A temporary command centre had been established within the ruins on Rue Island after then declaration of an alliance. Torso had refused to surrender Mitsugi, and had been executed by the One Eyed Owl herself. While Eto and Tatara spoke for hours with Ui and Suzuya, Kaneki had disappeared, with no one having seen him leave. When asked about this, Eto had waved it off "Kaneki has his own agenda, but I'm sure it correlates with either his personal life or this Alliance". Urie and the Quinx Squad had returned to CCG Headquarters where Commander Washuu himself gave them a debriefing.
"It's true. Ken Kaneki and Eto Yoshimura are in a new correlation with myself in this alliance. I have always known that V was intimately tied to the CCG and its founding, my grandfather… But now I no longer wish to be a pawn. I will take full control of the CCG and flush out this menace V". Urie had been shocked when the Commander had offered him, Mitsugi and Saiko a promotion to First Class Investigator. "The future is uncertain, and I believe the CCG's very code of conduct and policy will be forever changed after this coming battle. All of us will need to take responsibility". As the two new First Class Investigators bow respectfully in thanks, he smiles while looking out the window at the gardens below. "I know you think ill of Ken Kaneki, but he really is the same person as Haise Sasaki, though changed with the return of his memories. I see great potential in this plan of his, and I believe he should be given another chance, considering Kishou Arima truly is a member of V". Urie and Saiko gasp. "You mean he was telling the truth?" Washuu nods gravely. "I finally encountered my grandfather about V and he told me much. Arima and Furata are members of V, and they were given to the CCG by V in order for us to… remove their enemies with ease".
Urie is surprised at the venom in the Commanders voice. "He thinks that both he and V are untouchable, and doesn't care if everyone knows of V. I will not allow this to go on!" He slams his fist on his desk, making the two younger investigators jump. "As soon as I heard of Kaneki's betrayal, I had him classified as a SSS rated ghoul. But now? I can never lower that rating, and I wish for him to remain an investigator. That of course is up to him, but I have promoted him to Special Class Investigator in order to replace Arima, for he is not returning to these halls as an ally of the CCG…" Urie shivers. The Reaper as their enemy? I never want to have to face him like Kaneki did… He coughs. "So.. Sir? What are you planning to do with him?" The Commander laughs. "I don't think I can make him do anything. But He is going to resume his command of your Quinx Squad". Urie's fists clench in envy and anger, but the Commander continues before he can say anything. "This will of course be a joint command, as he has told me he wouldn't want to usurp your own responsibilities. So, both you and the Special Class will lead the Quinx Squad".
He looks behind Urie at Saiko and the other Quinx. "On top of that, you will all be undergoing Frame 5 Kagune surgery, not Frame 6, as that would almost certainly take you over the line into becoming a ghoul. You are human, and despite this alliance and my conflicting opinions on ghouls at them moment, I think you should treasure your humanity". Urie nods, understanding. "All humans who have become true half ghouls have suffered tragedy. Kaneki and Takizawa are lost souls, but Kaneki seems to have held onto his humanity". Washuu nods. "Kaneki is strong, and he wishes for you all to become strong, but not in the way he has. He asked me to tell you to go to some coffee shop if you wanted to talk, so I'll dismiss you and let you all on your way".
Three days later, Urie, Saiko and Mitsugi are walking down a tree lined street in the 20th Ward. After their meeting with the Commander, all members of the Quinx Squad, excluding Urie, had undergone successful Frame 5 Kagune surgery, and had been training with their more powerful abilities ever since. As the trio approach the small shop called: re, Urie holds up a hand, pausing at the entrance. "This is suppose be inhabited by ghouls. I don't care about this alliance. Up until now some of the ghouls in there might have been trying to kill us, so stay on guard ok?" Saiko and Mitsugi nod firmly, and the Quinx walk in through the doorway. As they enter, the rich aroma of well-brewed Coffee assaults Urie's nostrils. A beautiful woman is cleaning glasses at the counter with an orange haired man with glasses. As the woman see's the investigators coming in, she walks over to them. "He'll be down in a moment, he's just eating". Urie's eyes widen, and he shoves Touka out of the way.
Storming up the stairs, he kicks the door open and storms into the room. Kaneki is sitting on a couch on the opposite wall, a cup of Coffee in one hand and a handful of cubes in the other. He frowns at the interruption of his meal. "What are you doing Urie? This is private property you know…" Urie breathes out slowly, his anger dissipating. "When that woman said you were eating, I thought you were feeding on a human or something"… He stands their awkwardly as Kaneki drops the cubes into his Coffee, taking a sip. "I'll tell you this now. To this day, I've never killed or fed upon a human. This very same group of friends provided the ghouls in their care with these cubes. They won't sustain me for long, but it sates my hungers"… He rises from his seat and walks towards the investigator. "I assume Washuu told you of my continued service to the CCG? If I am to be able to do anything, I must maintain connections both sides of my heritage. I am both human and ghoul, both Special Class Kaneki and SSS rated Centipede". Urie nods "I think… I think I understand you a little bit more, Ken Kaneki. You are the same person I knew all this time, but now you know the truth. The truth of your past and the truth of what you must do. I will work with you if you will take us Kaneki".
Kaneki smiles in thanks. "I won't disappoint you Urie, trust me". He steps out onto the staircase and ushers Urie downstairs. Once back in the café, Kaneki greets Saiko and Mitsugi with an embrace. "Mitsugi. I'm glad you're okay". Mitsugi thanks him nervously and sits down at a table with the others. As Kaneki slides in next to Saiko, Urie notices a figure coming towards them out of the corner of his eye. As he turns, he recoils as he stares into the mask of the SS rated ghoul, Serpent. As Serpent laughs, removing his mask, Urie sees that Serpent is actually the man with the glasses. "Nishio, would you mind not scaring our guests?" Nishio continues to laugh as he passes mugs of Coffee around. Kaneki raises an eyebrow. "I'd almost forgotten to ask how in god's name you got a SS rating anyway. Killing off Aogiri members?" Nishio scratches the back of his head awkwardly looking at Urie and the others. "Yeah… and a few investigators"…. Urie quells his discomfort and turns to Kaneki, who's halfway through his second cup of Coffee. "Is it true that ghouls love Coffee? You sure drink a lot of it". Kaneki nods.
"Coffee was one of the few human foods I discovered I could consume after I became a One Eye". Urie nods "So you've decided to remain with the CCG?" "For now yes. I can do more good as a Special Class Investigator than a rouge SSS rated ex investigator at this point". He puts down his mug and folds his hands in an arch steeple, leaning forward. "What do you know about Kotarou Amon?" Urie blinks "Special Class Amon? Well… He was a rising star of sorts back in the days of the One Eyed Owl Exterminations. I hear he was partnered with First Class Mado and became a First Class in record length. Why do you want to know about him?" Kaneki leans back. "Amon and I fought and met many times in those days. He became interested in what my motives were, and why I didn't kill him when I could have. Honestly, back then I wanted nothing more than to protect those I loved and find common ground between ghouls and humans. I only remembered that recently however… Anyway, Donato Popora seemed to think that Amon would be a key player in these coming events, and that he would be my greatest ally".
Mitsugi pipes up. "But Kotarou Amon was declared KIA after the Owl Extermination in the 20th Ward. Are you saying he's still alive?" "Yes. I believe that after we last fought, while I encountered Arima in V14, he and Seidou Takizawa were consumed by Noro and given to Kanou as ghoulification subjects. He was successful in using Kuzen Yoshimura's body to turn Takizawa into Owl, but apparently Amon, while turned into a half ghoul like me, refused to stay with Kanou and Aogiri. His sense of justice has survived all this time it seems". Urie looks at his mug, deep in thought. "You think that it was him who busted Priest from Cochlea after you left? That he has his own agenda, and that that agenda has something to do with you". Kaneki nods. "You've gotten very good at this Urie. Yes, I believe Amon is out there somewhere with Donato Popora and that they're planning something. Though, I find it hard to believe it would be anything against us, he might have found the dark roots of the CCG like Eto and I have. He might want to… cleanse this organisation…" Urie nods in understanding. "Kotarou Amon is a rouge, an unknown variant". He looks at Kaneki "The same as you"…. Kaneki folds his arms. "Indeed. Both of us are a major threat to V as far as they're concerned, though I'm worried my recent actions have revealed some of my intentions. This is why I need your help". Mitsugi looks at the man he had once called Haise, still uncomfortable around this new man sitting next to him. "Umm, what exactly are we going to be doing together? What's the next step?" Saiko joins in
"Yeah, now that you've secured this alliance between Aogiri and the CCG, how can we start the fight against V?" Kaneki nonchalantly drops another feed cube into his Coffee. "First we need to find V, and to do that, we need to pin down an associate of V". Urie gulps down his Coffee quickly. "You don't mean Special Class Arima do you? I saw him back at the HQ and was wondering why he was strolling down the halls as if he weren't an agent of V". Kaneki lets out a slow breath. "Arima was allowed to remain with the CCG only because we have no direct proof that he is in fact a member of V, and also because of the influence of the lord of the Washuu Clan, the founder of the CCG. He won't or can't take direct action against us, but it means that V is keeping tight surveillance over the situation above ground". He rises to his feet, beckoning Hinami, Touka and Yomo over to the table. "It's time I returned to my duties as an investigator. I'll need you guys to move out to Rue Island. That's the current operational centre of the Aogiri-CCG Alliance. I'm about to do some digging, and that digging may hit a little too close to home for V. They might attack and Rue Island is an obvious target". While Touka and Yomo nod in understanding, Hinami leans in to embrace the black haired Reaper. "Why do you have to leave again brother? You said you didn't need to pretend anymore". Kaneki pats her affectionately.
"While the CCG and Aogiri are under a ceasefire alliance, that doesn't extend to releasing any Cochlea inmates or independent factions and ghouls. The CCG will continue to hunt ghouls, it's in their nature Hinami. I can't go around with an ex Cochlea prisoner with me, they'd kill you on sight". Hinami accepts his explanation hesitantly, sitting up and going to stand beside Yomo. "Well now that this little team has their orders, it's time we parted ways". Kaneki goes to the door and ushers the Quinx members out of the door. Turning behind him to farewell Touka and the others, he lays a calming hand on her shoulder. "I'll see you when I arrive on Rue Island. Take care Touka". Touka holds him back for a moment. "I'm worried Kaneki. You've never operated like this in the past. You've made yourself know to both the CCG and Aogiri, and it seems V has been keeping tabs on you through Arima". Kaneki smiles, putting on his glasses. "I always worked as a small, independent group back then. Look where that got me, at the feet of Arima Kishou. I won't make that mistake again. If I am to achieve anything, I will need the help of others. I can't rely on just my own strengths to save everyone"…. With that, he waves a hand and joins his squad walking down the street.
As the Quinx Squad walk along the street below him, Amon watched Kaneki wave goodbye to Touka Kiroshima and gain on his squad. Suddenly, the investigator stops, turning around to look directly at the position where Amon was hiding, and raises two fingers to the side of his glasses, tapping three times. Amon knew what that meant in Japanese Sign Language. It's not time yet. "He couldn't possibly know what I'm doing could he? How did he even know I was here?" As Kaneki turns and resumes walking, Amon leans back and looks at the clear night sky. "I sometimes find it hard to remember you're the same person. I wonder if he knows about Kanou yet. Probably". He thinks back to the conversation he'd had with Donato not an hour earlier in some abandoned warehouse in the 19th Ward.
"You know, don't you?" Amon nods "I know where at least, I just don't know why, but I think Kaneki does. That's why I need to meet with him, but not yet". Donato raises an eyebrow "So Kaneki's the key here hmm? I always knew he would have an important role to play. Have you heard of the ceasefire he struck between Aogiri and the CCG?" Amon smiles. "Only he could have pulled it off. He sees that a ceasefire would give him room to operate. He's trying to find V, and V isn't going to just sit around and let him pick apart their conspiracy, they will act, and soon".
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Amon stands up and sees the Quinx Squad getting into a taxi. Kaneki was waiting for Amon to act at the right time before he did, so that could only mean one thing. Amon smiles as the first phase of Kaneki's plan dawns on him. "He wants to create a distraction, one that will draw out V so he can snatch one up. Very good Kaneki, now I know how I fit in…" He starts jumping from roof to roof, heading for Tokyo Bay…. And Rue Island….