The Chinese Parasol tree, Aogiri no Ki, is best known as the favorite resting place of the phoenix.It is said that the phoenix would only land on a parasol tree.The Chinese Parasol trees were planted in ancient times to invite the Phoenix.

The sun was beginning to kiss the horizon as Tatsuma led his son through the fifteenth ward. The streets were emptying at an alarming rate in a way that Kyoto never did. The people that were out rushed around, eager to lock themselves in their homes away from what lurked in the night.

And they had good reason to fear. High above, hidden in the glare of the setting sun, figures leapt from one building to another. Some of them had tails, others wings and everything in between.

Ryuuji did not want his father out here. "Where are we going?"

"We will be there soon. We are going to see a friend. He will be able to help. I called him while we were unpacking." Tatsuma smiled over his shoulders. He seemed so at ease, even as someone screamed in the distance. Ryuuji twitched as the scent of fresh blood drifted through the air. Ryuuji swallowed thickly, embarrassed as his mouth watered.

They were approaching a little shop. A small garden and a cobblestone walkway led up to an English cottage style two story building. The name was written in fancy cursive script: Amahara. A single tall tree shot out of the ground and towered over them, dark green leaves rustling in the breeze. He vaguely recognized it as the Chinese Parasol Tree.

The scent of flowers and coffee concealed the other smells of Tokyo in a welcoming blanket. Flowers and stone animal statues lined the walkway. The wood of the building was painted a light grey. Its shutters and flower boxes under the windows were a light pastel purple. The flower boxes had various vines spilling from them to curl lazily through the air. Shining fairy lights were strung up outside, lighting the way. Two stone kitsune foxes lounged on either side of the door. It was welcoming.

His father knew someone here? The bell above the door made a soft ring as they entered.

"I'm sorry, sir. We are closing." A small voice squeaked. A tiny blonde girl clutched a broom tightly as she addressed them, obviously uncomfortable.

"That's alright, dear. I am here to speak with Uwabami." Tatsuma kept his voice low and gentle so as to not startle the girl more.

The girl blinked, her eyes drifting between the two curiously. "Oh! Ok. He's upstairs! I'll let him know you're here."

She dashed up the stairs and they were left alone in the shop. Or… seemingly alone. A pair of red eyes glared at them from the door that the small girl had run through. The newcomer had dark purple hair pulled over her shoulder and a stern frown on her lips.

Ryuuji tried to avoid looking at her but it wasn't easy as she glared daggers into him. His father chuckled, pulling her attention to him instead. She cocked her head and bowed respectfully to the older man but then went right back to silently glaring at Ryuuji.

"Miss Kamiki. Please refrain from scaring him off." A man had appeared behind her. She stiffened and stepped aside to let him pass. The blonde from before stayed next to her.

"Uwabami." Tatsuma greeted him warmly.

"Tatsuma. I'm glad you had no problems getting here." The man was thin and bald. A red snake tattoo wrapped around his body, visible in various places against his pale skin. He eyed Ryuuji sharply before beckoning for them to follow him.

"Thank you for offering us your assistance." Tatsuma said as they followed behind him. Uwabami nodded, eyes flicking to the door before entering the kitchen area.

Ryuuji was itching to ask questions but he didn't want to interrupt the silence. The girls stayed behind, the purple one bristled as he passed her, a snarl exposing her teeth. They entered a comfortable sitting room at the top of the stairs and branching off from there were multiple doors.

"Please have a seat. You can remove the eyepatch. You don't need it up here." Uwabami offered.

Ryuuji gratefully sat, and relaxed into the cushions. It has been a long day already and he was tired, hungry and miserable. He nervously fingered the patch of cotton before cautiously removing it.

"I understand that you need my help because you had a Ghoul's Kakuhou transplanted inside of you." Ryuuji nodded, for some reason, he was ashamed of all this. He wasn't used to needing this much help. "I see. You are lucky you have us. It would have been near impossible to avoid losing yourself without someone to lead you forward." His deep voice was charming.

Ryuuji shifted and glanced between them. "Can I ask… how do you know each other?"

Tatsuma beamed. "Of course! He saved my life from a ghoul when we were teenagers. He grew up in Kyoto with Yaozo Shima, Nekosuke Miwa, and myself. He was never any different than us."

"One night, your father and I had stayed out a little too late and a rogue ghoul caught up to us. Your father had been wrapped up in the ghoul's Kagune and would have died if I hadn't stepped in." Uwabami sighed. "Soon after, a Ghoul called Owl started making waves. Yaozo and Nemosuke decided to become Investigators and I decided it was too dangerous to affiliate myself with them. I moved to Tokyo and settled down here. It is still dangerous but no Ghoul will have an entirely safe life."

"What is a Kakuhou and Kagune?" Ryuuji vaguely recognized the terms from Renzo but couldn't remember their meanings.

"A Kakuhou is the organ in the person's back that stores and uses RC cells. The Kagune is a weapon built from those cells that emerge from the Kakuhou. It can take the shape of many things and the location decides what type you will have." He explained patiently.

Ryuuji nodded. "Thank you, sir."

"Where are your children?" Tatsuma asked.

"The girls are out patrolling the ward. You need to be careful… Yaozo's son, Juuzo has been in the ward a few times." Uwabami turned his eyes to Ryuuji, studying him. "Do you have any combat training?"

Ryuuji looked away, nervously rubbing his hands together. "A little. Just basic self defense."

Uwabami nodded, seeming to be pleased. "That is good. Even a little bit could save your life. You will need more training though. You also need a mask."

Ryuuji squeezed his eyes shut, a shock of anxiety shooting through him. He needed amask.Aghoulmask. Something to hide your identity so you didn't get hunted down and killed… Renzo had told many tales of what fun the CCG had of unmasking ghouls… so they could slaughter the whole family.

"I know it's a lot to handle, but it is your reality now. You will adjust." Uwabami didn't sugarcoat things and Ryuuji appreciated it. He needed to understand what exactly he was up against. "Besides that, we will supply food to you, but there may come a time you have to hunt, fight and kill. Are you prepared?"

Ryuuji glanced at his father. He was horrified at the prospect of killing a human for food. Tatsuma smiled, supportive and kind.

He shook his head. "No. I'm not prepared… but can you ever reallybeprepared for that?"

Uwabami smiled, bowing to him. "Good answer. Sometimes our hand is forced and we cannot beat ourselves up for it. Here in Tokyo, it is kill or be killed. There's not many here who do not have blood on their hands. Even a civilian can be responsible for a death if they call in a suspected ghoul. Sometimes accidents happen. Overzealous investigators will come through and kill humans "accidentally" and not even young ghouls are safe."

"How do we pay you for your services to us?" Tatsuma asked his old friend.

"Ahh. I doubt Ryuuji is very interested in serving coffee. I know you have gotten awards in school for your art. You can apprentice under the mask maker if that is more your interest." Uwabami offered.

"That would be alright." Ryuuji was actually interested in the mysterious mask maker.

"One of the kids will take you tomorrow. For tonight… you must eat." Uwabami stood, watching as Ryuuji's face paled even as his stomach begged.

"I… I don't think I can." Ryuuji couldn't imagine it… he didn't want to. And hewouldn'tacknowledge how he wanted to.

Uwabami shook his head, a stern look crossing his face. "You will. The ravenous monsters you see the news stories about are the starving ghouls. They are the monsters who give the rest of us a bad reputation. You are being selfish. You are not only risking your sanity and life, but that of your father's, your family's and any innocent bystanders nearby. You either eat, or you will hurt those you care about… but you should know this already."

Tatsuma looked like he was going to step in and argue against the harsh words but Ryuuji shook his head. "I understand, sir… Ireallydon't want to but I can't risk hurting my father again."

"You are a wise one, Ryuuji Suguro."

Ryuuji was relieved when Uwabami brought him a cut up slab ofcookedmeat. It looked similar to a steak and at the look on his face, the ghoul had simply said, "We are not animals. We don't not have to have our meals raw. Raw is just the most convenient and quick."

Then the men had left Ryuuji to stare down at a plate of… meat. It wasjustmeat. Nothing special about it. He shut his eyes and focused on everything but the task at hand. But it tasted wonderful. It was like the Wagyu steak he had the night he graduated. He shook the thought aside and forced (gorged) himself to finish the whole plate. After a hasty mantra to bring strength, he was able to finish hismeal.

He opened his eyes and jumped when he saw the purple haired girl from before, curled up on the couch across from him. Her arms were crossed and her scowl was stern.

"My name is Izumo Kamiki. Your room is there. Mister Hojo is taking your father back to the Inn." She snapped, pointing to a door to his left.

"Is that safe?" He didn't like his father being out in the streets of Tokyo.

She scoffed, her lips curling in amusement. "Ghouls don't have a very long lifespan. We are usually slaughtered before we turn 20 so any ghoul that lives past 30… you don't screw with."

Her tone and attitude was pissing him off. Though he did appreciate the fact his father would be ok. "Umm… What is wrong with you? Andmyroom?"

"Mister Hojo wants you close by until he's confident you aren't going to run off and die." Kamiki explained in a clipped tone.

Ryuuji stood, and went to the door indicated by Kamiki. Hereallydidn't feel like fighting her.

"You'll stay out of my way. And don't even think about messing with Shiemi." Kamiki stomped towards him and he glared at her.Shiemi?Probably the blonde, he decided.

"I'm not here to hurt anyone." He replied simply, as he opened the door.

"Mmmm… well you stink likehim."The growl in her voice made him pause.

"Who?" Ryuuji discreetly sniffed himself, puzzled when he didn't detect anything immediately. A faint unique sweet scent clung to his chest.

"Rin. And if you want to stick around here, you need to avoid that walking madhouse. All he will do is drag everyone into the Hell that surrounds him." Her voice was passionately spiteful.

The boy from earlier came to mind. His beautiful blue eyes and cheerful voice hadn't seemed all that bad. Maybe he seemed to be off his rocker but not dangerously so. What was so dangerous about someone so seemingly harmless?

"Thanks for the warning." Ryuuji tried to placate what he now recognized as an attempt to protect what she loved.

"It wasn't a warning. It was a threat… be ready early tomorrow morning. We are taking you to the mask maker." She completed her threat by releasing two white and purple fox-like tails and flashing black and red eyes. The tails lashed like an angry cat and he nodded before quickly escaping into his new room.

That night, sleep was nearly impossible. His hunger was sated but the people he had seen and met… the things he haddonein the last 48 hours. He had bitten his father! He had eatenhumanmeat.

He imagined his stomach would be rolling with the knowledge but instead it was calm, having been filled finally. He was no longer human. Everything had changed.

He was pleased that he was a naturally early riser as he had beaten Kamiki into the sitting room, dressed and ready to go before 6:30 came around. He did not want to find out what she would do if he had somehow slept in late. Instead, she came shuffling in after 7 in a fluffy robe and two large mugs of coffee… coffee? He watched, awestruck as she took a sip and glared at him over the rim.

"How are you drinking that?" He croaked. Nothing had tasted the same since his transformation.

"Ghouls can drink black coffee. Don't ask me why because I don't know." She collapsed into one of the sofas and grumbled. "Why do I have to take you?"

She pushed the other mug into his hands and relaxed back into her seat. He was skeptical to accept anything from her… could ghouls die from poisoning?

He hesitantly took a sip and a part of him wanted to cry. It tasted good. The flavor was enhanced and there was some hidden sweetness underneath the bitterness. It was a relief to drink something normal. It made him feel less different.

The trip to the 4th Ward passed in silence. Kamiki skillfully led them aroundDoves,a nickname for the Investigators, and hostile ghouls. The mask shop was down a dark alley where graffiti lined the walls, questionable stains littered the ground and splattered at random up the walls. The name HySy Art Mask Studio was beautifully written and the graffiti around the shop seemed expertly done. The only thing out of place was the dying plant dropping miserably by the front door.

Kamiki opened the door and led the way inside. It was silent and dark inside the shop. Masks lined the walls and others were in glass cases. Each mask was artistically done and seemed to tell a story. The ones in the glass cases were a needlework of patched up leather, silk, and other materials, most of them had mysterious dark stains. The floor of the room had mannequins dressed in an odd array of clothing and more masks. Some of them had white sheets covering them. The floor was a black… wait no, a very dark red and white checkerboard.

"Hey! We are here!" Kamiki shouted, making him jump. Nothing moved and no one appeared. She sighed, "and he's not even here."

"Don't be so sure of that, my dear." A voice whispered. It was a deep whimsical voice, a tone of amusement making the last words come out higher.

Ryuuji almost leapt out of his skin as he turned and found a ghoul right behind him. Black and red eyes stared down at him. This guy wastaller than him.Ryuuji was already tall at over six feet tall. The man had a fancy pale pink and purple suit pulled over a slim frame. His hair was purple and unnaturally perfect. Long black fingernails came up to trace Ryuuji's jawline.

"What a magnificent creature you are."

"Mephisto." Kamiki called, trying to gain the ghoul's attention.

Mephisto tutted and raised a finger to his lips. His other hand poked Ryuuji's nose and fiddled with his piercings. "Hush, Miss Kamiki. I must see who you have brought me to toy with."

The girl smirked, clearly enjoying Ryuuji's unease.

"I assume you came for a mask?" His eyes never left Ryuuji's face, claws tilting his head at different angles.

"Yes but I… I was sent to apprentice under you." Ryuuji spoke, wincing when the ghoul's hand ventured to his hair then down his back. He prodded different parts with his claws.

"I like your hair. It suits you… but it will make you stick out. Perhaps a haircut? But some ghouls like sticking out. And your piercings are cool. I wish I could have piercings but they never stay. You seem to have an Ukaku Kagune.Wings! How suitable… would you say you have a lot of stamina?" Mephisto's mouth never seemed to stop moving.

Ryuuji blushed, leaning away from the ghoul. "Ummm…" Was the ghoul flirting?

"He's not hitting on you. Ukaku ghouls tend to have low stamina." Kamiki supplied, barking a laugh.

"How do you know I'm not?" Mephisto shot back with a wink at Ryuuji. "I'm kidding! I got my eye on someone already. And as… handsome a bird you are, I think snake is more my type… you haven't even told me your name! I'm Mephisto."

"I'm Ryuuji Suguro." Ryuuji glanced at Kamiki as she made a loud gagging noise and drifted off to look at the other masks. Mephisto beamed, pleased with himself. He reached out and flicked the eyepatch off Ryuuji's, sighing dramatically.

"How beautiful you are with your one eye, little dragon! I love it… Now that she's gone… doyouhave a crush?" He asked. He paced in a circle around Ryuuji like a cat toying with a mouse.

"Ummm… no." Ryuuji croaked. This was weird.

"Ah well that is just fine. These things come by themselves. Sometimes they literally run into you!" He chuckled like he had told a joke. "What about your life? Where did you grow up?"

"Kyoto. In my father's Buddist temple and my mother's Inn." He felt the urge to be honest with this man.

"Ahhh! An heir! Do you intend to lead the temple?" Mephisto asked with interest.

"I wanted to." Ryuuji had been close to achieving that goal. Then… this.

"Can you still not? Many ghouls lead normal… or as normal as possible, lives. I know one who is a doctor who comes home to his human wife! So… apprentice?" Mephisto finally got out of Ryuuji's personal bubble and peered at him. A finger stroked his chin as his other hand dug into his pocket. Plastic crinkled then he pulled a slab of dried meat from his pocket. He chewed at it and smirked. "People jerky! Want some?"

Ryuuji shook his head, eyes wide as the ghoul casually sauntered around to lead Ryuuji closer to the wall.

"I'll accept it. I can show you the ropes.Butyou can't stay here at night. I serve anyone who walks through that door. I have some dangerous and unhinged clients after all."

He flapped a hand at a glass case in the back of the store behind the desk. Inside it, an owl mask was mounted to the wall. The white and brown leather was crusted with blood. Long perked horns changed into goat-like horns, twisting and curling like a demon's. The left side of the face and the left horn were badly charred, the leather curling and crusted with ash. The eyes had a cut straight across, tearing the leather to the point that no means of sewing could fix. The beak seemed to be made of metal, sharp and shining. Around it, masks of lizards, snakes, demons and other creatures were in similar states of destruction. A rabbit mask's mouth was stained dark shades of red.

"You've seen the Owl?" Ryuuji's mouth was dry as he spoke. The Owl was a monster.

"Indeed I have and do on occasion. You will work under me and see the same types of characters. This is a good job but… you have to learn to set aside your grudges when doing it." Mephisto grabbed his wrist and tugged him into the back. The room was in a state of what appeared to be disarray. Half completed masks and masks being mended were on most tables. Others had sketches, measurements and materials.

A grand piano was in the corner and next to that a large hamster cage. The hamster inside was grey and fat, glaring over at them.

"Don't mind Amaimon. He's a grouch. He's named after my brother for that very reason!" Mephisto chuckled, and scooped up a measuring tape. "Now… let me take your measurements. I have the perfect mask in mind. After all… My apprentice will need the best."

Hey Bon! I know ur phone broke so I'm messaging u! Things have been quieter here without u. Neko and I miss you. They said u left to relax. I may not be here when u get back. They're sending me to Tokyo _ I don't want to go backthere. Anyway… have fun on ur trip!

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