The tension that had settled in Airi's apartment was broken by both phones chiming with a message. Yomo and Uta both reached for their phones and were both out of the apartment in the next minute. The message was from Itori and she had someone that wanted to talk to Yomo, but she had included Uta because it involved Airi.
When they arrived at Helter Skelter, the bar was closed, but she quickly admitted them both. "Don't freak out, okay? I found him this way. I knew he was Ai-chan's brother because he smells a lot like her. I don't think he can read very well, but he…" Itori directed them to the counter, where a small and sullen figure was slouched on a seat. "Isamu-kun?"
The boy perked up a little and looked over. The front of his light grey shirt was a bloody mess, the crimson painting his lips and chin, smeared across his cheeks. His eyes went wide when he saw the two male ghouls and he soon ran over. There were tears in his eyes as he reached them, his small and bloody hands gripping the front of Yomo's coat and tugging desperately.
"What happened to you?" Uta crouched down to be closer to his eye level and saw a frantic, painful look in his eyes. "Isamu…?"
"He hasn't said a word since I brought him in. I was walking around the neighborhood and found him in the alley like this. I don't know what happened, but he wrote something when I got him some paper." Itori held up a bloody sheet of paper with a crude note scrawled on it. It read "I am Isamu. Neechan needs help. Need Yomo."
The pale-haired ghoul took the paper and frowned. "Airi needs help. Where is she?" He looked to the boy, who began pointing toward the door as if he wanted to direct them. "Just tell me." Isamu shook his head vehemently and it became clear that something was very wrong. "Open your mouth." Again, the boy shook his head, fresh tears rolling down his cheeks.
"Isamu." The child looked at Uta, who tilted his head curiously. "Did someone hurt you?" More tears flowed and Isamu nodded once, his gaze directed elsewhere. "What did they do?"
The young ghoul looked unsure for a moment, but received a reassuring nod from the older ghoul. He parted his bloody lips and opened his mouth wide. The inside of his mouth was a dark crimson mess and it soon became clear why. A large chunk had been taken off of his tongue. The last half inch of the muscle had been ripped out of his mouth, leaving a bleeding stump of a tongue behind. He whimpered at the pain and closed his mouth as soon as the others knew what was wrong.
Itori winced. "Who would do that? He's just a kid!"
"Someone that wanted Airi's flesh." Yomo took a step away from Isamu and looked down at him. "Can you show me where they were?" The boy nodded in agreement. Yomo turned his attention to Uta and Itori now. "I'll follow him and then bring him back here. Itori, can you walk him to Anteiku when we get back?"
"Sure. Oh, I know! Isamu-kun, come here!" She led him over to the counter, though he was reluctant to follow. Now that Yomo was there, he seemed to latch onto the older male. She poured a glass full to the brim with human blood and slid it across to him. "That might make you feel better," she said with a grin.
Uta sat beside him while he drank, asking her if she had seen Airi. The answer was 'no' and she asked if he was going with Yomo. "Of course," he replied with a coy smile. "I need to know that she's alright."
Itori's grin grew. "So? Are you back together? I heard about those gifts that you brought her."
Isamu was gulping down the blood now and coughed a little when he finished. Uta patted his back gently, giving him a questioning look. The boy nodded once, indicating that he was alright. "Better?" He saw the child nod again. "Let's go find your sister."
Yomo was already waiting at the door, making a quick call to Anteiku to let them know what was going on. When Isamu grabbed his sleeve for security, he could not help but look down at the young ghoul. There was still blood all over the boy's shirt and mouth, but he did seem to be feeling a little better.
Unfortunately, the last place that Isamu had seen Airi was a vacant building. The two older ghouls stepped in ahead of him and immediately picked up on the scent of blood. They followed it to some sort of lobby and realized that it was where Isamu had been attacked. There was a splash of blood on one wall and drying on the floor, indicating that the chunk of his tongue had been forcibly ripped off. He began to tremble and cry, wiping at his eyes with reddened hands.
Uta rested a hand on his shoulder, surveying the area. "You're alright now."
"I don't see anything here." Yomo examined the neighboring rooms and returned with a deep frown. "She isn't here anymore."
Shift P.O.V
Airi sat staring vacantly at the blank wall, determined to not give Tsukiyama what he wanted. She bit at her lip piercing, attempting to focus her thoughts elsewhere. She tried to think about her class, Anteiku, sparring, food, coffee, and her closest friends. Just anything to make her not begin to panic.
A look over her shoulder showed the bed and beyond that was the only entrance or exit to the room. There were no windows. There was no light switch to stop the incessant blaze of the artificial lighting above her head. I can't go near the door. He starts talking if I do that and I just…can't deal with the creepy things that he keeps saying. His favorite subject, by far, was the "magnificent meal" that he was anticipating. Airi closed her eyes and turned to face the wall again. It was tempting to start sketching, but that would give him hope that she would give him what he wanted. She tried to avoid going near the canvases for that same reason.
It was unclear if he had any hidden cameras in the room. It was fairly bare of furniture except for the bed and the easel, but the vent set near the high ceiling seemed like a good hiding place. The vent was too small for her to fit into, but a camera could easily fit. There was barely any other place for one, though she did have a distinct feeling of being watched.
Can I beat him if I have to fight my way out? Her heart raced at the thought, but she knew that she had to do something. His plan was for her to paint the kagune portraits for him and then he would bring Kaneki to the room. She winced as she thought of the rest of his plan. He intended for her to connect with Kaneki on a physical, mature level and he would devour them both while they were connected. It made her stomach turn to think about it.
Of course, she had a disadvantage. He was free. He had food out there so he already had more power than she did. Airi felt weak after being drugged. It had been over an hour since she woke, but she still felt shaky and tired. She caught his scent through the door and turned quickly, anticipating an attack or confrontation.
"I have these delectable cuts of flesh if you'll be a good girl, Shirayuki-chan. Just show me that you've done some work and I'll reward you~"
Her nose twitched at the aroma of fresh, bloody human flesh near the door. The female ghoul's stomach growled softly. "…I'm not hungry…" Her words were followed by silence. Every muscle seemed to tense as Airi stared at the door, ready to release her kagune if he threatened her.
"Well I can't enjoy your meat if you're all skin and bone. Do I need to come in there and feed you myself?"
She gritted her teeth, disgusted by the notion. "I ate last week. And…what kind of creep offers to feed a girl?"
"I'm not some sort of creep! I'm trying to keep my meal well fed before my feast." He leaned against the other side of the door, most likely smirking. "I'm sure Kaneki-kun wouldn't want his sweetheart to be boney when we begin."
"We're not together." Her voice was low, full of frustration. I want out! I want out of here, but there's no way! Damn it!
"It's going to be so decadent! The most delicious meal that any ghoul has ever eaten! The mix of sweet Shirayuki-chan's tender female flesh blended with Kaneki-kun's distinct flavor! Aaaah! I can hardly wait!" He panted, painfully excited over the prospect of eating both ghouls. "I need those paintings to commemorate my greatest meal, mon cheri. Give me progress and I can give you something delicious. If you continue to misbehave…" He chuckled. "I have some leftover scraps that I could always force feed you."
A shiver ran through her as she heard her phone ringing on the other side of the door. Airi was quickly on her feet and advancing, but stopped just a foot away from the barrier between her and her phone. Who is it?! Is it Uta? Her hands were shaking and she swiftly pushed them into her pockets. She knew that asking for her phone would do nothing. It was ridiculous to even try.
The phone continued to ring for a while and then finally stopped. "I'm going to come back in the morning and if you have something to show me, I'll reward you," Tsukiyama announced. "And if you don't…I'll just have to force some of my scraps down your throat. I can't have my precious meal getting skimpy~"
The young woman took a few steps back and felt the bed hit the back of her knees. Airi sat down, staring at the door again. There was no indication of who had been calling, but it had undeniably been her ringtone. Now she could only hope that Uta or Yomo would come to help her escape. The thought of Isamu returning or Touka trying to help made her wince. They were young; still inexperienced and easy prey for a part time cannibal like Tsukiyama.
Inevitably, her mind went to Kaneki. The second to last person to see her. She remembered threatening him before parting at the university. He can't come here. He can't try to help me. But…what can I do to stop him? If Kaneki is the one that comes for me…it's over. It's all over. Tsukiyama will do something to him and…we'll be eaten…after he makes us…She shook her head, threading her fingers into her dark hair and trying to take calming breaths.
Airi continued to sit in utter silence for a few hours before she managed to pick up on the sound of footsteps outside of her door. Her eyes were wide as she watched the door for signs of opening. There was no jiggle of the doorknob, but she could smell her captor standing just outside. "Leave me alone," she growled.
"Don't forget, little Shirayuki-chan. If you haven't worked on my paintings at all…I'm going to stop being so nice. Good night."
The lights turned off, putting her in nearly complete darkness. There was a small rectangle of light beneath the door, but she was otherwise left in a room that was now dark. She felt around on the bed and located her sketchbook. It was soon flipped open, a pencil shakily taken into her hand, and she began to frantically sketch what she hoped would resemble a kagune. I need to be strong so I can fight him! Even if that means…giving him what he wants!