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"Renji was..."

"I'm sorry Eve, but I felt you had to know."

"What… the hell is wrong with you?"

I pushed the taller ghoul away from me, taking a few steps back to distance myself from him. I clenched my fists at my sides and stared into his confused eyes with my anger filled ones.

"You'd sell out your friend just to get what you want?"

My tone stayed level as Uta regained his composure, his aloof features taking control of his face once more as he straightened himself out.

"I got curious about you and did some digging, I thought you'd like to know was all."

"And you thought me knowing one of my best friends being the cause of my dad and brothers death would make me feel good? Or was it to make you feel good? Did you think… that I'd come crying into your arms after hearing this? That I'd leave Renji's place and come to you? You'd… really sell out your friend to try and sabotage mine and his friendship and get what you want? Who are you?"

I folded my arms across my chest, shaking my head in disbelief at his actions.

"Well, you got one thing at least; I'm leaving Renji's. I hope you're happy."

"Where will you go Eve? There's no other place for you."

"Anywhere but here. Toma was wrong… I guess he was the only decent ghoul after all."

I turned and stormed out of Uta's shop and down the street for the train station. I'm getting my things and leaving for a different ward. There are hostels I could stay in, maybe there's a vacant room somewhere. I checked my watch for the time; 2.36pm. I still had the whole afternoon to find somewhere and I know Renji will be busy doing whatever until 6. Doing what? He wouldn't tell me… just like everything else I guess. I sighed as I hopped onto the train, taking a one way route to the 20th ward. I just had to get my things and my dogs and then I'd go and wing it. If I can lay low for a while and keep in touch with Yoshimura then maybe I'll be able to find out when it's safe to come back. I smiled bitterly to myself at the thought of the kind old man… I shouldn't have said what I did to Uta. Not all ghouls are bad, I was just angry and venting my rage onto him. I know he told me what he did for the wrong reasons, but he looked for my family's killer to give me peace of mind. Maybe… I sighed to myself and ran my fingers through my duo coloured locks, why was that man so hard to understand? Was he good or bad? Was Renji? Were they bad people?

"Don't move or look suspicious. If you do I'll kill everyone one this train, including you."

I froze at the manly whisper behind me and clenched my teeth together. I could not catch a break today… I eyed the passengers in front of me; probably a total of 27 people… great.

"What do you want?"

I kept my voice low and head straight so I wouldn't attract any attention, but I knew the man at my rear heard me.

"We're going to get off at the next stop and then we're going for a little walk."

"And why would I do that?"

"Because otherwise everyone on this train will have some mourning loved ones."

"Heh, you act as if I care for the living. It'd just make more business for me."

"You aren't as cold as you make yourself out to be Eve, so let's go."

No sooner had he said that the train pulled to a stop and I clicked my tongue in annoyance before walking off onto the platform and turning to face the hooded figure behind me. I couldn't see his face, but I definitely knew it was a he and that he was fairly tall with no fashion sense.

"Come."

He turned and begun walking as I moved alongside him with my hands stuffed in my pockets, my surroundings were familiar and I knew we were one stop away from the 20th ward. So close... I kept my questions silent as I followed him down the familiar streets until we reached the underpass of a busy road.

"Bit of a busy place to kill me, you want an audience?"

"I'm not going to kill you stupid, I just want to talk."

The male removed the hood from his head and I sputtered at the face I hadn't seen in a very long time. His Kakugan shone brightly through his golden bangs, the rest of his golden hair styled messily and spiked.

"Kouga, never thought I'd ever see you again."

"Likewise, but things have gotten dangerous for you so I thought I should offer you a hand."

The ghoul advanced towards me and stood no more than a foot away as he stuffed his hands into his pockets.

"The Gaiji are looking to have you killed now that Pecker is gone, you know their faces and some members along with our new leader have decided it best to eradicate you for safety insurance."

"And you're not one of those people?"

"Toma was my best friend… and you meant the world to him."

"That's not what I asked."

I folded my arms over my chest as the ghoul sneered at me, the piercing in the centre of his lip making him look a touch more intimidating.

"I personally think you knowing our faces could be dangerous for us if you ever decide to turn against the Gaiji. Your pathetic human life means squat to me, but I promised Toma that I'd keep you alive."

I smiled at the ghoul and unfolded my arms to mimic his movement of stuffing them in my pockets. It was getting cold now night was closing in.

"I'd say you don't have to worry, but my word is meaningless I guess."

"You're right it is… A few others along with myself are moving in secret to keep you safe, so just keep going on with your mundane human life and leave everything to us. Just don't let your guard down."

"I won't."

The blonde ghoul turned and begun to walk away before stopping and muttering an oh as if he remembered something.

"Whatever problems your having with No Face, you better fix them soon. He's not a ghoul you really want to piss off and having him by your side through this will help you greatly."

"No Face?"

I titled my head at Kouga as he turned around to face me. I had heard of No Face, he was a famously known ghoul. But I didn't know him… did I? I knew Renji was Raven, so who… My jaw fell slack alongside my shoulders as realisation hit me like a brick in the face. Kouga smirked cynically as a dark chuckle left his lungs.

"You really didn't know? You stupid girl."

I shook the shock from my system as I remembered the conversation he and I had before I stormed out of his shop.

"But, Uta-"

"-Is a great asset to you. Normally I'd say to get as far away from him as possible, but he's always looking for something interesting and I think this just might be one of those things. So get over yourself and go fix things."

"Kouga, he-"

"I don't care, I honestly don't. Just swallow your pride and do this to stay alive, and once it's over run for the hills. Use him before he uses you."

Losing interest in our conversation Kouga jumped onto the overpass and begun to walk down the street with his hood back in place. I watched him go, wrapping my arms around myself as I turned away and begun to walk the small distance to the 20th ward. Kouga has always been a hard ass; a jerk if you will, but he's never let anything bad happen to me. And even he agrees that Uta is bad news… and I now know that he's the infamous No Face. Should I really go back to him? Or follow through with my original plan of just leaving the town?