It had been a week in Tokyo and Ryuuji was pleased to be settling in so well. He was being kept busy by the older ghouls. Uwabami had insisted that he begin combat training so he had spent the evenings learning hand-to-hand combat with a Ghoul named Osceola. He was huge, towering over all the other ghouls. His skin was dark and heavily tattooed. He was soft spoken with Ryuuji until it came to training. Then the man did a whole 180 and became firm and forceful, pushing Ryuuji to his limits. Tomorrow they will begin trying to bring out his Kagune. He was… excited. Ghouls were nothing like he had imagined.
He lived at Amahara and felt like he could handle this life. The cafe was mostly run by the girls. They were kind… mostly. Kamiki stalked around him like a cat in a bad mood but was teaching him things without actually teaching him. She would just set things up just right. The Hojo girls were sassy and liked to make fun of him, but they mostly left him alone. Shiemi was skittish and quiet so he kept his distance to try to keep her calm.
His father would be going back to Kyoto without him in another week as money became tight. Mephisto took Ryuuji under his wing, having him sketch and lay out materials. Not many ghouls had come in.
The first mask he created was a simple one, requested to be a blank white mask with an eerie grin which… wasn't Ryuuji's style but whatever. Others had come in for maintenance for their masks or battle suits and disguises.
The leather was so smooth under his hands as he watched Mephisto work. The ghoul's hands were steady and certain as he molded the mask to how he imagined. Ryuuji liked to think he was getting better but in comparison to Mephisto's… it was obvious he was leagues behind the master.
"How do you make up a mask for someone?" Ryuuji asked lowly, trying to not disturb him.
Mephisto looked up from the snarling horned cat mask he was holding and smiled. "I just talk with my clients. I ask a little about their life and see how they react to different things. Body language is important. Though it's been said that my masks are accurate in the very worst ways."
"What is yours?" Ryuuji wondered if it was rude to ask.
Mephisto grinned, and stood. Ryuuji was reminded again that the ghoul's fashion sense was a bit odd, as he walked to a desk to the side of the room. A pocket watch on a chain poked out of his suit pocket. The suit with tails was obnoxiously colored with purples and blues. Red tendrils crept up the visible skin of his neck. When he turned back, Ryuuji gasped, taking a step back. A perfect replica of Ryuuji's father looked back at him, though his father never sneered like that.
"I don't need a mask, but to keep up appearances… " he trailed off and drifted off to a closed up desk. Inside was a skull-like clown mask. One eye wept and the teeth were bared. A golden crown was perched on the top. Mephisto slipped the mask over his face, still looking like Tatsuma.
"How…" Ryuuji was at a loss for words. It was disorienting to see his father in the eccentric suit and ghoul mask.
"How do I change my appearance?" The ghoul chuckled with his father's voice and Ryuuji wanted to scream. The tone was all wrong. "I don't know. Some ghouls are special."
The skin turned red and melted away to reveal Mephisto's face. That was creepy… Ryuuji looked down at his shoes, trying to calm his racing heart. Mephisto could change his appearance perfectly.
"Ryuuuuuji." Mephisto was hovering over him, holding out a box. "Take this to a client of ours. He shouldn't hurt you. You needn't even wear a mask! Just don't mess with the other ghouls that will be near him, k?"
Ryuuji blinked and looked down at the address on the box. It was in the 10th Ward. "I can do it."
"Now… I have a suggestion for you. As you know, Tokyo is separated into wards." Mephisto brought out a map of Tokyo from his desk, tracing his finger along it. "We are in the 4th Ward… here."
The 4th Ward was surrounded by the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 13th, 14th and 16th. Cutting through the 3rd or 13th Ward would be the quickest way to the 10th Ward.
Mephisto tsked. "I can see what you are thinking and here is my suggestion. What we are surrounded by? The most dangerous wards in Tokyo."
Ryuuji wanted to groan, but he settled for hunching over and rubbing his hand over his face to peer closer at the map. Each ward was highlighted in various colors.
Mephisto ran his finger over the first four wards, each number highlighted in orange. "The 1st Ward is the Dove's main nest. That is where you will find the Reaper and Zero Squad. Wards 1-4 are practically inhabitable for ghouls due to the heavy presence of all the high class investigators."
"But… aren't we in the 4th Ward?" Ryuuji asked, staring at the number 4.
Mephisto grinned slyly. "Indeed we are. And here," he tapped the number 13, highlighted in a dark, blood colored red. "Is the 13th Ward. You go in? You definitely won't come out. It is the most bloody and violent where cannibalism is plentiful. My advice is go the long way around. Over through wards 14, 15 and 12 to take you down to 10. This client's address sits close to the border of the 12th and 13th. Be careful and come back alive preferably."
So I'm a delivery boy in the most dangerous way. Mephisto handed him a tablet with the directions pulled up and Ryuuji squeezed the box to his chest and left the store. The quicker this was done, the quicker he could come back.
The 14th Ward was quiet. Fat cats lounged on fences and the daylight seemed to bring life to the land. Flowers bloomed in window gardens. The 15th ward, the ward that was his new home, was familiar and a good break before he ventured out into the unknown of the 12th.
Ryuuji looked down at the tablet and followed it as best as he could. He was beginning to feel uneasy as he tried to avoid getting any closer to the 13th than he needed to.
The buildings towered over him and a chill went up his spine. A low growling echoed through the air and Ryuuji didn't bother to be stealthy. He ran. He wasn't even sure if the growl had been directed at him, but he wouldn't chance it. Billowing grey clouds were coming in, blotting out the sun and casting shadows. Thunder rumbled and he could feel it in his chest.
Ward 10 was just up ahead. He just needed to get to the customer. Then maybe he could borrow a phone and have Mephisto help him back… no. He was no coward.
Wards 10 and 12 were separated by a river, trickling cheerfully, and the noise intensified as the sky began to pour down rain. A bridge stood between him and what he hoped would be his savior. He was almost there!
Blood filled his mouth and light flashed in his eyes. What? The box and tablet were across the bridge, the tablet shattered. The box was becoming wet from the rain. Ryuuji sat up, whipping around. His hair was quickly becoming plastered to his face. A ghoul of medium height stood at the other end of the bridge. His hair was a pale purple but Ryuuji couldn't see his face. A ram mask with fangs and leather stretched to look like peeling decaying flesh stared back at him. Two bright red eyes glowed from the hollow eyes of the skeletal head. The ghoul's arms were covered in thick armor, claws hooking to sharp points.
"Hi there. You got a tad too close to my territory. You just… smell so good." The voice was tinged with desperation. A sigh falling from the newcomers lips. "I've just gotta have you for myself… it's lucky I caught you before the rain."
Ryuuji stood, feeling his mouth knitting itself back together. The rain washed away the blood. "I was just passing through."
"Ahhh that's… what they all say!" The ghoul lunged forward. Ryuuji gasped, leaping back like he had been taught. The ghoul laughed, looking pleased. "Some fight! I like the hunt… fight for your life."
Ryuuji didn't know how to fight this guy off. His Ukaku hadn't come out yet. He didn't know how. The ghoul shot forward, faster than he planned for and was slashed across the chest. His shirt tore and he snarled, feeling the burn of his eye changing as the scent of his own blood drove him mad.
Something was bubbling under his skin, the pain it caused him made him falter enough for the ghoul to lunge forward and bite into his raised arm. Ryuuji roared in pain, and tossed the ghoul away. Fire exploded outward in a shower of red and yellow from Ryuuji's back. Shards of shining glass-like daggers rained down on the ghoul. Then it stopped and the ghoul was coming at him once again.
"I'll clip those wings, birdie!" He snarled. Something vaguely serpentine with pink and yellow scales whipped out from behind Ryuuji and sent the Ghoul sprawling back across the bridge.
"Hey! Don't I know you?!" The voice startled the two fighting ghouls. Ryuuji risked looking over his shoulder and found a familiar face perched on the railing. It was Rin, though now he wore a short sleeve shirt. All the skin that should have been visible was hidden away under crisp white bandages. A huge muscular ghoul, with long black hair was opening the box from Mephisto, a satisfied smirk on his lips and next to Rin was a tall, thin woman with red and blonde hair, pulled back into a ponytail. Her Kagune coiled and sharp, poised to attack.
"Shiratori. You know you don't get to mess with people in my territory." Rin chirped. He tiptoed along the railing, his bandaged but bare feet made it even more tedious with the slippery fabric soaked with rain.
Shiratori stood, brushing off mud from his body. He lifted his mask and spat at Rin. "Disgusting batshit demon. Think you can scare me because of who your dad is?"
Rin cocked his head and jumped off the rail, landing gracefully before the ghoul. Rin leaned close and the woman rushed forward, grabbing Ryuuji's shoulder and hauling him back.
Rin was whispering in Shiratori's ear, a black and blue rope-like appendage appeared from under Rin's shirt, the tip had thin sparse fur? Feathers? It moved like a snake, trailing around and around Shiratori's body. It tightened abruptly and the Ghoul screamed as the scales flared out, cutting into his skin. Then the tail released him and Shiratori was running in the other direction.
"Sorry about that. He isn't supposed to leave the 13th. Rin took care of it! And thanks for bringing my mask!" The big guy's voice was deep but friendly. Ryuuji looked back at him and saw the cat mask strapped to his face. It suited him.
The tip tap of feet back up on the railings had him looking over at Rin. Rin's Kagune, a bikaku Ryuuji remembered, was stretched out behind him to help him balance. The smallest ghoul towered over them from there, maybe that's why he did it?
"I'm starving!" Rin whined, rubbing his stomach and scampering over. His bandages were soaked through, showing off what appeared to be scaly dark blue skin. He beamed, and beckoned to his friends. "Hi! This is the second time we've met so we are friends now! This is Kuro and Shura. I'm Rin. And you?"
Kuro held out a bright red apple towards Rin who took it gently. Kuro seemed to have a small stash of various foods in a pack on his hips. But… an apple? Ryuuji watched Rin with a burning curiosity.
"I'm Ryuuji Suguro." Oh, Kamiki was going to kill him.
Rin took a bite of the apple with a happy hum and appeared to contemplate something. Meanwhile, Ryuuji was once again having his mind blown. Rin was eating human food without flinching. Wasn't he a ghoul?
"I'll call you Ryuuji. Suguro is a mouthful. You can't yell it very easily." Rin blurted.
Shura cracked up, leaning over and bracing herself against her knees. Kuro lifted his mask, a dumbstruck look on his face.
"Rin! You can't just say that." Kuro cried out.
Rin turned his naturally wide innocent eyes to Kuro and hummed before he grinned and shrugged. Ryuuji found his face burning. "You know what I mean!"
"Do you want to come back with us? Your clothes are all torn up. People will ask questions." Shura asked Ryuuji, wiping tears of mirth from her eyes.
Ryuuji looked at the ghouls and thought back to the warning from Kamiki. But… his shirt was ripped and bloody. Rin jumped and landed on Kuro's back, the apple between his teeth. The bandaging was unraveling and Ryuuji felt it was symbolic. The mystery that was Rin was becoming tangled and he wanted to unravel it to learn everything.
Ryuuji hesitantly nodded. "Please."
He picked up the shattered remains of the tablet and sighed. Well… that didn't go as planned.
"I like your Kagune!" Rin complimented from where he slouched against Kuro's back. His blue and black tail-like kagune dissipated in a flurry of red.
Ryuuji coughed, realizing his was still out. He awkwardly panicked in his mind, wondering how to put it away. Go away… go away! The shower of red made his knees weak with relief. He would be saved the embarrassment. Then he acknowledged Rin… Ryuuji knew nothing about the cultural differences between ghouls and humans. Was he flirting? "Thank you?"
"Let's go." Shura led the way through the rain. Her eyes glistened in a teasing way and Ryuuji was tempted to jump off the bridge.
The building seemed to be an abandoned hospital and Ryuuji was mildly creeped out. The brick was turning to dust and the eastern side had been caved in. It looked like a fire had been responsible for it. The stench of dust, mold and smoke carried thickly in the humid air.
They came from the back, and opened up a door that led to a concrete set of stairs, leading down into the lower parts of the lower levels of the hospital. The morgue.
Rin had fallen asleep on the way back, wrapped tightly around Kuro's broad shoulders. His lips and eyes were partially open and it really shouldn't be that cute but it was. The mysterious boy's bandages had come undone around his fingers and the sharp almost dragon like claws were disorienting.
Ryuuji's shoes squished unpleasantly from the water in them and his clothes stuck to his body. The air became cooler as they went down to basement level.
"You should probably let Mephisto know where you are. Are you staying for the night? And what's with the eyepatch?" Shura asked him suddenly. Her voice echoed as they moved down.
"Its just… uhh something I wear. I think I'll be ok to go back." He was already bracing himself for Kamiki's rage.
Shura hummed and shot him a skeptical look. "You will at least get an escort. You need to be careful. Shiratori likes a challenge. "
Ryuuji wasn't eager to face that ghoul again. "Ok."
They entered the basement of the hospital and it was actually very homey. It had once been the laundry and the morgue. Beds were pushed into various corners. A fridge with a calico cat draped over the top was next to a small kitchen bar. Next to one of the beds, a very tidy bed, was a desk and a large bookcase full of books.
Kuro walked over to a bed where more pillows and stuffed animals than bed, was visible. The center was indented slightly and as Kuro lowered Rin down, Ryuuji could see why. Rin huffed and rolled to sleep on his stomach. His face buried between the paws of a stuffed tiger.
A towel was dropped over his head, blocking out the room for a moment, hands were in his hair, drying it off with the towel. He sputtered and lifted the towel to see an older grey haired man. He gave a playful smile and shook his head.
"You better quit looking at my kid like that." His gruff voice was startling and Ryuuji found himself stuttering through some half assed excuse.
The man barked a laugh and shook his head. "I'm just teasing you! I'm Shiro."
"I'm Ryuuji Suguro."
Shura was snickering and waltzed over to the bar. She pulled a tall necked bottle from under the bar and jiggled it. "Hey, kid! Want a drink?"
"Ummm. I'm good." Ryuuji tried not to wince as she drank directly from the bottle. The red staining her lips told him what was in the bottle.
Shiro growled, "use a glass!" He turned his inquisitive eyes on Ryuuji, a playful light dancing in them. His arm curled around Ryuuji's shoulders. "Come on, kid. Let me get to know ya!"
Kamiki was going to murder him then eat him. There was no getting around it…