AN: Yeah, I'll be slow with the updates on this, work is craaaazy. But here :)

Drunk Investigating

"Come oooon! It's Friday! Live a little!" The intern was insistent, nagging again and again, even donning a mock pout and puppy dog eyes.

Seido Takizawa was pouring over the file on his desk, attempting to ignore his colleague – friend, he suddenly realised – who was now waving his arms around in a bid to distract him, "I really have to get this report done-."

"It can wait till Monday! It's the weekend! Let's go paint the town!"

"Fine, fine, stop that!" Takizawa was laughing now; the boy's enthusiasm was contagious. He put the report in his desk drawer being locking away the contents. He didn't notice that Hide was watching his movements closely, noting where he stored the key.

The younger boy whooped in triumph before impatiently dragging his superior to the door. They walked into town, chit chatting about where to eat and why they needed to blow off steam. They headed to a restaurant in the middle of town, deciding to start by lining their stomachs before Karaoke.

It was soon apparent to Hide that his companion needed little encouragement to drink, before they had finished eating his superior was steadily drinking himself into a mumbling stupor. This was his plan, to take advantage of the investigator's loose tongue and gather more information.

Hide needed to approach the topic of work cautiously, knowing that Seido had been warned about spilling company intelligence. As they exited the restaurant, Hide tried to sound aloof, "Man, that was so good! More sake? How about that bar I mentioned earlier?"

"Sou- hic- sounds good!"

He needs to slow down if he's going to be any use to me, Hide thought as they walked down the dimly lit streets. It was busy with businessmen and women hitting the town after a long working week. The two pushed on through the throng of people to the next bar.

Something unsettled Hide. He felt like he was being watched. Whilst idly listening to his companion mumble on about 'that bitch Akira', Hide scanned the scene, looking for something or someone who didn't fit. He did this subtly of course, while keeping up his smiling tipsy charade. His input to the conversation were empty cliché's such as, "No WAY?!", "That bitch!" and "Too fucking right!".

They reach the bar and Hide makes the overly dramatic show of bowing at the entrance with an outstretched hand motioning 'ladies first'. This was a ploy by the blonde to get a look at whoever might be following, as he hadn't been able to turn around lest he be caught. Takizawa hiccups into fits of laughter as he took his lead and entered first. He raised his head and let out a fake laugh, he allowed himself a furtive glance before following his colleague.

Him. The guy in a black hooded jacket.

Hide recognised the shadow figure. He had seen him lurking around after his assigned team. He had found it both intriguing and ironic that there was someone else following his colleagues. Hide had taken the initiative to do so once he realised how slow it was to gather anything of use.

"So, there she goes again, telling the team of her grand theory. She thinks there is another ghoul organisation in the 20th ward! Can you believe that?! Stupid bitch…"

Hide snaps his attention back to the present. He's talking about Anteiku, she's more perceptive than Hide gave her credit.

The drunken slurs continued, "She's put two and two together got – hic- like a million! Just because the black Dobers and the Devil Apes haven't been heard from in years doesn't mean there's another group around to silence them. They probably just killed each other! Just like the Gourmet and Binge eater must've moved on… and then there's that guy with the Eyepatch!"

Hide tries to disguise his intense interest. Kaneki. "Eyepatch?" he asks, feigning ignorance.

"Yeah! That new ghoul; wanted for her father's murder… she has a vendetta against it. She shouldn't be allowed anywhere near the case! Women and their emotions!"

"Geez, yeah she should stay out of it!" Hide agreed, trying to coax out the information he needed.

"So yeah, she tries to tell us that there's something special about him – a special ghoul! She's so stupid."

"Batshit crazy." Hide would say anything to keep him talking by this point.

"Mind you… it is true what she said… about that accident."

Hide caught himself, he was hanging on his every word, leaning forward and practically salivating at the information. This was more than I had ever hoped to accomplish by getting him drunk! He righted himself and leaned back in his chair, hoping that Takizawa had seen his interest as professional admiration, a bid to stroke his ego. The boy drained his drink before reaching into his pocket and bringing out a pack of cigarettes, offering one to his colleague. Hide hated smoking, but it was a necessary evil to spend more time with his team. Takizawa accepted his offer as Hide said in fake sympathy, "The shit you have to put up with Seido!"

"I know right!"

They headed out into the cold air, illuminating the darkened doorway with the embers of their smokes. Hide had not forgotten about the hooded guy that had been following them. There were fewer bodies in the street due to the late hour. Despite the string of lanterns that lined the bars and clubs, it was difficult to determine whether he was still there: watching.

The stumbling brunette exhaled a cloud of smoke before continuing, "Just because he wasn't seen before the battle of the 11th ward doesn't mean he hasn't always been there. She thinks there's something about that accident. You know the one? With the college kids?"

The blonde's chest tightened. No. No no no. Fighting to control his breathing, he focused on keeping the fear out of his voice,"Uh yeah, the steel beams, right?"

"That's the one!" Takizawa grinned, overjoyed that his friend was giving him the credit and attention he deserved. "She thinks it's something to do with that kid!"

"That's crazy… how the hell would that work?" Hide battled to keep his tone neutral, he had to embed a seed of doubt in this story. Anything to get them away from suspecting a link to his best friend.

"Beats me! You said it, she's crazy!" Takizawa was overcome by his laughter again, this time doubling over at the ridiculousness of her deduction. In his fit of slurred giggles, he lost his balance, landing sprawled on the pavement. His body still convulsing with laughter.

His companion joined in with the laughter, but there was no mirth in his eyes. He suggested they call it a night, calling a taxi for the inebriated investigator. Hide said he would walk home; he didn't live far after all.

The streets were devoid of people by this point, and if it weren't for the occasional streetlight, he would be engulphed in darkness. It was a cloudy night, with little hope of light from the moon.

Movement above him.

He's here.

Hide continues walking, hands in his pockets, he starts whistling absentmindedly. This was a ploy to act normal, to not alert his assailant. He continues walking out of town and wonders why him? Why not follow Seido? He's an investigator, I'm just an intern… Unless he's noticed that I've been following them too?

The boy would be lying if he said he wasn't scared. That would be foolish, fear kept you alert. The hooded guy was probably a ghoul. There was no need for a human to trail investigators. Well, except me. Hide knew the dangers of joining the CCG, it was like being a walking target for ghouls. But he had to. To help Kaneki.

Hide was nearing his apartment now. He knew the area well despite only moving here a month ago (it was closer to the CCG building). The blonde thought better than to lead him to his front door. He stalled by circling the neighbourhood, there were several apartment buildings in this area. He just had to think of a way to lose his stalker.

Kaneki trailed his friend, keeping to rooftops and shadowy alleyways. He had been watching Hide for some time now. Trailing him if he left the CCG with an investigator, he had watched the way they interacted, to gather information about their relationship. He made sure that his friend didn't join the investigators anywhere dangerous. Thankfully, Hide always peeled away before the team went to do any investigating. So far, the only places Hide joined them was to grab lunch.

The half-ghoul knew that this habit wasn't wise. He could bring attention to the boy; he could endanger him by showing his presence. But this logic did nothing to quell the fear that his friend was in over his head. What was he thinking joining the CCG? Did he want to be targeted by ghouls?! Maybe he thinks he's doing the right thing… Maybe he thinks defeating ghouls would be a noble profession. His parents were investigators after all. The white-haired boy swallowed the hurt and betrayal he felt. He knew it was irrational. Hide didn't know he was a ghoul. He didn't know that he was unwittingly working against him.

Bringing his attention back to the boy in front of him, an overwhelming feeling to protect him overcame Kaneki. The streetlamps had become fewer, causing more shadow than light to flood the quiet suburban street. He didn't recognise this area.

Where is he going?

Hide's apartment is across town, was he heading to a friend's house? Is he more drunk than he appeared? Is he lost?

The white-haired boy had returned to following on the ground, hugging the outline of apartment buildings, never daring to step in the pools of yellow light.

The ghoul watched as the blonde boy disappeared between two apartment buildings. He was too far behind now, he cursed himself, he had fallen behind to ensure his secrecy. He pushed forward, allowing himself to step through the glow of the streetlamps to get a glimpse of the boy. He had to know whether he was safe.

The white-haired boy rounded the corner to find...

Nothing.

No sign of his friend.

There were several entrances to apartments down this side street. He could have slipped inside any one of them. Kaneki cursed under his breath, burying his head in his hands in frustration.

Hide watched from his perch on the unassuming fire escape. The man was a bit shorter than himself he thought, but not by much. He was head to toe in black: black leggings, over which where a pair of loose-fitting black combat shorts, and a black hooded jacket which still held his identity at bay. There was something off about his demeanour. The man didn't seem angry that he had lost his target, but he wasn't emotionless either. He seemed… saddened?

The human's breath hitched as the man raised his hands to cradle his head, hanging it low in defeat. As he lifted his head once more, his hood slipped back, revealing his identity. White hair, tousled from his hood, stood a stark contrast from his ensemble. The man lifted his head to the sky, his eyes closed. Hide flattened himself against the shadow of the building, denying himself the impulse of leaning forward.

The hair was wrong.

The behaviour was wrong.

But there was no mistaking the identity of the man who had followed him.

He was his best friend after all.

AN: I think we're all a bit like Seido... at least this is pretty much how I deal, get drunk and trash talk. Totally healthy, right?