Chapter 21: Equilibrium
There's no doubt to it that Eto is now aware of what Furuta Nimura's super peace entailed. The twisted clown has brewed so many ruckuses from the previous months for him to achieve his goal. For once she had to admit that this method works well rather than what she and Kishou had planned which is to make Kaneki Ken the symbol of hope for ghouls. Yes, Kaneki was supposed to be their hope but the boy failed in so many ways as possible. He's more like a useless figure head like the previous Washuu King himself who was killed mercilessly by his own illegitimate son to usurp the Washuu clan's power and wealth.
Eto observed Ken these previous months and she is utterly convinced that the child has failed them. The sacrifices that is entailed their plan has been dump into lack of ability to counter CCG's twisted system to which disappointed her and all those who knew this plan of hers.
"…" Tatara loomed over Eto and he gently wrap a blanket around her petite body to warm her from the cold air. They've been left inside one of their current temporary home's rooms when Kishou Arima left them to do his own bidding. Wondering if what the smaller ghoul is up to, he waited patiently for the girl to honestly say everything to him. He is no fool for he realized that Eto for whatever reason has lied to them about Souta Furuta.
"You are so kind" Eto closed her eyes once the blanket was wrapped around her body. You knew that I lied and yet here you are patiently standing before me. Soothing her baby bump, the one-eyed owl leaned into the fine comforts that the warm blanket is giving her and the baby inside her.
"Ah" He agreed monotonously.
The awkward silence is not particularly uncomfortable for him. It's always been like this when Eto is contemplating of her next course of action. He cannot understand though to why that damned clown seemed to pique the girl's interest as of late. Jealousy is not exactly what he feels about it. No, the reason why he is concern about Eto's current interest for Souta Furuta and vice versa is because his sister-figure might end up like Rize, the poor girl has suffered a lot because of her half-brother's love for her or rather obsession for her. The Washuu King is famed for his twisted form of love to which is why it made Tatara uncomfortable especially now that he is slowly gaining insight of Souta's real plan and nature. Technically speaking, the two natural born hybrids are not so much different if not they are so much alike. Their twisted nature and great insight of things are always been their good point.
"Why not already ask me?" She chuckled and slowly opened her eyes.
"Why did you lie to the king?" Staring back at Eto's beautiful eyes somewhat made him calm. The girl is no doubt attractive and that might be one of the reasons why Souta has imprinted her unconsciously.
"Those doves claim that they want to establish an order with ghouls but—" Eto's expression remains passive for a second before sighing in exasperation. "The humans are still above us or so they think. The thing with an order is it needs to benefit everyone to hold power. It should be pulled in all sorts of directions at once, balance on a fundamentally impossible idea. That is what I want Tatara-san. A balance wherein everyone will hold power not just a few selected individuals because if we are going to repeat the same mistake then what's the point in destroying the Washuu clan and its branches only to replace them with another tyrant?" Staring back at the taller ghoul, Eto knew that the man had realized her lies since the beginning. "That clown scumbag once told me that if equilibrium is to be achieved albeit in a twisted way, that'd be good enough" Calmly, Eto repeated the same words that Furuta told her while she was still locked in cochlea months ago. "And with that, I want to see how humans and ghouls can mature hand in hand."
"I see" Tatara muttered. You are really aware of Souta Furuta's real plans. He concluded and reaches for the younger ghoul's head and gave it an awkward pat.
Ayato stares at Hinami while the girl is teaching the young orphaned ghouls of how to read and write. He remembered the first time he met her. She is so different now because she is stronger now in both body and soul. From the crybaby caterpillar, she bloomed into beautiful butterfly.
"Ayato-kun?" She leaned closer to him and touches his forehead. "Huh you are not sick" She assumed that Touka's brother is sick upon seeing his cheeks turning bright shade of red.
"W-What do you want?!" He harshly jerked away, the tsundere rabbit hissed. She is so beautiful. Ayato almost slapped himself from thinking such thing.
"Nothing, I thought you are sick and the children want you to join us" She wrapped her hand gently around Ayato's wrist and dragged him with her.
Renji silently observed Ayato and Hinami from a distance. Curious to what the two young ghouls are up to. Stalking Ayato-kun again, Ren-chan? The rare smile adorns his lips only to turn into a sour frown once he heard a familiar voice but much to his surprised that the one whom he saw upon turning around is none other than Hirako Take rather than seeing a busty clown.
"Is there something wrong?" The stoic dove asked the Raven who seemed in deep thought as of late. He followed him here to check what he is up to knowing the man barely escaped death after fighting No Face a few days ago.
"…" Yomo shook his head and stares back at the young couple before them.
Urie grunted when Yonebayashi pushed him back to his bed. The girl refused to back down and let him out of bed when he said that he can work. It did not help that even Mutsuki is siding with Saiko although he can understand them. His defeat in the hands of Dodgy Mother is not only shameful; it also almost resulted into his own death. Who would even thought that the clown bitch is really strong despite how she looks.
"Urieboo! You cannot go yet!" Saiko scolded their muscle-head team leader. She has been distraught when they found out what happened to Urie and even Mutsuki refused to leave his side since then. Mutsuki and Saiko will force him back to bed or scold Urie if it is necessary.
"I can manage—" He flinched after he saw how the two ladies' expression darkens. I guess I have to stay still for awhile. I don't want them to worry about me. He thought to himself.
"We thought that you'll die" Mutsuki mumbled beside Saiko. I thought I am going to lose another important person. She gritted her teeth at that idea and is really tempted to find Roma Hoito and make her pay for what she did to Urie but ruled out that will be suicidal.
"You don't have to worry about anything else. Leave the patrol to the second generation Quinx." Hairu overheard the ruckus inside Urie's quarters and had decided to step in to tone down their arguments. "Arima-san ordered them to go while Yonebayashi and Mutsuki will remain here with you unless those three will need additional members to patrol with them.
"See?! Even Hairu say so!" Yonebayashi pointed rudely her finger at Urie's face.
"Arima Kishou's group is on their way to Nimura. They are probably hoping that he'll give them Rize." Kaiko's underling reported to the man sitting on a lone chair inside Vasuki's chamber.
"Is that so?" Amused, he taps his index finger on the chair's arm. Then he stood up while his followers lowered their heads. "I think it is time to get rid of that child. After all, we no longer need Nimura's help. Should we let Tsuneyoshi to kill his most doted son?"