DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based
FICTION
Tokyo Ghoul, Tokyo Ghoul Root A and Tokyo Ghoul:re and other products related to the TG Series are all owned by Sui Ishida, Shin Towada and Shueisha.
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Chapter 13: Graduation
"I hate this dress.."
To say that Eto was on the brink of just trashing the gym room of the highschool was an understanding.
Since we entered the structure, I had to keep a strong grip in her hand to remind her to not act rashly in this occasion and I was surprised to find out her putting some serious effort in keeping her mask.
In a normal situation, I doubt that the Ghoul would have been on the edge, even with so many humans around us.
The problem was the old man with long hair and beard that had been following closely my interesting Kohai.
"Senpai, I wish for you to met Tsuneyoshi Washuu-sama, the CCG Leader."
Oh... OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
My shock was instantly brought down by my careful composure as I shook hands with the stern-looking man.
"Wade.. Langley." His hold strenghtened, shocking me even more as his piercing eyes sent shivers through my mind. "I heard.. good things about you."
I nodded, using my entire willpower to not just flinch at the stare.
"I..I would have actually expected otherwise.. since I have a stance opposed to the CCG."
The wrinkly visage didn't change, not even a tiny bit, and I felt the hand that was holding Eto's was starting to ache at the might behind the girl's nervousness.
"I don't care, Langley-san.. You are trying to do something good.." Then I felt it.
A glint of sadistic amusement pushed even more pressure upon my skin and I chilled at the small smile of the CCG Director. "I also like some challenges once in a while.."
My insticts screamed for me to avert my sight away from him, to submit...
Yet my stare intensified as I felt a primal sense of pride keeping me from just collapsing under the terrifying mockery of a smile. "Likewise, Washuu-san."
Tension continued to rise and I found myself contemplating if beating someone as formidable as it was the old man would have been truly morally wrong to do.
A young boy approached the small group and pulled onto the old man's kimono.
Dark haired, dressing formally the child looked all around himself with childish wonder. "Ojiji-san. C-Can we go and look at t-the fountain?"
And, surprising everyone, Tsuneyoshi Washuu broke away from the challenge and gave a grandfatherly look at the young intruder. "Sure, Souta-kun."
He nodded and bid a curt goodbye as he was led by the little boy towards the exit of the gym, leaving just the trio to themselves.
"W-What was that?" My question was directed to Kishou, who had kept a shocking silence during the exchange.
"He is not human... the Washuus are not human.." My eyes turned to the shell-shocked Eto as she whispered those words.
"W-Wha-Kishou-" "Not here, Senpai. We will talk back at your home."
"Congratulation, Oniichan!"
Little Hairu pratically jumped onto the smiling prodigy as she saw him entering through the door.
"Thank you, Hairu-chan."
She giggled, doing a small pirouet in front of her big brother. "Do you like it? Wade-jichan said it was beautiful."
He nodded, scooping in his arms the smiling, pink-haired child. "Indeed. You are like a little princess."
Her eyes pratically sparked at the compliment. "Really? Then I have to tell it to Tata-jiji, he said that you would have said that."
A funny nickname for the threatening, white-haired chinese Ghoul that was living with them but that wasn't the most surprising of the things.
After few weeks of living under the new roof, Hairu had approached the red-eyed man and tried to make some small talk.
Going beyond Eto's own wacky previsions, Tatara actually started to look after the small child and behaved softly towards her.
"Sure, but be careful to not trip, sweetie." She giggled at my nickname and she skipped quickly towards Tatara's room.
As she was far enough, we sat in the living room as Eto decided to take the lead in the 'interrogation'.
"Tsuneyoshi Washuu.. Every thrice-damned Washuu is a ghoul?"
The young man kept his composure for a while, my eyes glancing at his greying hair, and then sighed calmly. "Yes."
Eto's faces showed multiple expression, from shock to anger, from doubt to resolution.
"You are related, aren't you?"
The actual question took the small Ghoul's attention. "What?"
This time Arima nodded, his eyes widening a little. "Y-Yes."
"You both have the same, cold expression when speaking with strangers." I muttered starting to move towards the kitchen, bringing back several plates. "Plus you looked meek in his presence."
"Meek?" The genuine surprised note in the prodigy's word elicited a shrug, as I remembered part of my past with my family.
"Most of fathers can pull that with their sons, no matter the age or their relationship."
"B-B-But he is supposed to be way too old to conceive." I blinked at Eto's stuttering. "H-He shouldn't be able to-" "Genetics."
An unpleasant silence fell in the table. "Genetics? You mean he literally-" "Selected proper mates to breed and create the perfect members of our family."
The silence continued, fueled by the horror of Eto's face and mine, then Kishou shook his head.
"Senpai, did Eto-san told you about the.. proposal?"
I frowned, trying to understand what he was talking about and my eyes landed on the angry-look fixed on the little Yoshimura's face. "Proposal?"
She turned around to face me, trying to possibly change subject as her mouth opened to speak... but she paused, my eyes looking sternly at her as to calm her down.
Her mouth opened multiple times, but no sound of protest left it, until Eto fully complied and listened quietly.
"Tatara and I have... pushed for your inclusion in our small council."
"Aogiri?" He nodded and I sighed, knowing full well what might have urged Eto to not speak about it anytime in the past.
I had been very vocal about neutrality towards her and she had been more than happy to keep the status quo continuing even under the two's pressures.
"What does it entail?"
My question sparked the green-haired Ghoul to snap her eyes at me, a genuinely shocked look in her face.
"Merely being present in the reunions, giving your advices and maybe administrate part of it."
...
I played with my thumbs, thinking the pros and cons of accepting this grave request, knowing that it would have truly took away that ounce of peace I've tried to preserve after I took Eto in.
Sure, I wouldn't never consider abandoning the Ghoul, but...
For her safety. "I-I accept."
Arima nodded, visibly pleased by my answer, while Eto gave me a weird questioning look which I replied with a nod.
She blinked for a while before accepting my silent plea to explain this decision much after the celebration.
Finally the pink-haired child appeared from the hallway, dragging the blank-looking Ghoul.
Food was immediately served and a small cake was served to Arima.
For now it was all good...
Staring at Eto's murderous glance showed how things weren't good.
"Why did you accept?! Aogiri i-is not made for you and-"
"Eto..." "Don't Eto me, Wade. That was utterly moronic from you. You, moronic!"
She sighed, drowning her head on the pillow she was holding in her hands, releasing a muffled scream into it.
"I had to do it."
I merely blinked as I felt my body slammed onto the bed, her kakugan flaring with intense fury as her kagune was released showing several tendrils with small mouths.
Stupid!
Idiot!
Moron!
Insane!
Ugh...
"You are not ready for this life, Wade."
I sighed, soreness finally straining the last bits of lucidity I had in that moment.
My hand reached her head and I cupped her face, my thumb moving to remove some tears off her eyes.
"You are still a silly girl, Eto-chan."
She flinched, memories of the first time this had happened resurfacing in her mind and rage was replaced by guilt.
Her head collapsed on my chest, her lone kakugan perfectly visible through her now longer hair as she stared at me with a tired look.
"Why can't you just stay away from the danger?" Her voice quivered, as if she was fighting a losing battle against the world.
"Because I couldn't, in my heart, letting you take the burden alone. Silly girl you might still be, you are my silly girl."
I sighed, my eyes closing as the whole experience truly took away the last energy in my body.
Her kagune spoke one last time, a single word echoing through the mouths while Eto herself drifted away in her dreams.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine.
Mine!
AN
Arima graduated, Tatara is gramps, Wade takes a risk for Eto and Eto is unsure of what to do with him.
Drama~!
Review Q&A!
Mystic ToMatooo: Thank you!
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King0fP0wers: I've been thinking for a while in introducing characters like Tsukiyama and Rize but I have yet to come up with proper reasons for those encounters to happen. Still, I can say that I got some plans regarding Furuta in this fanfic.