Title: Red Sea

Author: Serpent at Sunset

Pairing: Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Rating: M

Fandom: Tokyo Ghoul

Genre: Angst/Romance

Word Count: 1,904

Summary: Some gardens bloom only at night in deep darkness, and someone has finally noticed Natsuki's bud... Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul.

This was really getting tedious. All of this. His whole entire fucking life. This investigator was really getting on his nerves The old bastard really needed to shut up, and Yamori could easily assist him with that.

"Jason!" he cackled. "Jason!"

Yamori easily sprinted from one end of the room to the other.

Anyone ghoul or human could easily see that the old guy was off his rocker, and he was amusing if nothing else. Still, he was getting genuinely annoying. Yamori had better things to do.

The old bastard cackled as he continued pursuing him with his quinque. If anything, Yamori was playing with him. Toying with him. The investigator should be flattered that "Jason" was spending any time at all on him. His weak partner followed behind with a quinque of his own. Oh, how Yamori would love to play with him.

Eventually, their two minute chase ended, and Yamori suddenly reappeared on top of a pile of cars to their genuine surprise. Humans were so easy, but if they could gain the upper hand, watch out. Should that ever happen again, Yamori would be truly ashamed of himself

Yamori glanced down at his jeweled watch that Natsuki had gotten him. In seconds, he had fled from his high perch. He was airborne as he jumped away to safety with the pliers stashed safe in his jacket. Yamori had gotten what he came for, so his personal mission was a success from Aogiri. Where would he be without his precious tools? How would he ever practice his cherished hobby?

Fueguchi hadn't fared very well, but then again, that wasn't his problem.

Traitors got what they deserved in the end.

With Yamori gone, Natsuki went out. Looking back, she would see that it hadn't been the best decision.

A cold wind blew and furled her beige blonde hair like a flag. It attracted attention. It was at that moment he started walking towards her.

"Well, if it isn't Natsuki." Hide's grin was blinding.

Oh, no.

She smiled almost shyly. "Hi, Hide."

"What's up? So, how are things?

She nodded. "Good."

A neutral response. She wasn't going to elaborate. Actually, things were as they always were. , she couldn't explain that to a human. Besides, she didn't want to burden him.

"Oh, a dress," he noticed. "But, it's getting cold, right?"

It was a gray November day. Most days, Natsuki didn't even bother looking for the sun. It couldn't illuminate her life.

"I can deal with it," she assured him

Especially after she had just eaten. Of course, she couldn't mention that fact.

Hide frowned at the garment in concentration. "I've seen that dress before."

Natsuki's heartbeat was beginning to flutter in agitation. "Oh, really?"

Natsuki peered down at her white dress. Apparently, Yamori's code was being overdressed no matter what the occasion in an impractical color that soaked up every drop of blood.

Here it comes...

"Yeah." He sheepishly rubbed his forehead. "Ah, I've been watching too many news reports. White is a danger color anymore. Those white suits are something, aren't they?"

"Well, maybe I'm a ghoul," Natsuki giggled. The words flew out of her mouth before she could stop them.

Baka. But, she had to break the tension somehow or else she would pull her own hair out.

Fortunately, Hide was dismissive of the idea "Nah, you're too nice for a ghoul. Besides you would have eaten me by now by now, wouldn't you have?" He stifled a chuckle.

His reasoning was sound, and Natsuki never wanted to correct him.

Good then. No harm done. It seems that humans were always in denial when the truth came to stare at them in the face.

"How is Kaneki?" She quickly changed the subject.

Hide clamped his mouth shut, and his eyes clouded over.

Well. Natsuki had no idea that the subject was a sore spot for him, but before she could apologize, he was speaking again.

Hide shrugged as he tore his hands around his pockets. "I wish I knew. I haven't seen him since Halloween."

"He had an accident with some steel beams falling on him, and then he just...disappeared. I tried sending him food, but now, there's no one in his apartment now to eat it."

"Oh," Natsuki replied involuntarily. There was nothing else she could say although part of her wanted to press just how exactly how he survived the attack. Human bodies were delicate after all.

"Well, I'll tell you if I see him," she threw out there.

Unless a ghoul got him. That was always a possibility. She was sure that notion had run through Hide's mind as well. It was the way of things Tokyo.

"Thank you," Hide replied grimly.

Hide seemed so depressed that he barely met her gaze.

He knows. he knows that his friend might not be coming back.

She drifted away under the somber overcast sky. Treachery coated her like a toxin. Still, she lived in her world, and Hide lived in his. There was no real crime committed here. Not yet anyway.

"Take care," she wished him.

"You too, Natsuki." She couldn't help but notice how strained his lips were when he smiled.

They passed each other in the street as they went their own separate ways. It was more than possible that they would never see each other again. Maybe Hide would join the CCG, and they would be enemies tomorrow. Who even knew anymore?

However, Natsuki would see later that shouldn't have been her concern...

The woman had shoulder length dirty blonde hair. She resembled his Natsuki a bit. But...why? Who was this woman? Even though, it really felt like he should know her...

Abruptly, She turned with startled blue eyes. if was as if in that moment, she had just seen a ghost. She even crossed herself which was odd in itself. Ghouls weren't exactly religious.

Then, oddly enough, she smiled at him.

"You will get what wash't coming to you, ublyudok."

What the hell.

From a nearby window, a streak of lightning illuminated the room and Yamori could see the strange woman smiling at him. He honestly didn't know whether to run away or laugh in her face.

However, he was unnerved. Some might even say frightened.

When Yamori woke up, he was staring at the black ceiling, but he wasn't alone. At his side, Natsuki was still asleep, it tempted him to violently wake her up too but he restrained himself. He hastily raked a hand through his hair, and Yamori discovered in shock that he was actually sweating.

His eyes swept over his surroundings as if subconsciously checking if the woman was there. Thankfully, she wasn't.

It wasn't his usual nightmares. In his usual nightmares, Tokage usually had the starring role as he stood over him with his lethal instruments. Dreams were for humans. Nightmares too. Sometimes, he was ashamed to admit that they still scared him.

Yamori hadn't even been drinking that much, so he couldn't blame the product of his subconsciousness on this.

However, dreams were an interest of Nico's. He claimed that it was miraculous that ghouls even dreamed. Frankly, Yamori didn't give a shit. In his opinion, it would make his life easier if he was incapable of it. He would also feel rested for once.

He was on the cusp of a decision that would satisfactorily distract him as he stared at Natsuki's lovely sleeping form, but Yamori instead voluntarily left the bed with an inaudible groan to do some work.

Aogiri was still a factor. If he wanted to rise up in the ranks, even he had to abstain from pleasure once in a while.

He frowned. What the hell was a ublyudok? How did you even spell it?

Natsuki now sat at Aogiri headquarters. She preferred Yamori's place which was more cozy. This building was full of empty floor spaces and it was too stuffy and official for any actual comfort, but everyone had moved there in preparation to collect Rize. Her constant binge eating was what had made her target by everyone including the CCG. In truth, Natsuki dreaded the possible reunion. But, at least, Natsuki would be one standing over her this time even if in the process Yamori would be towering over her shoulder.

Yes, her position now was due to him, but she would never thank him for it. With all the scars adorning her body, she didn't think that she ever had to.

All she could do was listen to the sound of the clock ticking and uselessly inspect her fingernails. They were polished nude and were so terribly professional. It was what Yamori liked after all. As the days mercilessly passed, she could feel her very being being submerged and silenced in this red sea.

Though, she had never expected them to be this late. It was over two hours towards The sun had set and the inky dark was beginning to creep through the room. As she stared down at her hands, an unbidden memory replayed itself...

Weeks ago, Yamori had instructed her to try to crack her fingers like he did and Naki did, but Natsuki found that she couldn't to his disappointed. Her knuckles just wouldn't pop, and it didn't soothe her when he told her that he could her make them pop if she wanted. Of course, she declined, and he guffawed at her refusal.

She wondered later if he could smell her fear.

It occurred to her to walk out the door some nights and never return, but the more rational side of herself would argue that this was her life now. Besides, she was so tainted who would want her now? Certainly not Shuu. He could do much better than her now. He probably always could...

Still, all in all, it was time off. Away from him. Away from the bane of her existence. Yes, she should have savored this quiet. Not even Natsuki had no idea that everything was about to go to hell the when the door opened and Yamori and Nico reappeared.

Predictably, her thoughts ground to a halt heard when she heard a door shutting fiercely. Well, it was nice while it lasted. With a long suffering sigh, she rose from her chair and waited for Yamori and Nico to enter the room. Surprisingly, Yamori was carrying a heavy leather bag, a fact it seemed that he wanted no one to miss as he threw it on the ground with a heavy glass-shaking thump.

"Get up, Natsuki-oh you are. We have company," Yamori he informed her. "Ah, I guess we should open it, Nico. It's perishable after all."

Nico obeyed and knelt down to it. Natsuki wondered what hell was in that big leather bag. It had dominated the entire room from arrival especially when the zipper was being tugged open right in front of her.

Natsuki could sense the anticipation emanating from Yamori. He cracked his knuckle as he watched Nico open it with a wide almost maniacal grin on his face.

Uh-oh.

She expected human meat, or drugs, or even money, but it turned out that she was wrong on all counts. Instead, it was a whole person. A person who looked rather familiar...

She lowered down to inspect him and gasped upon recognition. It was a person, and it was unmistakably Kaneki.

Except, that now, he smelled like a ghoul.

A/N: Yes, it's going to be that part next chapter. The word "ublyudok" is Russian. Basically, she called him a bastard. The woman in the dream was her mother, Sumire.

I apologize for the delay. I've been busier and have been active outside more.