Title: The Masks We Wear

Disclaimers: I do not own Tokyo ghoul, any music, or anime mentioned

Notes: If all Goes well, this will be the last chapter. However, I am planning to do a series of one-shot chapters following this story.

Song Choice: Don't Fear The Reaper by blue oyster cult

Summary: The fight against this next threat kicks into high gear. Once enemies must put everything aside for the better of everyone. Standing above the battlefield, Hikari comes to a conclusion and takes action as the others work to locate Kaneki. Upon waking up, Kaneki is adament in taking out the other core, but will they succeed or will the reaper stand in their way? Find out in this final thrilling chapter of The Masks We Wear!

"Regular Talk"

'Thoughts'

phone calls, texts, or sign language

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Hikari's POV

I stand watch wearing Sasayai Shi. Kenji may have disguarded the name as a person, but it suits him now that he's a quinque. I maintain the shield as humans are rushed through to the safety within. I scan the area for more survivors as Hinami listens for them. This whole mess is a disaster. Hopefully one we can recover from before it's too late. "They told me to look high for you, Nagachika" Miruma Tsukiyama says coming up. "A wretched sight, isn't it?" He says standing next to me. "I try to reserve judgement for killers and torturers" I say. "But hasn't Kaneki killed enough?" He points out. "I have been thinking about that for some time. This...form, how it feeds...it's not like Kaneki." I say. "How so?" Miruma asks. "Kaneki, even though he has changed, doesn't feed like this. He still holds value to every life...this..it's more like Rize." I say. Miruma nods in understanding. "So, she must be still alive somewhere as well." He says. I nod. "This thing stinks of her as well as Kaneki. Even if we do find Kaneki, we still have to find Rize" I say and then we hear a screeching noise.

"Figures he would show himself. The air is heavy enough that the clouds are blocking out the sun." I say and stretch my wings as my tail whips back and forth. "Mr Miruma! We need your help!" Takizawa say coming up to the roof. He looks a lot better since he and Akira finally got together. "How can I be of assistance?" He asks. "Is it possible to acquire a large number of metal detectors? Kaneki was wearing a wedding ring when this happened." He says. "I can manage it. Nagachika?" Miruma says looking at me. "You guys handle finding Kaneki and Rize. I'll handle the reaper." I say and take off into the sky. I fly towards the reaper. It doesn't take him long to realize that I'm coming for him. He shoots his crystals at me, but I slice them in half with my sword. Sensing something changed, the reaper screeches and charges at me. I do a roll and slice at it's stomach as it passes me.

"What? Didn't think I would have any bite?" I say as It glares at me. He sends more of crystals at me, which I evade. Rc cells then start to disperse, forming what looks to be insects. They start to swarm me as I try to evade them. Whipping my tail, I manage to keep them off as I continue to fight. (I suck at this. going to assume this is how the fight goes on for a while) I land, starting to feel the toll using this form is taking on me. I hope they find Rize soon. I already know they found Kaneki...and he left with Ayato to go after Rize. I roll to avoid being hit by the reaper. Then, everything starts to shake under my feet as parts of the giant kagune starts to fall apart. "Well, it was fun playing with you, but It's time I show you what a real dragon looks like, hmm?" I say plunging my sword into the ground as I take my Caladrius form. With Sasayai Shi, It continues to form. The head lengthens as sharp teeth fill the mouth. My wings become bigger and more reptilian. My tail feathers fuse into a thick scaly tail. When it is over, I am only a little bigger than the reaper. Smoke spills from my mouth as I prepare for my attack. 'This is going to hurt in the morning' I think as I release what appears to be sunlight at the reaper. The reaper tries to escape, but the light quickly eats away at him, leaving only his skull behind. I manage to land before I have to disengage my quinque. My body, heavy from the power I put in that last attack and the fight to that point, feels like a mountain is sitting on me. "Hikari!" I hear Hide yell as I pass out.

Song Choice: Reaching For Heaven from Ice Princess

Time Skip 6 years

Time sure flies when you are fixing a city. Luckily, residents of Tokyo were largely unaffected by the gases that the dragon's parasites gave off. Working together to repair the damage, Humans and ghouls grew closer together and most discontent was settled. Sure, there will always be some that will never accept the ghouls, but we expected that. Me, yeah...I was recovering for most of a year after that fight. Appearently, the body doesn't like being stretched into new forms it never had before. When my bones stopped hurting, I had a lot of physical therapy to go through. Luckily, I had hide, Hineki, and the rest of my family to support me. "Chairman Nagachika, I have those reports" Takizawa says coming into my office. Oh yeah...I was promoted about a year after I recovered completely. What position do I have now? Well, chairman of the CCG. Surprised? I sure was. Guess Kijima was right about me.

"Thank you, Takizawa. How's Akira?" I ask. He smiles. "She's doing well. The twins are giving her trouble, but what do you expect?" He says. He and Akira tied the knot about a year ago, and Akira was expecting twins. "But I will have to say she's glad not to be as far along as you are" Takizawa says and I chuckle. "I don't doubt that." I say rubbing my belly. I'm almost nine months along, but since I'm constantly babysitting the office, I'm in no danger of being attacked. "You really should head home." He says. "Hide is coming to pick me up. I'll stop working when he gets here." I say and he nods. He leaves as Juuzou practically skips into my office. I giggle. "Hey Juuzou. You seem happy" I say giggling. "Haru said yes!" He says practically bouncing off the walls. "I see, how is Ginshi taking the news?" I ask remembering how Ginshi tried to kill Juuzou for even suggesting going out with his sister.

"He's chill with it now that he knows I'm serious. Took him long enough" Juuzou says. I nod. "By the way, did you hear? Him and Saiko had a little girl!" Juuzou says sitting on my desk and kicks his feet happily. "Really?" I ask. "Yeah, they named her Ika." He says and I giggle again. "Saiko and her anime." I say. "Oh, one more thing...Uta's funeral is tomorrow." Juuzou says. "I almost forgot about that..." I say. Uta...His shop was attacked by some anti-ghoul racist jerks. They burned the place to the ground and strung him up like some kind of sideshow act. "How's Itori taking it?" I ask. "She's finally taking better care of herself. Your mom is one scary lady!" Juuzou says. My mom and dad got back together and I have a little brother name Atu. Mom and Dad have been trying to help Itori through the funeral arrangements. "Small comfort when itori found out she was going to be a mom." I say and Juuzou nods. "Speaking about pregnant women, how are you holding up?" Juuzou asks.

"Doing well, Juuzou." I say. "Have you guys choosen a name yet?" Juuzou asks. "Yeah, We're naming him Rei" I say, causing Juuzou to fall off the desk. "I keep telling you that you're going to fall, Juuzou" I say with a giggle. "Are you serious?" He asks jumping back to his feet. "Of course I am." I say and Juuzou smiles big. Hide then walks in and smiles. "I take it that you told Juuzou what we decided" Hide says hugging me gently. "Yup, he fell of my desk" I say making Hide chuckle. "Anyways, everyone's waiting for us at Anteiku. Ready to go?" Hide asks and I nod. I wave goodbye to Juuzou and we leave to Anteiku. "Juuzou certainly was energetic today" Hide says. "Haru said yes" I say and wince a little. "Are you alright?" Hide asks worried. "Yeah, little Rei is excited that I'm not working anymore" I say and he chuckles. We soon reach Anteiku. It's been rebuilt since the fight against the reaper, with a bigger apartment complex attached to it. Hide helps me get out of the car and we go inside. "Momma, Daddy, Welcome to Anteiku!" Hineki says running up to us.

"Hineki, what did we say about running when inside?" I say. He looks down. "Sorry" He says. "It's ok, sweetie. Has my little man doing?" I say and he smiles big. "I'm making a Senbazuru!" He says happily. I smile and follow him. "Wow, you made a lot already!" I say looking at all of the paper cranes. "What are you going to wish for, kiddo?" Hide asks. "A baby sister!" Hineki says making me blush, but I don't have the heart to tell him the baby's a boy. "Hin-" Hide tries to say something. "Don't you dare" I say. Hide chuckles. "How many do you have left, Kiddo?" Hide asks. "Last one!" Hineki says and finishes it. I feel a stabbing pain in my stomach. "Hikari? Are you alright?" Hide asks coming over to me. "I..I think it's time" I say. "Hineki, just this once you can run. Go get grandpa Yoshimura!" Hide says and Hineki Runs upstairs. Hide gets me to sit down near the window. Yoshimura and Amon both rush downstairs. "Hineki said Hikari was hurt" Amon says. "The baby's coming" Hide says. They nod and Amon gently picks me up as Eto comes running downstairs. "Hikari, are you ok?" She asks. "The baby's coming a little early, Eto. Can you watch Hineki?" Hide asks. "Of course" She says as Amon rushes me to the ambulance. Hide follows, getting in the baby decided it didn't want to wait to get to the hospital and was coming in the ambulance.

Hide's POV

I was following the Ambulance when It suddenly pulls off the road into a parking lot. I park the car and get out. The driver came over to me. "What's going on? Is my wife alright?" I ask worried. "Yes, she's fine. The baby is in the birth canal. We had to pull over so not to cause accidental injury" He says. I pace outside the Ambulance for what must have been five minutes before a cry is heard. The driver goes to check on things. He soon comes back with a smile. "Congratulations, sir, It's a girl" He says and I blink in shock. We had been told it was a boy. "We can let you ride with her since the baby is delivered." He says and I get in the back with Hikari.

Hikari's POV

I smile a little tired at Hide. "Hineki got his wish" I say and hide chuckles. The paramedic in the back with us looks confused. "We were told she was going to be a boy. Our oldest, Hineki, Made a Senbazuru. Right when he finished the last crane, I went into labor" I explain. "Wow, haven't heard that one yet, but a definite favorite" The paramedic says. We make it to the hospital after my parents. They take me to the maturnity ward as Hide talks to my parents. I can practically hear my mother squeal in happiness. After making sure everything is alright, I'm put in a room about an hour later. Hide is holding his little girl, grining like an idiot. Rei has white hair and her daddy's olive eyes. "She's perfect, Kari" Hide says. There's a knock and Eto comes in with Hineki and little Kuzen holding her hands. "hey you two, Yomo and Tsuki said you didn't take long." Eto says. "She came in the ambulance and they had to pull over" Hide says. Hineki's face lights up. "She?" He asks hopeful. Hide chuckles. "Yes, son, come meet your little sister, Rei"

THE END! Go home, it's over...before you do, leave a review!