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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 24: Three Words (2/2)

"Ghouls can be considered humane by the mere fact that they can think, yet it is hardly possible define them 'humans'."

I remember hearing of this particular ghoul that had started to make some dreadful actions quite recently.

Jason of the 13th Ward was as horrifying as I had heard, yet my mind was steeled and prone to avoid making mistakes with this dangerous foe.

Words could be useful and I generally lacked the inability to formulate those, yet this blond ghoul wasn't someone who demanded simply answers.

It was easy to spot the curious glint, madly trying to catch any particular hesitation or doubt in my eyes as he read that part of the small study I did about Ghouls just few months ago.

A first work regarding the subject, an experiment to see if literature that was not approved by the CCG could be masked and distributed to the people in an attempt to open their mind.

The system used to make all of this possible was the final part of the book, the annotations section.

"Page of the annotations, chapter 5."

My tone lacked emotion as I felt some careful stance in the use of words and expressions glued with emotion might cause an unfortunate reaction from the insane warden.

Jason blinked as he skimmed through the pages, until he found the part I had voiced, his eyes reading the sentences with odd calm and silence.

"Ghouls are sinned by nature itself to their unique diet that makes humans their prime prey. Defining the former as something equal to the latter would imply that their could freely cannibalise each others. Yet it has been proved by numerous scientists ( independents and freelancers) that cannibalising among Ghouls is considered dangerous for one... mind and body."

The ghoul closed the book, turning quietly to stare at his prisoner. "I thought that the Kakuja process wouldn't have caused much of an issue."

"A forgiveable mistake." I whispered as I stared silently back at the warden. "The first recorded Kakuja was actually... from the 24th Ward." Jason's eyes widened in surprise at my knowledge of the secret Ward of Ghouls.

"The CCG was the first one to learn of this mutation, yet lacking further research they couldn't give a full analysis of the drawbacks of the form. The only ones that could are the citizens of the underground city as they had witnessed the process fully-"

Hands slammed on mine as Jason smirked widely. "An amazing mind you have, Langley. Truly impressive."

The door behind the blond Ghoul opened as the younger one, Naki, entered the room with a small box.

The leader blinked in surprise as his subordinate entered, yet his smile returned again quickly. "Fifteen minutes have passed. You see Langley, we decide to make this a game with rewards. The greatest prize? You surviving for another day."

Two onigiris were revealed as the box was opened and Naki's hand grasped one, directing it close to my mouth.

Small, quick bites as my eyes kept staring at the smiling mad man as my stomach's need was quenced.

Feeling satisfied I nodded at the teen which, after returning the gesture, turned around and left the room, closing the door behind him.

"I was a mere thug until few months ago. Doing simple jobs, being a simple-minded fool that didn't understood the big picture of this world." His smile widened. "Then I was captured and shipped to Cochlea." He blinked and chuckled before returning to glance at my confused expression.

"You have never heard of Cochlea, Langley? The CCG is quite shy about telling how they 'investigate' important ghouls, their methods quite discounted or even left unsaid to the public."

Jason paused, his hands picking the pliers and playing with it. "I learnt how humans think and crave in their sick nature. Their thirst of sadism and pain that can be sated only by killing their inferiors."

The small juggle of the metallic instrument ceased as the owner turned around to stare back at me. "Yet you exist." The pliers returned to the small table. "You and your logical standpoint and your truthful facts. You are a paradox to my own mindset."

"Your honesty is my poison." He mused insanely. "Your mind is my punishment."

"Liar."

Heavy silence ruled briefly as the tall man recoiled at my accusation, then he moved towards me as his face eyed mine in confused anger.

"I saw how you are looking at that boy, Naki." My mouth felt dry as I thought about that curious predicament. "If what you said was true, then why you care for him."

"I could kill him." Jason reasoned, breaking the stare as he looked away. "He is expendable."

"Yet you need to be told by someone else to remember your own stance. You are lying to yourself... partly."

I blinked in panic as the Ghoul destroyed the restraints and picked me up by my throat, the pressure thankfully not enough to block oxigen to reach my lungs.

"You are sprouting crap, Langley. I know what I think and-" "Y-you are trembling."

Wide-eyed, Jason looked at his other hand and saw that it was indeed shivering.

He cracked his fingers, something I understood served as a mean to show distress but also reduce the panic.

It wasn't working in that case, the trembling continuing to rose Jason's confusion and fear.

His hold lessened and I fell back on the chair, my hands massaging my bruised neck.

The Ghoul seemed to be panicking at what was happening, his composure lost in that fit of fear and I felt dread when his eyes turned back onto my form.

"Y-It's your fault! You are causing this, not me! Y-You need to die!"

His violet Kagune exploded from his back and I knew that my time was over as the tendrils shooted towards me.

I closed my eyes, chiding myself for being such a moron and idiot for having taken the slight Eto caused too far and put myself in that situation.

Yet my impending doom never arrived. My eyes slowly opened as I saw Jason looking to the door, his Kagune aimed at the entrance of the room as sounds of fight and massive roars echoed back in that chamber.

The door opened, a trembling Naki rushed inside as he stared back at the figure that was chasing him.

Eto was donning her mummy-like dress, her Kakugan blazing in silent fury as she walked inside.

I noticed the bandages around her hands were stained by red blood and that she felt so much... unnerving to look at.

When Jason backed away just a step, he knew he made a terrible mistake the moment the leader of Aogiri turned to him, a massive tendril made of red, blue and green RC cells pierced effortlessly the tall Ghoul, which blinked in shock as he felt his life vanishing before him.

Cold fury turned away from the now corpse and she was ready to end the deal by finishing off the crying teen at her mercy-

"Stop." My hand slowly squeezed her shoulder and she flinched at the touch.

"They hurted you." My heart hurted by hearing her pained tone, her plea to make up by ending the threat.

"He d-didn't-" Yet my voice failed to finish, the toll of having been forced to stay awake for so long and the stress of the situation finally taking over my lucidity as I fell forward.. in her waiting arms. "I-I-I'm so-" "No, I'm sorry." She whispered back as what little remained of my consciousness started to wane away.

"E-Eto." She blinked quietly as I closed my eye, sleep taking over my mind. "I loo-"

Darkness took over but I was sure of one thing. Her Kakugan was replaced by her normal eye, her emeralds shining a bright light at my failed words.

AN

While I planned this one to be the last chapter of ARC 1, it is the next one (Reconciliation) that will seal this Arc for good. Next arc will start next week as the Aftermath of this predicament will be given in few hours from now!

Before we start answering some questions, I will say that HOW Eto found him will be explained next chapter and, while it might appear quite cheesy, I think it fits the plot.

Review Q&A!

Mystic ToMatooo: The plan was purposely made dumb as she is not an expert in love. Thus she is trying the simplistic and quite obsolete approach of getting him concerned like in the past.

King0fP0wers: By reading this, I think this chapter caused quite the surprise with how it turned up to be.

Abraxxas: Yamori is a broken pawn of the mind-snapping system of TG World. He is as much of a victim as he is a criminal, saving him was never something I had planned because of his damaged mind.