Back at it with another chapter. Exams next week, and I'm using this as a sort of 'break' from my revision. It's nice to write now and then. Without further ado, on to the next chapter of the One-Eyed Myth! Disclaimer I do not own Tokyo Ghoul, or anything else that may belong to other ppl, e.g. songs n shit. I'm just a friendly facfictioner taking out my post-anime depression on writing happy endings. Thank much. (OwO) (Helpful criticism always invited!) Much Thanks! (^w^) BTW just finished watching A Silent Voice, it was AMAZING. All of you should go watch it. SO worth the 2 hours. AAAnd I'm depressed again. So you know what that means? Yep, look out for a new story an my acc sometime soon! (=w=)
Touka was once again in the depressed state she was in when she got the letter. This time, however, she was constantly crying. Not the kind of 'constant' where there were 5 minute breaks in between. Whenever she stopped to collect herself, her mind would instantly swerve to the thought of him. His face, his hair, his scent, his smile, then she would weep again, knowing that he was gone.
To make matters worse, she could not let go of her love for him. After she confessed minutes too late, she was unable to move on. It was a long time since she has had this emotion in her, so long such that it was foreign to her mind, and like a drug, she could not break away from it. But drugs are supposed to make you happy, right? Heartbreak did the opposite.
Yoshimura had grabbed her and Kaneki's body away from the scene, where they escaped and rendezvoused with Kaya and Koma at Yomo's place. Nishiki had disappeared, and Kaya and Koma have went off to stay with fellow gangmates for the time being. Hinami, like Touka, cried upon hearing of Kaneki's death. It was a hard time for all of them, trying to accept the death of what was possibly the most precious member of their family. Even Kaneki's team, now led by Banjou, cried their hearts out, although in Tsukiyama's context was quite creepy.
Kaneki was normal human kid, turned into a freak through an accident, then moving on to become the most controversial ghoul in history, keeping a clean record on CCG's kill count despite being an SS rated ghoul. Oh how quickly he moved on. His mother's death, then the freak accident, then the torture chamber. He is a strong man, and that, paired with the fun side of him, was what drew Touka to him. No doubt, from the day she heard the melodious tune, did she fall for him. She had a tiny crush beforehand, but that all changed that night. She had regretted punching Kaneki the morning after he made his return. She could have laid there forever, but Nishiki… Shitty Nishiki…
She kept herself fed, that's for sure. But she just could not exit her room anymore. Yoriko has been calling her constantly, wanting to know if she was fine, but she never answered. Never. She was too deep in her sorrow to care. She was now the weakest. Even Hinami was stronger. Ironic, how she considered herself to be unbreakable before.
Lying on her bed, she turned from the wall and looked down. Kaneki's body was lying beside her bed, in the messy crumple he was. He sacrificed himself for humans. How could he?
"Why…" And she started weeping again. An endless cycle. A disastrous loop. A perpetual repetition till the end of time…
"He was something truly special…" Amon's last goodbye to him. It seemed to have hit the investigator pretty hard too. The Eyepatch was more or less the only ghoul he had ever in the slightest respected. He had many plans to meet the man in person and chat over a good cup of coffee. That chance was long gone now, along with the ghoul's soul.
He wondered if there was a funeral. A mourning of some sort. He wanted to pay his respects to the ghoul, which was probably a first in mankind's history. He could not focus much for the next few days. He could tell Akira was relatively shaken too. She had almost died after all.
"Hey Amon, mind still on that day?" Yukinori walked past.
"Yeah, guess so." Simple reply.
"I saw it. That ghoul, the Eyepatch, wasn't it?" Yukinori sighed. "Can tell why you're that down. That guy is really something."
Amon's mind wandered to the girl kneeling beside his body. "I loved you…" The pain, the agony, the sense of loss in her voice was too obvious to notice. They could have been a couple, but judging by her sentence, she probably hadn't confessed yet. He wondered if it was Akira in the pit. Would he have done the same? Reacted the same way? Akira was a striking woman. The daughter of Kureo Mado, and a beautiful person. She actually loved him. Sort of. And him, on the other hand, was working to get his mind straight on whether he had feelings for her or not. It was… complicated, as teens would say. But he still thanked the gods day and night for giving her a second chance. For sending the Eyepatch to save her.
"Hey, Amon, I'll let you in on something okay?"
"Hm?" Yukinori said in a low voice. "I may know where that boy is."
Amon jumped from his chair.
"Really?"
"Mhmm. Or at least the boy's mourning place. Saw that old geezer who ran the café a few days ago, leaving this apartment sometime around midnight."
"Did you tell the CCG?"
"Seems too early to intrude on them while they're still in sorrow, eh?" Amon smiled. That man really has compassion.
"Tell me where. I need to go pay a visit."
"Huh?" Yokinori looked confused. "You think they'll let you in?"
"Sure, why not. I'll take my chances."
"If you say so." He gave Amon the estimated address of the apartment. "When are you going?"
"Today, preferably."
"Well take care."
"Thanks, Yokinori." He left the office. Had to get some flowers, get changed too. As he left the office building, he felt a tug on his sleeve.
"Yes, Akira?" She was in her typical purple suit, this time on a wheelchair. Her legs were crushed, and needed a lot of time to heal.
"I'll go too."
"W-what? Go where?"
"He did save me. I cannot be so rude." How did she… nevermind. "Just don't tell anyone."
"Will do, captain." It was set. At 7, they would go to the current assumed living place of the Anteiku gang. Hope for the best…
It was time. They were at the presumed house, ready to knock.
"Do it." Akira said firmly. Amon took in a deep breath. Knock, knock, knock. Three times, at regular intervals. Footsteps could be heard. The door opened. "Yes…?"
She was in bed when there was a knock on the door. Probably one of the staff. She got out of bed and gingerly avoided Kaneki's body. She got to the front door and opened it, expecting to see a familiar face. "Yes…?"
She froze. Of all the people, Amon and Akira were the last ones she expected to come visit. Keep calm. Do not get scared. Don't show your ghoul eye.
"H-hello?" Awkward silence. They were not carrying quinques, and instead, surprisingly, held flowers.
"Umm, hi, do you by any chance know the Eyepatch?" Amon asked. What? Why? How did they find out about this place?
"Umm, sorry, no. Bye…"
"We know you." Amon spoke. Touka's eyes widened. "You are that girl we saw that day. I recognise you."
I'm fucked. She flashed her ghoul eyes, preparing for a fight.
"HOLD ON. We don't want any trouble, we just… want to pay our respects to the Eyepatch." Touka's eyes turned normal. And wide. Pay… respects? Are you kidding? No way. Is this a joke?
"I don't believe you." She responded. Amon sighed. "Please, just…"
"Hey." Akira interrupted. "He saved my life, you know. I'm genuinely sorry for you and your friends to lose someone like him. He was a person deserving of the entire world's respect. And even if that is not possible, we would still like to show our apologies for the loss of a great life. So, if you could please just give us a few minutes with him, that would be greatly appreciated." Touka was surprise. It was genuine, no signed of malice, or deceit. They really only wanted to give their prayers to Kaneki.
"If you say so, but no messing around here, or I will decapitate both of you."
"No problem. I am bound to a wheelchair, so I wouldn't be much of a hassle." She let them in, her mind on guard.
"So, where is his…?"
"In this room." They entered, Akira gasped, and Amon just looked away.
"Why did you…" Akira looked unwell.
"I... could not let go. It was hard for me to see him get put in a coffin and thrown into who-knows-what. So… I kept him…"
"Oh…" If Touka had to be honest, it was still quite gruesome. Nothing she couldn't handle though. Although she really was about to crack inside…
Amon stayed silent. He had rid his mind of the disgusting thoughts, and knelt beside the body. Putting his hands together, he muttered a prayer before laying down his flowers. Akira went next, being able to only stay seated while she prayed.
It was a solemn moment. He stood quiet, respecting the dead and passed. He could hear a slight sniffle, no doubt the girl, trying to contain her emotions. He felt like letting a few tears through. It was only custom. But he didn't. He wept for the man internally.
They were done with prayers.
"Let's go. Thanks a lot for this, Miss." Akira smiled comfortingly.
"N-no problem." She was choking a bit already. Better leave fast. Amon knelt down one last time. That was when he noticed movement. Eye tricks. No big deal. Then another one. Not in the fingers or anything, but in the flesh. It seemed to be inching together. He's healing?
"Hey Miss, you might want to see this…"
"What?" She came beside Amon.
"Do you see the flesh… moving?" She looked confused, then her eyes widened.
"He's still alive…" She whispered.
"No way." Akira rolled over. "Yep. Another miracle. This guy would not fail to surprise, would he?" The girl was tearing, not those of sorrow, but of joy. Her eyes lit, and there was hope in them.
"He is healing, for sure. But from what I've seen, this is way too slow. The bones around his wounds are stopping his body from closing up completely. If you could, push the bones back in." He took one piece jutting out and slowly nudged it back into the body. The girls screamed. It looked disgusting. It was disgusting. But he was determined to get this guy healed. He really needed the coffee session with him…
An hour later and he was finished. Touka and Akira had left the room, not wanting to see anymore. It was pretty scarring. How the hell the male investigator didn't throw up was out of her mind. They were instead in the living room, having a talk on the white-haired man. Akira was very interested in him, and Touka did her best to tell his life story without revealing too much.
Amon came out of the room, announcing his completion while wiping his hands.
"He should heal after this, although I am no doctor." Touka went in, and there he was, just a normal Kaneki with some bloody patches and a torn shirt. She covered her mouth in happiness.
"Thank you. So, so much."
"No problem. I still need a coffee date with him. He can't die just yet." This was the happiest she had felt throughout her life. Nothing could beat the feeling of realizing that your presumed-dead love was still alive. Right? They left with a goodbye, and headed off, probably home. Seconds after, Yoshimura, Yomo and Hinami came running in.
"Hey Touka, are you ok?"
She turned to them with a big smile. "I think so. In fact, I have a feeling I would be fine for a long time…"
BAM. CHAPTER 7 DONE. It is currently 12 am on the DOT. I need sleep XD. As always, point out any mistakes I made along the way, and maybe even give me suggestions on future chapter ideas. I can't keep going like this forever running on my own fuel ya know. I can already feel the writer's block… Anyways, have a good day readers, and I will see you in Chapter 8!
EAZGAME signing out, PEACE (^w^)