NeonHorizon: The word "quinque" will haunt me to the end of my days because I can never spell it without having to look it up. Ugh.


The plan was to look for Renji in the next ward. It should have been simple. It should have been moderately safe since she was going with Uta. Miyu instead found herself blind hunting beside him and feasting on the first humans that they came across.

Chewing on something that she had ripped out of a torso, the pink-haired ghoul tensed and sniffed at the air. Rain. Other humans. She frowned, swallowing a mouthful of meat and shuffling closer to Uta. "We…we should go back."

"Hm? I'm not ready to go back yet. Don't you wanna eat more?" He noisily licked blood from his fingers at her side, his free hand gripping onto her sleeve. "I'm still hungry."

"It isn't safe."

"Don't you wanna look for Renji?"

"I-I do, but I just…something…doesn't feel right." Goose bumps rose on her midriff and she tilted her head, listening for voices. It's kind of amazing. Without seeing, I can hear and smell so much better. If I'd known about this before, maybe I wouldn't have been left behind. Maybe I could have actually helped Aki-nii.

Uta's hand went to her shoulder, resting there gently to try to ease her nerves. He smiled, but she was unable to see it. "I'll keep you safe. Just one more, 'kay? Aren't you having fun?"

Miyu reached up with fingers that trembled and unbuckled the top strap of her mask. It settled loosely around her neck now, revealing the sight of her meal. A middle-aged woman, lying motionless on the ground with her limbs spread out and chest viciously torn open by kagune. Her stomach churned at the sight, almost making her lose what she had managed to eat, and the girl turned away.

Further down the alley, she could see people hurrying down the sidewalk as they tried to get home before the rain started. She pulled up the hood of her jacket, tucking her hair into it to try to keep it dry. "Uta, please…" Miyu winced at the sound of bones crunching, followed by a splatter.

"You wanna go back to the fourth ward already?" He lifted a jaw bone to his mouth, tearing into the flesh that clung to the bone and chewing as he seemed to consider her words. Swallowing, his eyes lifted to Miyu's grey ones. "Are you scared?"

"N-no, I just…don't want to get stuck in the rain," she muttered. She nervously lifted a hand to her lips, licking away some blood to try to calm herself. I have a bad feeling in my gut, but I can't tell Uta. I know that he doesn't want me to leave the fourth ward. If I say that I'm scared…I'll look weak. He'll tell me that I shouldn't go. The female ghoul dug the toe of her boot into some loose dirt beneath her, trying to burn away some her anxious energy.

His tongue ran along his lips, smearing a bit of blood, and he grinned. "You don't really wanna leave the fourth ward, do you? You're scared. I can see you shaking. If you're scared, you shouldn't go. You can just stay with me and Itori."

The rain began to fall and Miyu glanced to the alley opening with a sense of urgency. It was a cold rain, drops rolling down her exposed lower back and sending a chill through her. "We need to go…"

"You wanna go back early?" Uta stood now and lifted the jawbone to take another bite. When he held it out to her with a grin, she held up a hand and shook her head. "What about Renji?"

"W-we'll look for him some other time, okay?"

"So you're staying?" His black and red eyes widened with hope and his grin spread a little. Leaning down, he slid his fingers into her hood, into her hair, and drew her close against his chest. His lips pressed against her forehead, leaving a slightly wet, red smudge of blood. "You want to stay with me?" he whispered.

She nodded and gripped his jacket with both hands, the unsettling feeling growing. "I…I'm going to stay in the fourth ward. We can still look for Renji, but…I don't want to live in a different ward," the girl confirmed. Miyu bowed her head, letting it lean against Uta's shoulder. It's better this way. I don't even know for sure if that man…Yoshimura-san…if he was telling the truth. If that's even his name. I'm safe with Uta.

The boy smiled and continued to trail his fingers through her soft, pink hair. "So do you wanna be mine?"

She nodded, clinging to him tightly. The unsettling feeling was growing. Her stomach felt as though it was doing flips in her abdomen. Every limb began to tremble as the sensation of being watched registered. "We have to go. Please."

"You're ready to go home?" Uta felt her nod against him and noticed her shivering. His red and black gaze lifted, settling on a figure at the opening of the alley. He tilted his head and released Miyu in favor of moving his hand to grip hers. There was another opening behind them that would lead to another street, but he knew without checking that it was blocked as well.

Under normal circumstances, he might have wanted to fight the approaching investigators, but Miyu wanted to go home. More than anything, he wanted to oblige. If he pushed her, he would risk losing her in the fight or worse. She might decide that she did want to leave the ward so she could get away from such fights. Reaching to his pocket, he brought forth his mask and settled it over his face.

Miyu followed his example, buckling her mask into place and removing the eye cover so she could see. The trembling was worse now. It was a struggle to remain standing. Her knees wanted to buckle. Why am I so afraid?! I haven't felt fear like this in a while. What is this? The girl's back muscles twitched, her kagune wanting to burst free.

"It's No Face and the Pink Spider! Be careful!" The investigator's voice echoed off of the brick walls, accompanied by the patter of the rain.

"We're famous, Miyu. Isn't that cool?" Uta's hand tightened around hers.

"I don't like this…" She lifted her gaze to the fire ladder, trying to be subtle. How are we going to get out of this? To her surprise, Uta dragged her along behind him as he charged at the dove ahead of them. "Wait! Wait a second!"

"Let's make it quick so we can go home."

"Uta, I don't-!" She felt a sharp pain across the back of her shoulders and twisted. Her hand tore free from his and she found herself facing another dove that was wielding a quinque. I didn't want to have to do this! I just wanted to go home! I don't like having to kill people! Her kagune emerged in a burst of shimmering crimson and positioned behind her with the points directed at the man.

Miyu pursued the man when he backed away, not about to let him go after Uta. Even though she was afraid, still trembling, she could not allow this man to turn his weapon on her friend. She struck at him again and again with her kagune, aiming for his limbs to try to throw off his balance. If she could just get him onto his back, she could finish him quickly.

It was as the girl neared the end of the alley that she realized her mistake. Embarrassment made her cheeks burn behind her mask as the ghoul saw the group of doves waiting for her. She had fallen for the taunt, ran into the trap without even considering what was happening. Behind her, she could hear Uta killing the other man. Miyu swallowed her fear and tried to maintain a menacing posture, but it was difficult when her knees wanted to buckle beneath her.

"We've got Pink Spider separated from No Face! Hurry up and take her out!"

"No Face just killed-!"

"There's no time! We've got this one so take her out! Aim for her head!"

Grey eyes scanned the group as a few took steps toward her and she felt her pulse quicken with fear. At least a dozen CCG investigators were closing in on her, the nearest wielding quinque as the ones in the back opened their cases. I'm going to die…? I'm going to die?! I'm going to die!

The ones at the front of the group attacked and the female ghoul was forced to twist and turn to avoid major injury. She felt cuts opening on her limbs and chest. Someone managed to slash open the middle of her back, dangerously close to her kagune. The crimson limbs lashed out in response, killing that man and swiping at the one that took his place. When a heavy weapon slammed into her ribs from the side, she was sent sprawling onto the hard, wet cement. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth and she licked at it behind the mask.

Pushing herself up into a crouched position, she looked around and tried to locate Uta. The male ghoul was attacking the back of the group, hoping to catch them by surprise. The rain had thoroughly soaked his hair. Pale, stray locks fell over the front of his mask as he wrenched the arm off of a dove that got too close to him. Unlike Miyu, he had more fighting experience. It was easier for him to dodge their attacks and retaliate in the most brutal ways that he could.

A quinque shoved through her left shoulder, piercing through her flesh and clothes, pinning her against the wall at her back. The girl's eyes closed tightly, tears forming before she could stop them. The owner of the quinque twisted it, drawing cries of agony from her that were muffled by the mask on her face. She thrashed and gripped at the weapon, trying to free herself.

The man leaned down toward her, grinning. "Monsters like you don't deserve to live. Don't worry, Pink Spider; I'm going to give you a death fitting for a piece of trash like you and your little boyfriend No Face will get to watch!" He got closer and spat on the side of her mask. "And then we're going to take him out, too!"

The mention of Uta dying threw her over the edge. Her fury ignited and she rushed forward, all four of her kagune sinking into his chest and shredding his flesh. Something struck her across the face, slicing open her mask and cutting her left cheek. She was lifted by the front of her jacket and thrown aside. As her new tormentor closed in on her, she raggedly coughed and tried to push past the pain that spread through her body.

As the man lifted his quinque over his head, intending to slice her skull open, the girl's battered form was lifted. A pair of cold, grey eyes narrowed upon the approaching dove and Miyu was held close against her rescuer's chest. Behind her mask, her nose twitched and she struggled to lift her head. "…R…Ren…ji…?" she whispered, eyes going wide.

Without a word to her, he sprinted past the doves and into an alley. The investigators were left to attempt a pitiful pursuit, but he was soon making his way up to a rooftop. The girl was still held tightly in his arms. He heard the humans below making a commotion about needing to find the two missing ghouls, followed shortly by shouts that No Face was still alive.

Miyu peered down at the alleys and streets below, but was given only a few seconds before Renji started to move again. "What…what about Uta?"

"…I…came to get you…he'll be fine on his own…"