Chapter 10
"I found our meeting, destiny, a foretold era that gives off a mellow-yet warm welcome of the new dawn of breeds: One eyed ghouls. Rc cells able to withstand the strength of a low-class Rinkaku, the speed of a Ukaku, and the durability of a Koukaku. The completion of my first subject brought out from the cells of the pure breeds, Clan V. Speculated to be the bloodline of the first alpha ghouls known centuries ago; maybe to the dawn of fallen angels perhaps. Set to wildest trials and tribulations, i have discovered a new chapter in my notes; all to change this "twisted birdcage". Isn't that right...Mrs. Yoshimura?" Dr. kanou said, as he was sampling blood from a human carcass. He was wearing a white lab coat and reading glasses. Despite his retiring old age, he was dedicated to his work. The lab was huge and worth more so over a man's retirement savings. Lab equipment scattered about the room, Documents and folders opened and unorganized; it was a mess.
"Ah, yes Akihiro-chan. Japan has become quite daunting lately it seems. Maybe you'll love to hear some news from yesterday of the early bird?" Eto said, happily skipping around Dr. Kanou.
"News you say? If anything, there's nothing new around here-"
"No, no, no; i'll say two of your favorites' have become quite special. I've been studying how to manipulate rc cells myself, you see." Eto walks behind and hugs Dr. Kanou from behind with her lips next to his ear.
"You'll be happy i promise."
"Knowing you, you've come up with the silliest of surprises for me. Oddly, this isn't how you treat me when this surprise is something worth telling."
"Ah! You're right! Akihiro-chan has fooled me again!" Eto licked behind Dr. Kanou's ear.
"How are you manipulating rc cells? You have no equipment to backup scientific process. Unless…Eto!"
"Why the surprised look Dr. Kanou? I used the torture method and now your test subjects are back like they used to be-"
Dr. Kanou abruptly stands up, knocking Eto to the floor. "What did i tell you about using that torture method on my test subjects? You have no right!"
"Easy now, it doesn't hurt the old man if you have the ability to do it again. Perhaps it won't? Oh well the toll is great no matter how much you look at it. He's a human again." Eto grins at Dr. Kanou and stands up. "If you think that's all, at least your favorite donor, Rize-chan, was brought back to life." Eto explains.
"Rize…how? I have her body parts in my freezer! How dare you lie to me?!"
"It's not as simple as it sounds. I was testing something at Aogiri myself. I tortured Kaneki-chan's mind. Yet, the cells reacted. It could be alchemy, but using rc cells on a different level.
"Bullshit" Dr. Kanou slammed his desk, knocking pencils and pens onto the floor. He walks hurriedly to his freezer with a jar of meat, likely from Rize's body. "Cells work like any other cell in nature. These cells just have armor to them. The walls of their cells have extra nucleuses, so they react to any outside force or the "will" of their hosts. They have minds of their own! Torture is child's play!"
"But am i...Dr. Kanou...Akihiro-chan?" Eto slowly walks up to him, with a frightening smile. "Don't believe me, be my guest, but your doubts is not of a scientist. I retraced Rize's DNA through her cells. Kaneki's fear set off a chain reaction of Rize's rc cells and i was able to gather it." Dr. Kanou looked puzzled. He sat down in his chair, took off his glasses, and looked off into the distance, disgusted. "It wasn't an easy task in the slightest. Rize was able to manipulate Kaneki's mind, so there was more or less a chance to revive her with her consciousness within him. One of the world's greatest mystery has developed into a cure for ghouls? You say an rc cell's wall's have minds on their own, but if you affect the host's mind that can manipulate the cells on their own, do you think that you should focus on psychology a bit more doctor?"
"As a doctor, when one patient's death is counted, the doctor isn't blamed for he promised to progress and move forward in his work. My concept on my work is for me to progress and i alone." Dr. kanou sips a bit of his coffee on the operation table. "This is a great discovery, i'll admit, but you've ruined my subject! I didn't ask you to touch him-"
"And you didn't tell me not to touch him. I was simply doing my own testing on your dog. At least you have another Rize-chan to play with. At least give me that." Eto sat on the operation table where a human body experiment was taking place and started to play with the insides. "Humans are so fun to play with don't you think? Ghouls are also easily manipulated trying to fit in with them as well."
"I will add this to my database for treatment. Eto, i am thankful for your treatment diagnosis. I will presume it be this as a "cure", for future matters. I want you to look over subject 210 for a few weeks."
"Oh? Who might be this 210, might i presume?" Eto said.
"Kaneki. Look over Kaneki you troublesome girl." He said, with a irritated voice. Eto giggled in response.
"I'm just playing! Like you said...it's child's play!" Eto hops off the operation table and looks at Dr. Kanou. "I'll look over Kaneki. Can you look over Aogiri Tree for me?" Dr. Kanou trembled.
"I-"
"Don't worry about it. Dumb Torso can look over it. Say hello to Uta for me why don't cha? The Clowns for that matter." Eto walked out the lab waving back.
"My test subjects are not test subjects, Mrs. Yoshimura." He whispered as he continued to sample blood.
I opened my eyes. I didn't have that dream again like i used to. Rize is no longer in my dreams. She's gone. I thought. The ceiling didn't look like the one from Anteiku of my apartment. I looked around the room and i saw that i was in a girl's room. There were two bookshelves in the room, all filled to the brim with thriller and vampire genres; most i've read. The room was neatly organized with a desk with much of papers and utensils scattered across it. There was only one window and it was behind me. I got up and looked out the window. It was morning time once again. As much as i've been knocked out, i might as well go back to sleep. I thought. Where am i? I keep going places without realizing what i'm doing. The city was lively, like it always was in the morning. I didn't recognize the street or the area. There were few buildings or skyscrapers, so i was either in the 13th or 9th ward. I couldn't think of the time where i last time i saw to a proper day where it was normal. I thought about Rize, Touka, Yoshimura, Yomo, Nishiki, Hinami and the others. Hinami has started going to school lately. I haven't seen her for awhile now. After a few minutes, the door opens and Rize walks in. She wore a beautiful yellow dress and pink bedroom slippers.
"Good morning darling." She said with a smile. I realized she was carrying a metal plate of breakfast and orange juice. Bacon and egg sandwich with grits in a tiny bowl.
"U-uh good morning. I can't-"
"Try. I made it just for you. I just bought these from the store early in the morning. I don't have anything else in the fridge for you to eat, but this will do." Rize sits on the bed and puts the plate down. She hands me a spoonful of grits. "Come on, sit. It's been awhile since you've eaten." I accept her offer and sit down on the bed next to her. Her spoon abruptly fills my mouth without warning. "The train crashed and everyone died!" Rize joked giggling. The taste of grits filled my mouth and my body accepted it. My face gleamed with joy and my hand grabbed the spoon from her hand. I started to eat uncontrollably.
"My my, my darling was starving! You looked like the devil from back then. You could scare Nishio again with that attitude...huh?" I started to cry. The overwhelming feeling of joy was touched with my tastebuds. I was confused but i didn't regret it. The bacon was fresh and tender. The eggs layered, yoke broken and settled into the valleys of my mouth. The bread was buttered and crunchy for it was toasted. I felt like i became human and eating with Hide back at the university.
"But..b-but how?" i asked.
"I guess you are human again. I no longer sense a ghoul within you. I see the old kaneki from back then. The cute kaneki i ruined and regretted losing." Rize tilted her head looking at my crybaby face. I only looked away, but i couldn't help but hug her and dig into her warm chest. I cried more and more till my eyes started to burn. "I'm sorry...Kaneki-kun. I caused you to be tortured. I've only been torturing you for my own benefit and i regret it so much." Teardrops started to hit my head. I sobbed as well and she held me tight to her. Who knew we would be crying in each other's arms that day. The day where our lives changed. I never thought i would be the same again after the incident, but now i found my heart beating weirdly.
"Rize."
"Y-yes?" Rize wiped her tears with her arm.
"What is love again?" i asked. Rize laughed and rubbed my back. She then looked at the window behind us and thought hard.
"It's a clear view of wanting. A want to yearn and take care, a want to be with forever, a want to hear what he or she always wants to say. Like the tree, i wanted to visit it everyday, nurture it, and hear the buds fall off from it during the winter after it blooms. That is love, at least from what i know." Rize said.
"Rize. I think i love you." I don't know what went over me or why i said so. I did want to be with her every step of the way and make her happy. I was happy, myself with her. I wanted to do everything i can to start over like she did and make a new chapter.
"I love you too, but…" Rize looks at me and stands up. "We both have important matters to intend to. Knowing Eto, she would have gone to Dr. Kanou." The memory struck my mind. The voices of when Rize was in my head. "Ah, yes. Chain him. As long as 210 is unconscious we can use a trail on him. Increase the Anesthetic levels to 3.2. This man will be the future to my project. Without her there is no future. She is still alive and will always be." This voice was mentioned as Dr. Kanou with about four other men as well. Who could this man be? And Eto...i saw her on top of me, analyzing me yesterday like a witch. She must have been the one that revived Rize from my body.
"Who is Dr. Kanou? And what did Eto do to me?!" I asked.
"I thought you would ask." Rize paused and started to clean the mess i made with breakfast off the bed. "Dr. Kanou is the shit that used my organs and placed them inside you. I'm going to kill him. Eto, on the other hand is a friend of mine. Mr. Yoshimura's daughter if you remember." Rize pauses again. Her face frowned and she looked away. "I'll hate to say this. But this would eventually be brought up into the future and complicate our progress. I used Touka to lead Eto to us. I needed Eto torture you so she could possibly reincarnate me into this world. I already knew she was doing experiments on her own men but, i know it was selfish of me to use you as well. I hope you'll forgive me once again." That's right. I forgot about Touka whose voice i heard back at the warehouse. She used to Touka to reincarnate? Touka. How long did you know about my situation? I hope you are okay.
"I saw the world collapsing around me again. She told me the worst things about my life. I was angry, sad, emotionless, then grieved to the point where i feared myself; what i was going to do and what will become of me in the future. I feel better now that i'm no longer a ghoul, but i feel the sensation that you are still always inside me. Even though you are here, in the flesh, i could understand your desire to be free from my cage. I don't blame you. You took over my body to your own benefit, but i find this benefit pointed to me as well. The time we spent together in my dreams have affected our relationship for i know we finally understand each other." I take Rize's hands and put them in between mine. "All i ask is that you no longer harm my friends. They are dear to me just as much you say i am to you."
"Ok. I accept. I want you to be by my side we we change the outlook of japan and take over. The CCG is way more dangerous than the ghouls. Their technologies are steadily advancing far beyond our capabilities. Now that you are now identified by the CCG, you cannot escape from their reaches until you are able to prove you are human, or you sacrifice your time to survive."
"I see." Touka. I thought. "Is Touka safe at least?" i asked.
"Yes. When we were in the warehouse, we had a few verbal disagreements. She ran away crying afterwards hopping off like the bunny she's named after. She gave you regards and left. I carried you here in my apartment that i'm using at the moment."
"I'm going to go back to Anteiku today. I want to say hello to everyone. I'm still a member there after all." Rize looks contempt but her face slowly goes into a deep thought.
"Fine. You can work there, but be careful." I suddenly felt a relief and no longer felt worried. I was happy and i wanted to feel normal again. Yet, though my times as a ghoul will end, my friends wasted much time on me, so much so that it's heartbreaking at the same time. The guilt almost doesn't want me back at Anteiku. But either way they are still my friends in the end. I would be glad to work there more if i can. With this in mind. Rize and i walked over to Anteiku.
Rize and Kaneki went inside, met by a swarm of customers and hard working employees such as Nishio and Yomo. It's lunch time, when coffee sells the most. Rize changed her mood and relaxed to the smell of coffee while Kaneki went to meet everyone once again.
"Guys! It's Kaneki! Come look!" Little Hinami yelled, running into his arms.
"Yo." Nishio greeted.
"Hey." Said Yomo with his stoned face.
"Hello everyone! I'm glad to be back with everyone!" kaneki said.
"Kaneki? Why do you have white hair?" Hinami asked.
"Oh, i guess i tried out the new dye that's trending nowadays i guess." Kaneki said with a guilty smile. After some time, Mr. Yoshimura comes out into the cafe and stares at Rize.
"No greetings for your old customer i see?" Rize said looking back at Mr. Yoshimura.
"May you please step into my office for a moment Mr. Kaneki and Mrs. Rize? I wouldn't want to speak in front of the customers." Mr. Yoshimura stepped into his office and Rize followed.
"Can you please teach me how to read and write again Kaneki! I've been dying in school! It's so boring!" Hinami cried out.
"Sure sure! Not now okay! Here, have this book and i want you to read it for me later about it ok?" Kaneki hands her a book called "Rolling River".
"Ohh. I will try." Hinami runs upstairs to the second floor of the cafe into her room. Kaneki smiles and walks into Mr. Yoshimura's office. The look of his face frightened him when he was called. Kaneki was nervous, his hands were shaking and knew it was bad news. Kaneki had never been in his office. There were two red big chairs in front of a large desk. Rize sat in one and Mr. Yoshimura sat behind the big desk. Kaneki shut the door behind him and sat in the second red chair.
"Please, sit. I'll prepare tea for you in a minute." Mr. Yoshimura got up and prepared tea that was located behind his desk.
"Good morning Mr. Yoshimura. I see the cafe is running like it always have. It never changes."
"Indeed. Ghouls here are hard working and love the customers."
"What is it that you wanted to speak of?" Rize asked.
"I am curious to how you are breathing here right now." Yoshimura bluntly asked while handing out coffee for Rize and a cup of tea for Kaneki. "I also worry how you two walked in together on...good terms." Yoshimura sat in his chair and for the first time, his face wasn't the same as when he's in the cafe. He wasn't smiling. He was serious. "You know i sense that you, Kaneki, are no longer a ghoul. Are you human?" He asked. Before Kaneki could speak, Rize butted in.
"I would say it's the work of god, the new beginning to this matter. If he listens, i thinks he answered my prayer to say the least. My voice reached out and now i'm here. With a little help i was revived from his body." Rize said as she sipped on her coffee.
"I'm sorry Mr. Yoshimura. I'm human now. I feel happy, but i hope i can work here ag-"
"No you may not." Yoshimura said bluntly. "I'm grateful you are able to find your human capabilities once again somehow, but if we were to have the CCG on our front porch, we, the Anteiku, wouldn't want a human to be killed over our mistakes.
"But, i was actually able to make friends here. I feel like i belong and i'm determined to work as well. I have no other job since i've been out of college, but.." Kaneki gripped his pants and stood up. "..I'm here to work and help no matter what happens. Please.." Kaneki bowed with his arms at his side. "...let me stay!" Mr. Yoshimura looked into the distance and sat in his chair quietly thinking to himself.
"Sit." Kaneki obeyed and sat while he pulled out a mask from under his desk and placed it near me. "This is the mask Uta gratefully made from your measurements and personality he said. You can keep it if you so desire." The mask was all black with an eyepatch on the right side and it's mouth-like zipper in the front had red gums and white metal teeth placed. It was a daunting mask that Kaneki stared at for awhile. This was supposed to be the mask i wore while i was with Touka. He thought. "Touka brought this here to me before she went off to school. She asked me to give this to you."
"This a cute mask for a handsome devil." Rize said. "I say this is lovely meeting, and i would hate to ruin the mood. You don't seem to be the type to give up on a former-dedicated employee now would you? If he was to be accepted back in now, would you think it would be possible if he had someone like me to protect him, if something like an accident would occur at any given circumstance?" Rize asked.
"Would you think me, an old man with experience, accept you to guard the person you destroyed? You are not welcomed to be of service here at Anteiku, but as a customer."
"And i thought this place was a home for ghouls, am i not correct?"
"You are an SS-rated ghoul."
"And so are you old man. You're segregating my past from Anteiku and that's not very nice Mr. Yoshimura. I expected a little bit of courtesy from you."
"I see. You killed many as i have heard. If the CCG finds out that you are dwelling here, you would be hunted down immediately. That's why i do not recommend you work here or look over Kaneki's shoulders as a guardian." Kaneki looked puzzled and wondered how powerful Yoshimura was to the CCG. If he's labeled SS, he must be powerful. More than me, at least before i became human again Kaneki thought.
"I'm not that popular anymore. Besides, there are more ghouls out there taking my place since i died."
"That's very true. I've heard you were pronounced dead on their channel a few weeks ago. The CCG are very sensitive to rumors and police information. Seeing your body parts, i'm sure they do not believe you are alive." Yoshimura looked over to the window that was to his right. He looked concerned and was looking for something. "I'll accept your idea for now. Kaneki, you will be supervised by Rize for the time being." Kaneki smiled. "You are not to show your face to the public or customers Rize and you will be working here normally Kaneki."
"How am i supposed to look after my darling?" Rize asked.
"I suggest you change your look. You can ask Touka for beauty products. She'll supply them for you when she comes back from her studies."
"Am i not beautiful enough Mr. Yoshimura?" Rize smiled.
"If you do not like beauty products then dye your hair. I see Kaneki has done so already." Yoshimura stares at Kaneki's white hair. The sun from the window gleamed into his attention. "It looks very nice on you young man."
"T-thank you. I don't know how i got this color, but it's cool i guess." Rize got up and took the tea with her. She stood at the door.
"I hope we start over on good terms with Anteiku. Take my word." Rize leaves the room and heads into the second floor of the cafe. Yoshimura stares out into the window once again searching around the window's view.
"What is it Mr. Yoshimura?" Kaneki asked.
"Nothing. I think it's a sign that i'm losing my sense of hearing now. It's all in the process in getting wise i presume. I don't believe i'll be here long either. Anyways I'm happy we are able to come into agreement though. Rize seems to have changed except for a few qualities." Yoshimura stands and motions Kaneki to leave his office.
Kaneki walks out and heads upstairs to meet with Hinami. Rize sat at the couch with Hinami who read "Rolling River" with her. Hinami was wearing a bright blue dress and black dress shoes. She also wore a blue ribbon in her hair that made her look very cute. Hinami is weak in her speech and writing in japanese, but she is steadily learning through Kaneki's teachings in the past. Her mother drops her off every now and then and expects him to take care of her as her babysitter. Hinami is thirteen years old in junior high.
"And the barrel swam through the river, silently passing through tiny rocks and-" Hinami read aloud.
"Do you know this word Hinami-chan?" Rize asked.
"Um, no. How do you pronounce it?"
"It's Esta-bli-shed."
"Ohh." Hinami continued to read as kaneki sat next to him. I wonder what else is to come. But i what is that noise i hear? Kaneki thought. A loud chopping noise was outside their window. Kaneki's eyes opened wide and his heart skipped a beat. What the hell?!