Tokyo Ghoul: The Other Story
Chapter 11: Next Steps
To Kaneki's dismay dark grey clouds is all that loomed over him that morning and it looked like rain was going to follow. It was ten o'clock am and Kaneki was the first to come to the meeting place which was outside Aogiri's base but he shouldn't be surprised if his team mates were going to be a bit late. When he left Shirazu was busy getting Saiko out of bed, Mutsuki woke up late because of the amount of time he spent waiting for Urie, the purple haired Quinx still seemed out of sorts about what happened last night Kaneki had tried talking to him but he just shrugged him off. And of course he couldn't expect Naki of all people to be punctual and Hinami was still in the middle of packing and then there was Takizawa.
Kaneki was thinking if he should try looking for the other half-ghoul, Takizawa lived in his own world most of the time and surely he would forget about leaving for the 11th ward but then after a second those thoughts came into his head he saw the door to the building open and saw Takizawa step out. Kaneki thought that he had never seen the other half-ghoul look so close to normal, Takizawa's robes and strange battle outfit had disappeared and where replaced the baggy jeans and a black hoodie which looked too big for him but at least it hid his white hair and face, he also carried a small plastic bag which looked like a bungle of clothes.
"Hey Takizawa!" Kaneki called out waved to get the other half-ghoul attention and Takizawa's large brown eyes widened when he noticed the Centipede ghoul calling out to him with a kind smile on his face. The Owl walked cautiously towards Kaneki feeling a little nervous and scarred as he usually did in the Centipede's presence but lately Kaneki had been very nice to him like helping him wash his hands, letting him sit in on training sessions however why did he have nightmare visions on the black haired half-ghoul standing over with a large Centipede Kakuja coming out of his back?
"Is that all your taking with you?" Kaneki questioned nodding to Takizawa's small plastic bad and white haired half-ghoul nodded looking down at the floor feeling ashamed…But why? Was it because he felt like Kaneki was looking down on his as he held his large duffle bag over his shoulder and here was Takizawa with only a small bungle of clothes and nothing else. Takizawa didn't have any need for material possessions, what he did keep safe was buried and locked up somewhere until he came back to the 18th ward.
"Well if you need to borrow anything just ask" The Centipede ghoul said smiling patting Takizawa on the shoulder and the Owl ghoul suddenly felt touched by the kindness which was something he only felt when Naki woke him up in mornings or made sure he ate and bathed.
"Well and I thought I saw going to be late!" A voice shouted out the two half-ghoul turned to see walking out of building. The ghoul, much to Kaneki's annoyance, was wearing his usual white suit that made him stand out and he dragged behind him a large pink suitcase which was making the Centipede's ghouls eye hurt.
"Are you an idiot?" Kaneki question but then felt stupid for asking because of course Naki was an idiot! Naki used to hate Kaneki since he was one of the reasons why Yamori was dead however once Eto explained that what Naki heard wasn't true was that Ken-chan and Yamori where 'play buddies' and was killed by the CCG instead, Naki hadn't even bothered the half-ghoul at all.
"What did you just call me?!" Naki shouted but Kaneki just rolled his eyes, he asked this question every time someone asked him if he was an idiot so this was nothing new.
"We are going to sneak though the wards with eight people carrying luggage while trying not to be spotted by the CCG or the humans and here you are wearing a flashy white suit and carrying a pink Barbie suitcase which screams to be noticed, so yeah you are an idiot" Kaneki couldn't help but add that one last detail and it was worth it just to see Naki face go from angry, to shocked and then from angrily shocked.
"You bastard…" But that ever Naki was going to say or do next was interrupted but the doors of the building opening once again with Hinami and the QS squad following closely behind her all off them carrying either a duffle bag or and backpack over their shoulders all of them (besides Hinami) looked drowsy and tired, there feet dragging them towards the gate and Urie looked the worst like he hadn't slept a wink all night (Which he probably hadn't).
So it looked like the whole gang was here however Kaneki didn't remember being friends with a bunch of zombies….
"You're going out like that Naki-san?" Hinami asked politely and the blond ghoul found himself stuttering and blushing, of course it was difficult to get mad at Hinami even for Naki.
"It's not my fault!" Naki cried as every stared down at him "I only ever wear white! And besides aren't we taking a car?!"
"I'm afraid Quinque metal isn't the only thing that we are running out on" Kaneki explained "Nearly all the cars are low on gas and no one has been out to get more so at some point we will have to stop at a gas station to fill up and that's going to dangerous considering the root we will have to take"
"He's right" Mutsuki said nodding "I was looking up our root and the fastest way to the 11th ward is going through the 1st and 4th wards which all belong to CCG, including the 6th ward which we are under strict orders to stay away from so we should take the long root though wards 17, 19, 20, 14, 13 and 10 which have increased with GGC and ghoul behaviour, the 20th ward in particular has shown an increase in Doves over the last four years"
"So we should stop for petrol before we reach that ward" Shirazu said before tuning to their leader, "Hey Nekisan, do you think it would be easier if we go by foot though the sewers or stick to alleyways, or maybe train? And doesn't it seem very risky to go to the other side of Tokyo in the busiest hour of the day"
"The city is going to busy no matter which time we set of" Kaneki said "Besides both of those form of travel are dangerous, we haven't managed to locate ourselves around the underground fully enough to not get ourselves lost for the next hundred years and with our numbers and the luggage we need to carry it will make us noticeable on the train including the alleyways, not to mention mine, Hinami's, Naki's and Takizawa's faces are known to the public, you Quinx are the only ones who can move around more freely as long as you stay away from the Doves who might recognised you, so Urie's driving"
"Huh?" Urie questioned, he was driving and not Shirazu? Well he knew that Shirazu wasn't the safest driver but still…Did this mean that Kaneki trusted him now? He doubted it.
So the group set off towards the garage where cars of different makes and sizes where kept, these cars were stolen from victims of ghouls attacks and suicide victims and they were changed and swapped around regularly but the oldest kept car in the bunch was the eight seater car which must have stolen from an American. The thing was huge and white and just screamed 'look at me!' it was a huge risk but they had to stay together and this was the only car which could carry eight people and it also had darkened windows so people couldn't see the inside.
They opened the large slide in doors and Kaneki pushed Naki and Takizawa towards the back three seats since they were the most strongest and well known to the public. Hinami then sat in the middle seat of the middle row in-between Saiko and Shirazu while Urie took up the driver seat with Mutsuki next to him but not before putting the entire luggage in the boot.
Let's just say that the car at this moment was very full and Kaneki just hoped that there wasn't going to be any traffic.
Xxx
Hide and Touka were dressed and ready to visit the 1st ward, Yomo was nervous about the fact that both of his younger friends were traveling to a Doves ward, even Hide because despite him being a human because he was known to the CCG but they were determined and Yomo couldn't stop them.
"Stay away from the main office" Yomo added before they left "And try to look as normal as possible and make eye-contact with no one".
"We know where doing" Touka interrupted pulling on her coat and fixing the buttons "I will call you if there is any trouble" And with that the trio left, Touka's mood seemed a bit dark but Hide was touched with Yomo's concern, at least someone cared for them.
They planned to take the bus, the same one Hide took yesterday and they were to meet Chie and Rosewald at a bar away from the CCG's main office but not too far in case anything came up. The bus ride and packed and bumpy and Touka remembered why she preferred walking, being trapped in a small space with a crowds of humans was suffocating and made her sick. Why did so many people have to take the bus? But then she felt a gentle squeeze on her arm and she didn't have to turn to know it was Hide trying to comfort her and Touka thought how lucky Kaneki was to have someone like Hide to be his friend or maybe…she was lucky to have Hide as a friend.
Finally for what felt like hours to Touka (which was 10 minutes) they arrived at the 1st ward and Touka only started to feel worse, already she had counted eleven white coated men and woman and she had just got off the bus.
"So this bar…?" Touka questioned, feeling uneasy as her glaze shifted from both sides of the road while staying away from people in her path.
"Just up this road" Hide said reassuring the ghoul with a smile and lead her though the crowd of people down the road keeping an eye out for Investigators on the way.
Xxx
Little did Hide and Touka know was that Chie and Kanae had been at the Oceans'r for a while now, the two wanted to talk privately before more visitors came to join the club. The two had found a table close to the back, the building was very modern like most of the buildings in the 1st ward, the interior consisted of mostly black, white and sliver furniture with its shiny tables and chairs and the long counter where the beers and alcohol where on display. Kanae didn't understand why humans drank such stuff, he tried it once at it was like someone had stuffed petrol oil down his throat but he wasn't here to question humans and their strange habits he was here to talk to Mouse.
"I still need to track down that Urie and Shirazu" Chie rambled on as flicked though the pictures on her camera "They haven't given me my payment yet"
"It's your fault, you should of gave them a meeting place" Kanae commented, usually he wouldn't care less about how the mouse got her payments but if Chie had been more demanding of the payment and organized herself better then they wouldn't be going through all this trouble. The plan was to get on of Kaneki's students to send Chie a piece of Ken Kaneki's clothing so they could put a tracker device then randomly return it to the student to give back to Kaneki however they were having trouble tracking Aogiri or those kids down.
"Never mind about that" Chie said who was very quick to change the conversation "How is Tsukiyama?"
"Do you even need to ask?" Kanae said wearily rubbing the temples of his forehead, he was starting to get a headache "Master Shuu is hardly at home these days, his father worries greatly but he will won't show it and when Master Shuu does come home he's always in his study or the library researching but I don't know what".
"He's worried about Ken" Chie commented simply but Kanae rolled his eyes,
"You don't think I already know that?"He questioned the small woman in disbelieve, but seriously that Ken Kaneki was becoming a nuisance. When the supposed Half-ghoul showed up five years ago Master Shuu became obsessed with him, researching half-ghouls and all types of human and ghoul biology including the ROS disease and not long after Master Shuu ended buying the ungrateful mongrel a nice town house and ensuring he was comfortable and supported and then he thinks that invading a ghoul auction, taking away his prize and teaming up with investigators was a good way to reply to Tsukiyama family for their services. And now he was spending all his efforts conversing with the common ghouls in the sixth ward and he was dragging Kanae down in to all this.
"You know I'm sure Tsukiyama is grateful for the help" Chie said finally look up from her camera "Once we get Ken back I'm sure your master will back to his usual self"
"Yeah…His old self" Kanae sighed and Chie didn't look to impressed,
"What's wrong?" Chie asked placing her hand on her chin "don't you want your master to be happy?"
"Of course you stupid lit…" But he stopped himself and decided that it was worth taking his anger out on the pet "I want what's best for Master Shuu if it getting the Centipede ghoul back is all it takes then I'm happy"
"Really?" Chie questioned as she tilt her head to the side and placed the finger on her chin in thought "Is that what you want?"
"Na sicher! Roses don't lie" Kanae said taking out a rose from his coat pockets and held it towards his nose like an actor on stage,
"But you're not a rose" Chie argued back but Kanae didn't bother looking at her,
"For real…Like always you don't get the meaning, although back to our previous subject…" The German ghoul's eyes shifted towards the pet once again "How did you find those two kids anyway" He was referring to Urie and Shirazu, wasn't a bit lucky that Chie was able to kind them so suddenly after searching for four months?
"Don't know what you are on about" Chie started but Kanae leaned forward with the flower pointing at the girls face,
"Don't lie guinea pig" Kanae spoke with his voice low and warning "I know you were once a school mate of Master Shuu's, but don't forget that I can kill a mere human anytime"
"I think Tsukiyama will hate you if you do that" Chie explained "It seems like he loves me like a pet, he's known me for about as long as you. If there comes a need to kill me, he'll do it"
"Scheisse! Don't push your luck, you little mouse" But if Chie was going to reply it was halted by the sound of the door opening and Chie and Kanae turned to see the familiar faces of Touka Kirishima and Hideyoshi Nagachika entering the bar and Kanae face couldn't help but turn in disgust, now he had another pesky human to deal with but it was no matter, the sooner they could get the Centipede ghoul back the sooner his Master's happiness will come.
Xxx
For the first time in his life Kaneki was grateful for the invention of video games, if it wasn't for Saiko, Naki and Shirazu playing on their 3DS's or apps then the car would have been very noisy. Urie was concentrating on the road, Mutsuki and Hinami where reading books and the only person who had nothing to do was Takizawa but he was quite person anyway so Kaneki had a lot of space to think about Aogiri what their move in the 11th ward would be.
They had just reached the 19th Ward when Urie decided it was time to stop at a gas station, this ward was pretty normal had and even mix of ghouls and investigators which was very little so Urie was save to get out an fill up the car.
"I'm hungry" Saiko commented breaking the awkward silence in the car,
"Can you bear with it until we get to the 14th ward?" Kaneki asked "There are some people I was to visit there"
"You don't mean them do you?" Mutsuki questioned as his body shuddered at thought of meeting 'those people' again.
"I'd rather talk to them in privet" Kaneki explained "so you lot can wonder off to find food, you should be save since Dove don't really pay attention to that ward"
And again they set off with their car now full of petrol and hopefully won't need to stop until they reached the 14th ward.
Xxx
"So that's our plan?" Touka questioned is disbelieve once Hide and Chie had finished explaining the plan and for once Kanae had to agree with her, the plan was dangerous and could result in them getting captured by either CCG or Aogiri.
"But looking for Kaneki has got us nowhere" Hide explained "However if we target someone who Aogiri or Kaneki has an interest in then we have a chance"
"And you think this Arthur Reed is person we're looking for?" Touka questioned, she didn't like this plan at all.
"Of course" Chie nodded enthusiastic "Reed was able to hold his own out against Kaneki in the CCG car raid so of course Aogiri will be interested in the person who can fight one of their strongest ghouls, also have you seen todays paper?"
"You mean the article about that ghoul breaking in to an investigators house?" Hide questioned, of course he knew about it since it was Tsukiyama who recommended him it.
"Yep" Chie nodded "And this morning Kanae was spying on Reed's house and he was surrounded by news reporters and everything!"
"It's true" Kanae said nodding "That Brit will be all over the papers soon enough and I heard as well that the ghoul who broke in killed someone in that house but the ghoul is said to belong to Aogiri".
"What ghoul would be stupid enough to break in to an investigators house?" Touka questioned "It's unheard of"
"I know" Hide nodded "But maybe this will give us the upper hand now that Reed's face will be known to the public including Aogiri.
"So you think more will come after him?" Touka asked uncertainly and Hide nodded,
"No doubt about it"
Xxx
The 14th Ward was a popular place for ghouls, not only was it famous for its surviving trend of cannibalism but it was also home to the popular running business called the Helter Skelter ran by the friendly and oh so talkative Itori. When Kaneki formed his group and took down ghoul restaurants four years ago he used to use this place a lot and it was going to become useful once again.
The group parked the car next to a supermarket; at least if they parked in a public space they wouldn't look too suspicious. The group tumbled out grateful to be in the fresh air and able to stretch their legs but before they were about to spilt off Kaneki called them all together in a circle.
"Ok at this point we spilt off but no one goes off on their own" Kaneki explained "Even though we have no Doves to worry about we still need to be weary of ghouls who live here, cannibalism here is a trend so keep your heads down and don't go off with anyone you don't know, Naki" Kaneki turned to blond ghoul "Your face is the most known so stay in the shadows and I think you should bring Hinami and Takizawa along with you".
"Can't I come with you?" Hinami asked clearly disappointed with the arrangement, she hated being apart from her brother now that it was so dangerous.
"I need to go to the Helter Skelter to talk to Itori in privet" Kaneki explained placing a gentle hand on Hinami's arm "We will meet back here in an hour and it gives us plenty of time to rest up and have a quick snack before continuing our journey besides I don't feel comfortable having Naki and Takizawa go off on their own"
"HEY!" Naki cried out angrily but his voice was ignored and group went their different ways, Saiko and Shirazu dragged Mutsuki and a reluctant Urie towards the supermarket for food while Kaneki, Hinami, Naki and Takizawa walked on quickly towards the darkened alleyways of the 14th ward keeping their hoods up (Or in Naki's case with his jacket over his head) ensuring no one would recognise their faces.
"So what's this Helter Skelter place?" Naki asked as soon they entered the dingy small back alleyways of the 14th ward which where a lot busier than any other alleyways in the other wards. Since it was a mostly ghoul ran ward a lot of the shops would have a small innocent shop like sweets or charity shops on the main road where humans would go however at the back of those shops there will be meat or drug deal which would be the source of most of the shops income rather than their front store.
"It belongs to the Clowns" Kaneki explains "I used to go there a few times and I need to speck with them again, so while I'm gone stay in hidden and don't get into any trouble, Hinami and Takizawa don't let Naki drag you to any cannibalism shows"
"Understood" Hinami said nodding and Takizawa nodded quietly behind her and they spilt of down the alleyways with Kaneki going straight on and Hinami, Naki and Takizawa going right. Kaneki breathed a sigh not sure if he was glad of the space or worried about letting his group spilt of on their own. He was sure the QS would be ok here in a place where no one knew them since the four mostly lived the 1st ward however he hoped that the Trio won't find themselves in any trouble.
Xxx
Back in the 1st ward Arthur Reed was on his break but for once he was having it in CCG's headquarters and not at a café some place which is what he had originally planned. For some reason Arthur had turned out to be quite popular with the Japanese Press because once he left his house this morning he was greeted with reporters with notebooks in hand asking him about the event from two nights ago. For some reason word had gotten out that a ghoul had broken into his house and killed one of his co-workers but the culprit who brought the story to the Press was still unknown.
Arthur was still sipping the last of his bland tea when a voice called out to him,
"Hey Arty" And the investigator looked up to find Kuramoto Itou smiling down at him with Juuzou Suzuya behind him, Arthur didn't know Kuramoto very well but he had heard a lot about Suzuya, the small investigator was quite the big shot in the CCG and was known for being quite eccentric but friendly towards his co-workers.
"You do know that we have all been summoned to Mado's office right, she had been trying to get a hold of you for the past ten minutes" Kuramoto explained pointing his fun towards the exit,
"Really?" Arthur asked looking up, of course Arthur left his phone off whenever he was on break so he wouldn't be disturbed.
"Yeah mine, Itou's and Shimoguchi's squad have been called" Suzuya explained, which were basically the squads involved in the Aogiri and Centipede cases.
"Why do they want us all together, has something happened?" Arthur asked,
"Don't worry, it's nothing bad" Kuramoto reassured "it's just that that some American CCG calling themselves the USGEP or something was came in demanding the speck with us"
"What!" Arthur gasped "They are here already?!" He knew that the USGEP were coming to Tokyo but he didn't expect them to here this soon, he doubted it was the chairman though for it to be this quick it must be one of his staff members.
"Yeah they are waiting for us right now" Suzuya said and Arthur stood up and left his cup on the table, it looked like things where about to get interesting.
Note: Yeah I know it's shorter than usual but this seemed like the right place to stop since the next chapter is going to get a little mad. We are going to have some new OC's coming in, the Clowns are entering and Naki, Hinami and Takizawa are going to be busy as well.
I thank codename00guest, nissangtrlover2569, and Haruto Arima for reviewing on the last chapter, seriously thanks for putting the time in to review I love you guys xxx
Oh have I mentioned that I have a DeviantArt account? Fanfiction is my favourite website but I do post pictures on DeviantArt as well, I usually draw Hetalia stuff but I do some Tokyo Ghoul as well if you're interested, the user name is 'Bexie4ever1996' and it has the same icon, I would send the link but Fanfiction is a bxxxx and won't let me :(