The walk to the detention facility had been anything but fun. Hide was completely enthralled with Kaneki, chatting with him for the whole duration and seemingly forgetting all about Sojin. Touka had remained silent for the most part, walking a few steps behind Kaneki and Hide. Sojin had tried to strike up a conversation with her towards the beginning of the journey, but it had quickly died due to her one word replies. Eventually, he gave in and walked a few steps behind the girl, with Freed right behind him. He could feel the ghoul's grey eyes drilling into the back of his head, but Freed hadn't made a peep since they had departed the cafe. Hide and Kaneki's chatter died down as the facility came into view.
The building was a stark grey color with only two windows looking out on the field below it. Although it didn't seem to have many floors, it was quite wide across and Sojin imagined that it held a large amount of ghoul prisoners. Black gates that were taller than Freed and spiked on top kept unwanted visitors out, while guards with machine guns stood on either side of the doors of the building. Sojin wondered if the security measures would be enough to put up a fight against the three ghouls he was with.
"Alright, I'll look for the best way in. You guys wait out of sight," Touka said, continuing towards the building. Kaneki signaled for the boys to head into an alleyway, pulling Hide to his side. Sojin stood across from them, sighing internally as Freed joined him, leaning against the alley wall and kicking at the dirt with his stylish brown boots. The ghoul hardly looked ready for battle, wearing a rather tight button up and slim black jeans. Sojin shrugged and turned his attention back to Hide.
"So what's the plan?" he asked the older boy. With the slightest hint of annoyance, he added, "I'm guessing you'll be going with Kaneki."
If Hide picked up on the aggression, he ignored it, scratching his head and looking at Kaneki. The half-ghoul nodded.
"I'll make sure he doesn't get hurt," Kaneki said, giving Sojin a reassuring nod. Sojin looked at Freed, then to Hide.
"Then..." he began.
"Looks like you're with me," Freed stated, a smile across his face. Silence filled the air as Sojin felt rage build within him. Hide was simply going to allow him to go alone with the ghoul that had tried to kill them earlier? The red head saved himself before Sojin could burst out in anger.
"No. I'm not going to let him go alone with you after our last meeting. Sojin, I didn't want you to come at all. It's too dangerous. Just wait here till we get back."
"But...then you shouldn't go either!" he stated, defiantly.
"I have to make sure Kaneki is okay and I can't look after both of you."
Sojin began to argue again, but Touka swooped down from above, landing lightly on her feet.
"Alright, I scanned the premises and the easiest way in seems to be from the side. There's an unmanned door and we can easily hop the fence. We're gonna need someone to provide a distraction from the front, though."
Sojin raised his hand. If Hide wasn't going to let him join the main party, he would at least help this way.
"Sojin...alright, I guess this is the best way to make use of you. Just ring the bell at the front which should attract the guards. When they ask you what you want, make sure you have a story constructed. We'll sneak in while they're distracted."
The boy nodded, happy to have a part in the mission.
"Alright, it's dark enough that we should be able to start now. Everyone, get your masks on and let's go."
Touka slid on her bunny mask and Kaneki his frightening, zipper mask. Sojin almost laughed at the irony, thinking the scary mask was much more suited to the purple haired girl. Freed's mask was simply a black panel that covered everything about his mouth, leaving his grin exposed. Sojin shivered, still remembering when he first ran into it in the abandoned apartment building. Hide pulled his hood over his head, though Sojin wondered how much good that would do in hiding his face. None of the others seemed concerned, though, so he remained quiet.
"Good luck, Sojin," his roommate stated as he followed the ghouls out of the alley and towards the side of the building. The younger boy scoffed once they were out of earshot. If Hide really cared, he would've gone with him. Sojin shook the thoughts of jealousy from his head and prepared for his mission.
Acting casual, he emerged from the alley and headed towards the building, formulating his story on the way. By the time he reached the gate, he had a rough draft in his head. Not wanting to arouse suspicion, he rang the bell for service as soon as he arrived. He could see the guards immediately perk up, then walk towards him, machine guns and all. A sudden pang of nervousness filled him, but he doubted the guards would kill another human.
"Yes?" one of the guards asked skeptically, obviously not used to visitors like Sojin.
"Er...I have a message," he stated, looking from one man to the other. "It's about a ghoul!"
The men's ears immediately perked up and their hands hovered near their guns. "Out with it," one stated.
"Actually, it's confidential. Only for...Mado and Amon!" he replied, placing a hand on the gate. "They're here, right?"
The men's expressions softened a bit. "You know Mado? Ah, no, kid. You've got the wrong place. Mado doesn't work at the detainment facility."
"Oh! Could you tell me how to get to his office, then?"
As the men explained, Sojin paid little attention, scanning the dark field to see if he could make out the figures of the ghouls. Indeed, just as the man's directions came to an end, he saw three shadows slide across the lawn and into the side of the building. Three...? Sojin guessed that they had made Hide stay behind in the end.
"Got it?" the other guard asked.
"Huh?" Sojin asked, in surprise. "Er, yes! Thank you! I'll head there now then!"
He began to walk to the side of the building to find Hide, but halted as the guards spoke up again.
"Mado's office is the other way..." he stated, suspiciously.
"Ah, right! I was just going to take care of some other business first!"
"If you have information about a ghoul, you should report it ASAP. It could save a life."
"Oh! Okay, I'll go do that then," he stated, smiling. He turned and walked the opposite way, his smile quickly fading to a look of annoyance when he was out of view. After almost ten minutes of walking, he circled the perimeter to where the ghouls had entered. His heart dropped as he found not Hide leaning against the fence, but Freed.
"You didn't go with them? I thought they needed you to get Nishiki!" Sojin hissed.
"I told them the deal was that I would only go if you went," he replied, the black plate hiding his face, save for his smirk.
The younger boy gripped the ghoul's crisp button up in annoyance. "What is up with your interest in me?"
Freed let out a laugh, so loud that Sojin was worried he would draw the attention of the guards.
"Can you blame a guy for pursuing something that he likes?"
"You liked me so much that you were going to try to have me for a meal?"
"It was dark. I couldn't see your face clearly."
"You're not fooling anyone. You want to gain my trust so you can kill me later, right?"
To Sojin's horror, it seemed that the guards actually had heard Freed's laugh. They were already halfway across the field and approaching quickly. Freed peered behind him to where Sojin was looking, then back at the boy with a wicked smile.
"It's not like that, kid. If I wanted to kill you, I could do it right now. Do you know how easy it is?"
In the blink of an eye, an orange tentacle emerged from the ghoul's back and pierced through the chest of the first guard. The other guard grabbed at his machine gun, but Freed's extremity smashed it out of his hands before wrapping around the man and lifting him over the gate. Freed lowered the man next to him but kept him restrained. It was the guard who had first talked to him and he now wore an expression of horror.
"Freed! Let him go!" Sojin exclaimed, looking from the ghoul to the guard.
"You're with the ghouls, you little bastard? I'll kill you!" the guard shouted, struggling to get free. Freed shook his head, his smile fading.
"Now, now. I won't have anyone hurting my muse," he stated, as he increased the pressure around the man. The man let out a scream as his bones audibly cracked beneath the tentacle's grip. The screaming was cut short as blood erupted from the man's throat, landing inches from Sojin's feet. Freed threw the lifeless corpse to the ground as his kagune retracted. As the shock finally faded, Sojin pushed him into the fence, rage in his eyes.
"What the hell are you doing?!" he exclaimed, his nails digging into the ghoul's arms. Freed shoved him away, surprisingly roughly, his mouth a thin line of displeasure.
"You should be grateful I got rid of that scum," he stated, his voice suddenly icey. "Besides, we had to get inside and I'm not one for pathetic distractions."
Sojin dared not argue again, simply staring at the ghoul with a mixture of fear and disbelief.
"Now, now. Don't be afraid. I would never do that to you. Let's catch up to the others before anymore of these guards appear."
He scooped Sojin off his feet then jumped the fence with ease, dashing across the lawn and entering the building. He let the boy back onto his own feet then looked around before leading the way further into the facility. Sojin followed with little choice, praying that they would find the others.
"They said something about the third floor, so I'm guessing that's where that Nishiki kid is," Freed stated aloud, no fear of being heard. Sojin shushed him.
"You're going to cause more guards to find us! And killing them will make me never like you."
Freed shrugged. "I can never understand you humans..."
The two came across a staircase leading to the second floor with relative ease. Sojin assumed that the others had taken care of the guards on this floor. He silently followed Freed up the stairs and into a large room, shaped like a pentagon with a high ceiling. The air was stale and there was only one other entrance to the room, directly across from where the pair had entered.
"What's with a weird room like this?" Freed asked. Immediately, an alarm set off and a steel plate slid out from both doorways, sealing them off. Sojin's heart raced as he realized they had walked into a trap. Another pair of doors opened from the floor above them and four kagune-weilding guards dropped into the pentagonal room.
"I told you to be quiet!" Sojin exclaimed, his eyes-widening in fear. It was one versus four. No, worse. Sojin would be a handicap in the fight. He knew Freed was powerful, but could he take on four guards simultaneously. Three tails emerged from the ghoul as the guards unleashed their own kagune: a spear, a huge blade, dual batons, and a scythe.
Freed grabbed Sojin and jumped out of the middle of the circle, placing the boy in a corner and putting himself in front, ready to defend. Although Sojin had no fondness of the ghoul, he had no choice but to support him now.
"Well. This will be interesting," Freed said, glancing back at Sojin with a smile. "Interesting" was not the word Sojin would have chosen.
Ohhh, I'm on a roll! xD Please remember to review and subscribe! 3