After Amon had left the ghoul lying there in Gyoen Park, he had hurried back to the CCG, his mind running with excuses to say to Akira when he got there. Upon his arrival at their shared office he had even called a greeting to the stack of papers and reports sitting on her desk, before he realised that his colleague wasn't sat behind them. Somewhat relieved, he had immediately began tackling his own stack of work, trying to ignore the thoughts churning up in his mind.

He was a terrible investigator, he now knew that for sure. As the hours of the afternoon ticked by his thoughts twisted more and more around themselves, and he longed for the time when he had been on the good side, fighting against the dark and diabolical ghouls. He longed for that clarity.

Just one question kept circling his mind. Should he hand Eyepatch over?

He could definitely live without him, and what did he care if Kaneki rotted in Cochlea? Eyepatch was just a dark smudge on Amon's slate. He should, and would, change nothing.

The afternoon was dragging on when the office door snapped obtrusively open. Akira was still limping slightly, but that didn't stop her quick march across the room, before she sat down and began clicking quickly on her computer.

'Where have you been?' Amon asked curtly.

'Chasing a lead,' Akira said, her fingers going mad on the keyboard. 'I went immediately after lunch.'

'Any joy?'

'None.'

'Shame.'

Akira ceased with her clicking, and turning her head gave Amon a long and very blank look. God, she was weird.

'Is your lover coming in again today?'

Amon flinched. 'Lover…?'

'That charming young man with the eyepatch,' Akira said, as something shifted in her expression.

If it was supposed to be a joke, Amon was not amused. 'He is not my lover!'

'Newly-appointed Second Class Investigator Suzuya said otherwise,' Akira said, without missing a beat.

'Suzuya? How can you believe what he says?! Most of the time he's on a different planet.'

'A planet where you get saucy with a teenager?'

Amon clenched his fists under the desk. 'Shut up, Akira. I barely know the guy.'

'Then what is your connection with him?' she said, with what she must have thought was a casual, innocent tone.

'I… I…' Amon stuttered. 'Alright! I suppose he's my friend. We've… been through a lot together.'

'Interesting.'

Amon shot her a look of deepest loathing.

Apparently unfazed by this, she continued. 'Well, if you were to have a male lover, that young man would be more than suitable. He has a rather pleasing appearance.'

Amon felt a blush come over him. 'Well… yes, I suppose, as looks go he's quite… but I am not in anyway attracted to… bloody hell! You make him your lover if he's so bloody pretty!'

'What is his number?'

Amon blinked. 'What?'

'I find that to be very sound advice, Koutarou. What is his number?'

She had the weirdest look on her face.

'I… I don't actually have it.'

'I see,' she said. 'Convenient.'

Akira turned back to her computer and began typing briskly

The conversation was over.

Akira had more than suspected it before, but now it was confirmed; Amon Koutarou was not to be trusted.

That did not, however, negate the surprise she felt at this affirmation. She had always seen Amon as a straight-laced, law-abiding, strong, and determined investigator. It was unbelievable that now that same man was protecting a ghoul.

Akira congratulated herself inwardly on her own strength and dedication as an investigator. She had watched Eyepatch bid farewell to the family in the park with her mind split into two. One side had said chase, confront, and eliminate the ghoul, as protocol dictated, and the other had said let him off. After all, she had been weaponless, and could not deny she felt a tad sorry for the young man.

But as she had been watching the ghoul walk away she had realised that she could still pursue the ghoul and determine his place of residence, leaving his capture for later.

Thus, she had followed him through winding streets and back alleys, before ending up in front of an unlocked, boarded up house. Sneaking up to the front window she had peeked in through a gap in the boards. The interior had been dark, but for a few flickering candles, that had illuminated a body lying on the sofa. Even in the dim light Akira had spotted the white hair of Eyepatch. He had been conversing with someone, in the next room or in the hall. Wary that she had discovered an entire hoard of ghouls Akira had retreated to the CCG, where she could process what she had learnt and formulate a plan of action.

Whatever Amon's motives were for letting the ghoul go, Akira knew that a ghoul at loose in Tokyo could never be a good thing. Kaneki Ken could answer just as many questions in a cell in Cochlea as he could pinned under Amon's fists in the park.

But she was going to tread very carefully.

Clicking away on her computer she quickly found the ghoul's address and printed off a birds-eye view of the house. Then, standing up and leaving Amon to his brooding, Akira went in search of Shinohara and his subordinate.

She found them talking to Takizawa in the hall, who jumped when he saw her and adjusted his tie.

'Shinohara, Suzuya,' Akira said, nodding in greeting. 'If you're not doing anything, I need your help with a raid.'

The two vans pulled up quietly by the side of the road. Night had set in, and the headlights felt like spot lights in the dark that would send all who saw them running for cover. But the investigators were moving quietly. As Akira had informed them, this operation had to be completed with ultimate stealth.

Despite herself, Akira's stomach had felt like a butterfly in a blender throughout the couple of hours it had taken to brief the investigators and plan their movements. She was certain it was not because of the threat of the ghoul, but because of her fear that Amon would discover what they were up to. She had managed to involve as many investigators as possible, without notifying Marude, who was in charge of the major ghoul operations. He would have called every investigator to draw arms if he had found out that their target was the SS rank Eyepatch and Akira couldn't risk Amon becoming involved. Yes, he was betraying both his work, his country, and his species by hiding information on a ghoul, but she didn't want to denounce him to everyone until she'd heard his side of the story.

The ghoul had to be taken though, said a voice in her head that sounded strangely like her father's. There was no denying Eyepatch's threat.

'And you really don't want to ask Amon-San for help?' Shinohara said, as he jumped out of the transportation van. The first van of half a dozen investigators was to tackle the front of the house, the second were to position themselves around the back, in order to cut off the escape of the ghouls, however many there were inside.

'It's the right decision,' Akira said firmly. 'He seemed very agitated and stressed, and I'm sure he can forgive us for denying him one raid once in a while.'

Shinohara looked thoughtful, but didn't argue the subject. Suzuya jumped out of the van himself, hoisting his quinque readily.

'Lead the way, Akira-San!'

'Akira is going to have a background role in this operation,' Shinohara said firmly. 'She is still injured, after all.'

Akira couldn't fault his logic. She still couldn't walk properly with her injured ankle, and she would have been much more of a hinderance than a help.

Takizawa came around from the other side of the van, quinque also in hand. 'That's a shame, Mado. You won't get to prove your worth this time.'

Akira raised an eyebrow. 'I, unlike some people, do not have anything to prove.'

Takizawa scowled, his clutch on his briefcase tightening. 'And what exactly is that supposed to mean?'

'Now, now, you two,' Shinohara said, chuckling somewhat awkwardly. 'Let's focus on the task at hand.' He reached for his radio and held it to his mouth. 'What's your status at the back of the house? Over.'

A crackling sounded before a voice replied. 'Ready and positioned out of sight. Over.'

Shinohara nodded, and signalled for his investigators to move into position themselves, as close as they could to the house without being in sight. 'Commencing operation. Wait there for our signal before moving in. If the targets are spotted trying to escape your side, move in. Reminder, we are looking to apprehend rather than eliminate, but it is understood that circumstance might dictate results. Over.'

'Roger that. Over and out.'

Shinohara clipped his walkie talkie on to his belt with a grim expression on his face. 'Let's do this.'

In his mind Kaneki was walking through Shibuya shopping district. The shop lights and fluorescent signs shone in dazzling contrast against the starless sky. Everywhere was the buzz of chatting friends and tipsy work colleagues, but there was a loud voice making them all inaudible. It was then that Kaneki realised that the voice was in fact his own, and he was shouting loudly as he walked quickly through the streets. The words he spoke weren't Japanese, or any language that he could recognise. He was scaring even himself, as alien like hisses and snarls erupted from his mouth. People left and right were scurrying away from him. They were running, screaming, and his fingers and toes were falling off one by one. He was crying out in the freakish language for someone to help, but no one cared. No one understood. A centipede as large as a bus was scuttling towards him, munching on the people that it passed, its footsteps knocking heavily on the concrete road…

Kaneki was woken abruptly from a feverish sleep by a sharp rapping at the door. He blinked, rubbing one of his eyes and trying to remember where he was. The time must have been nearing the early hours of the morning, and he was surprised that anyone would come to call at this time of night.

Then he was surprised that anyone would come to call at an empty, abandoned house.

'Kaneki…'

The silence following the knock was cut by Rize calling his name, but it was the fearful tone in her voice that really made Kaneki wake up.

He scrambled up off the sofa and crept towards the door. Rize was standing, her arms across her chest, as she looked through a gap in the window.

'Get down, you idiot!' Kaneki whispered, to which she laughed loudly and sarcastically. Her face, however, showed worry.

'Who is it?' Kaneki asked quietly.

'Look for yourself and find out,' she said.

Kaneki placed his fingers lightly on the door and placed his eye to the spy hole.

Another loud rapping came from outside, and Kaneki jumped back in alarm.

'Well?' Rize hissed.

'It's the CCG.'

Shock and absolute fear raced through him. How… how had they known where he was? There they stood, each with a brief case in hand. And it wasn't just any CCG members. Non other than Shinohara and Suzuya Juuzou were standing on the front step.

'Is anyone home?' said Shinohara in his booming voice. 'We're investigators, and we'd like to ask you a few questions.'

'How many of them are out there?' Rize asked, whispering now.

'Just two, but I think the others are hiding. From what I can smell there are definitely more humans close by.'

'Why aren't they just storming in?'

'They'll want to affirm who I am before they attack. There would be no reason for me to know they're CCG investigators if I hadn't had lunch with them yesterday.'

Kaneki wanted to laugh at that statement. And Amon had been worried about Kaneki trying to kill them.

'Oh wow, so your stupidity at the CCG actually paid off?'

'Hellooooooo,' came Suzuya's voice, and a lighter rapping came at the door.

Kaneki shook himself, then turning around he searched desperately for his mask. Spotting in on the radiator he grabbed it and clipped it into place, then ran as quietly as he could out of the living room and into the kitchen. He kept himself low as he approached the back door, but already he could smell it; there were investigators waiting outside the back. They had covered all their bases.

Kaneki heard another tapping at the front door, and rushed back into the living room where Rize was still standing looking anxious. Despite everything, Kaneki couldn't help thinking that the expression really didn't suit her.

'If you don't let us in,' said the younger investigator, 'then we might have to bash down the door,' and he laughed manically.

'Juuzou, sh!' Kaneki heard Shinohara say in a whisper. 'But, you're right.' Then louder he called out, 'Unit one, approach the house.'

Then there was the sound of many footsteps on the road outside, and Kaneki watched in the dim light as the door handle turned.

'Shit!' Kaneki exclaimed without thinking. He had forgotten. To get into the house in the first place Kaneki had had to break the latch. The door wasn't even locked.

'Did you hear that?' Kaneki heard Suzuya say. The door handle turned until it clicked, signifying it was open.

There was a pause, quieter than the dead.

Then a crackling sounded and Shinohara saying loudly. 'All units, we're going in!'

The door burst open just as Kaneki heard a bashing against the back door. That one at least had been locked.

In the blink of an eye Shinohara and Suzuya were standing before him, and with a flick of Suzuya's wrist the flash of a steel blade came flying at Kaneki's face. He hadn't even realised he had released his kagune before a red limb came up and stopped the blade from piercing his eye.

But as it stabbed into his kagune, Kaneki felt a wave of dizziness hit him, and he wobbled into the wall beside him.

He was not ready for this. He had no choice but to fight, but his body was the weakest it had been in a long time, and he had absolutely no energy.

Shinohara moved forward and made a lunge at Kaneki, forcing him backwards into the kitchen. Kaneki, aiming to rip the weapon out of the investigator's hands, sent his kagune shooting forward, but Suzuya had ducked around the large investigator, and swinging his scythe he hit Kaneki's red limbs full on, cutting one in two and wedging into another.

A smashing came from behind him. The other investigators were in.

Kaneki knew he had to think fast. He was not strong enough to beat them physically. He had to somehow get away.

Pulling the rest of his kagune together, Kaneki lifted them high into the air, aiming for Shinohara's head. The investigator raised his arms, ready to meet them, but at the last moment Kaneki let them dissolve into nothing.

Having thrown all his weight forward, Shinohara stumbled. Kaneki ducked down quickly and ran under the investigator's outstretched arm. Five or six more of the CCG were stuck behind Shinohara, but the hallway was narrow, and there were none blocking the stairs to the next floor. Kaneki scrambled upwards as shouting came from behind him.

Then a stabbing pain came from his right calve. He span around partially to see Suzuya, his eyes mad, holding a knife that was embedded in the top of Kaneki's muscle.

'Get… off…' Kaneki said through gritted teeth, but the white haired boy held on fast, as another investigator made a jab at Kaneki's head.

Kaneki jumped upwards out of the way of the blow, and did the only thing he could to free himself. He pulled with all his might, his head spinning as he did so. A squelching rip filled Kaneki's ears as the blade that was so deep in his leg was pulled out, leaving a gash lengthways that was so deep his leg was almost cut in half.

Blood was spilling from the wound, and the investigators below were crying in disgust as they were sprayed with the red flowing fluid. Only Suzuya seemed to still be enjoying himself, the white of his eyes glowing magnificently.

A dark figure made another lunge at Kaneki, but the ghoul kicked out with his uninjured leg and as the investigator cried in pain Kaneki clawed his way up the stairs, leaving the humans to bathe in his puddles of blood.

Ooooo… what will happen next? (Btw sorry, writing action scenes isn't really my forte haha.)

You know, I was kind of unsure myself if I wanted to see Amon and Kaneki have a lover-type relationship. That's not normally how I imagine it, but I feel that might be where this story is heading. I've been reading about the similarities between love and hate. Apparently they originate in the same part of the brain, but the parts of the brain that control reasoning and judgement become more deactivated with love when compared to hate. And I think in this fic Amon and Kaneki abandoned reason and judgement a long time ago haha.