't know my tarot cards that well. I didn't even know that Sui Ishida assigned characters to cards. I'll have to do some research, ask mom about it, she's super into that stuff. I might have an answer by the next chapter.

Next time on Shivering Grasp of a Promise

Chapter Eleven: What I've Done