Ladies and Gentlemen welcome to 2020! I want to take a moment to wish you all Happy New Year and to thank you for taking the time to read my stories. I know I'm taking a bit long, but I assure you that I'm working my hardest to make sure these chapters are smoothened out and perfected to make your reads the best there can be! That said, I've taken the time to reword and fix the first chapter of Cease to EXist, with more on the way to make the ride smooth and much more mysterious to you and new readers alike.

A/N: Tokyo Ghoul is owned and written by Sui Ishida. Destiny is owned by Bungie and written by Joe Staten. I own no characters, songs or locations except for my OC's Kenji and Cecil.

That Said, Please Enjoy The Show!

Chapter 1: Rising Tides

The night sky was dark and cold compared to most nights. It housed a dark, sinister evil when it swept over the day, sadistic and hidden from plain sight to most. "Attention all local forces, this 203: reports are coming from the 20th Ward."

"We copy, trying to identify the attackers, over!"

"Intruder is considered human until confirmation has been made….."

"We've lost contact with the Aqua Complex…."

"Ground control to 203: can you confirm possible Ghoul sighting, over?"

"...what's the situation, Hiro. Sargent Hiro, do you copy? Ove-bzzzzzzzt….." The radio static was cut out by the bloodied radio on the floor. Men and women all laid dead across the dirty carpet, organs, and limbs still bleeding out as the final corpse was sent crashing into the close fish tank. The dead face of pure, uncontainable fear made the Binge Eater smile sinisterly.

She moaned in the blood playfully. "Yes! Yes~! More, give me more~!" She echoed, tossing blood up and down her frame. It was only when she heard that familiar cracking that she froze in place.

"Hmph, and here I thought the phrase 'Binge Eater' was just a metaphor," the masked newcomer said. Her smile twitched somewhat and she dropped the cracked head.

"You of all people should realize by now that I HATE being interrupted at dinner, Jason." She responded.

"You've heard of me?"

"Who hasn't? Word of who are stretched from here to Elikar, from I'm told." She remarked. "A hopeless nobody with garbage tastes."

He cackled. "Well, orders are orders, deary. And my orders are to take you back, in one piece hopefully. His eyes narrowed under his mask. "But then again, they didn't say what would happen if you refused."

"With that feeble toy you have. How cute~" It happened in a flash. He jumped to her, ready to strike until she reacted. He was thrown back by the exploding glass, looking around to find him alone, drenched in water.

He tsked. "Great," He growled, looking down to see his now empty hand. He trembled. Rage filling his voice now. "You-You rotten, corpse-eating bitch! Those are mine, give them back you bitch!"

From above she giggled, looking over her trophy. It wasn't much, but it did put a smile on her face to hear his rage. "I don't wanna play anymore," she said, dropping it and vanishing into the night.

20th Ward, Tokyo Japan

The sunrise came blissfully in Kenji's eyes. It gave an awe-loving significance to the meaning of 'Sunrise Kingdom,' made Japan seem so unique compared to the rest of the world. Even after so many years of war and pain, so many years of blood, sweat, and tears

He hummed, looking to his clock. "C'mon, get up." He ordered throwing his sheets off. He stretched, walking into the bathroom with clothes to start the morning. He came out after an hour or so, dressed in casual grey pants, a grey digital camo shirt, socks, and shoes.

The 18-year-old fixed his messy hair somewhat, pulling the blue out of his vision before heading to the kitchen where a single note laid beside a plate full of food. "Huh, what a gal." He bemused, looking it over. 'Hey Kenny, sorry but I gots to head to the bar. C U lates~ CC. "Well, at least she was thoughtful."

He sat down, eating for a few minutes in the living room as the TV read the newest report; an attack on the Aqua Complex involving presumed to be Binge Eater. Needless to say, he wasn't as shocked as most people would be. Nowadays, these reports were common around Japan since the late 1800s with the creation of the Commission of Counter Ghouls, to ride the world of the greatest threat to humanity.

….Well, the world's second greatest threat.

Kenji finally finished up, heading to the kitchen to set his plate down before leaving for the front door. He only took his phone, keys and new hoodie; which was blue with a white hood and outlined around the zipper. "And away I go!" he exclaimed, throwing open the door and leaving. "Now, let's see what's happening in the world of tomorrow!"

Kenji whipped out his phone, surprised to see he'd received a new message from one Hideyoshi Nagachika. 'Hey man! If you get the chance, head over to Anteiku! Kaneki and I are hanging here- Hide.' "Well, it seems like I've got my work cut out for me." He bemused, walking onto the streetway. "Besides, Anteiku makes it best."

Anteiku Cafe, 20th Ward

"... In other news, the recent attack on the Aqua Complex here in the Ward has been denounced a Ghoul attack. The victims include the recently made CEO of the Hendo Corporation as well as…" The report may have been late, but it was better than honestly nothing for the customers of Anteiku Cafe. "CCG officials had hypothesized that this is the work of the "Binge Eater" Ghoul, as a sort of declaration to the alleged Ghoul Hunter "Osiris." While we have no further evidence at this time, we are left assuming just what this could mean for out peaceful Ward…"

"Huh, the Aqua Complex that's not far from here isn't it?" The voice of Hide Nagachika was laced with both worry and a hint of excitement in regards to this. Hide was your average joe; a blonde college student with hazelnut eyes, a matching jacket, shorts, and headphones. He sighed, looking to the window. "Wonder if he caught my message…?"

"Knowing Kenji, he's no doubt still napping on about aliens and other dimensions and planets." The responding voice was from one Ken Kaneki, a seemingly polar opposite to his best friend: black hair, greyish eyes, a simple polo, jeans, and shoes. "But then again I don't mind the silence." He continued, flipping to another page in his book. "It beats hearing all about his rants about stuff."

Hide groaned. "Look I know you guys don't get alone after last time, but you gotta let that go, man! At least try to get along with him."

"One day Hide, but it's certainly not today," Kaneki muttered bitterly. "One day…"

"Yes." Both looked to see Kenji at the doorway, a slight glare in his eyes towards Kaneki. "One day, indeed."

"Kenji, you're here!" Hide said with a friendly smile, while Kaneki simply huffed and dug into his book. Both sighed at the black-haired boy's response, but Kenji was understanding. "About time you showed up, you hobo."

"Whatever, Hide! Your just jealous I know how to sleep with style!" Kenji remarked, walking to their table. "So, what's all this about with calling me?"

"Well, Kaneki and I were debating what Ghouls look like since well, you know!" Hide emphasize in regards to the area. "There aren't a lot of Ghouls near us or seen by us!"

"And I told Hide that Ghouls," Kaneki grabbed a sheet of paper, revealing his definition of Ghoul. "Look like this!"

"Kaneki, that is not a Ghoul. That looks like the prototype for the Doom monster." Kenji remarked. "But it looks good, so I'll let it slide."

"Okay, smartass then what do Ghouls look like to you?"

"They look like us. Sound like us, feel like us, they're practically humans up to the eating human part." Kenji described, gesturing around to the people near the, completely oblivious to the stares of the staff members. "But that doesn't mean they're bad or anything."

Kaneki simply rolled his eyes. "Yeah, sure…" He took a sip of his drink, his gaze somewhat looking around. As much as he didn't want to admit it, Kenji did make a valid point. As much as Ghouls were talked on and on about, no one had shown what they look like on the news. He couldn't help but ponder…

Suddenly Kenji screamed, making Kaneki jump as people looked in their direction. Hide fell into a giggling fit and Kenji laughed aloud. "Oh, Kaneki! Sweet, naive Kaneki!" He bemused. "For all you know I could be a Ghoul!"

"Christ, do you have to be so loud?!" He snapped. "Bastard…."

Kenji chuckled silent, and Hide finally pushed past his laughing fit to talk. "Oh my God, Kenji." He said, chuckling as he spoke. "Well, moving on past that! We must come now to a different topic."

"Oh, and what's that?"

"Kaneki's got a crush! Kaneki's got a crush!" Hide sang.

"H-Hide, you promised you wouldn't tell him anything!" Kaneki cried out.

"I didn't though, all I did was implate the idea you just confirmed it." Kaneki's red face made it all the better to them. "Aren't I just the best?"

"Yeah, sure you are…" Kaneki huffed.

"Well c'mon, tell us!" Kenji persisted, sneaking glances to the females in the area. "Which one of these is your special lady friend?"

"Wait, don't tell me is that her?" Kenji looked towards Hide's direction. and was surprised by the staff member he pointed to. She had to be around their age at least, with beautiful lavender hair and matching, and that smile… God! It was to die for!

"N-No! Not at all!" Kaneki denied, looking over to her. "Although she is… very cute…."

"Well, you better look out then, because Hide's about to take her." Kenji motioned to Hide, who had called to her. Sure enough, she came to take his order and that's where he let her have it.

"By the way, miss may I ask for your name please?" Hide asked.

"It's… Touka. Touka Kirishima." She said softly, and instantly Hide jumped to his feet and took her hands into his own. "?!"

"Let me just say you are the most beautiful waitress I've ever met! Do you have a boyfriend by chance?" Hide asked rapidly, much to Touka's confusion and embarrassment. She took off into the back squeaking out 'N-No, I don't!'. "Man, what a hottie!"

"Hide, I swear to God if you get me banned from here!" Kaneki vouched with fury. "This is the only place I get to see…. Her…." His cheeks grew red, and Kenji snickered till he looked in the same direction. It was the girl of Kaneki's dreams: Rize Kamishiro. A pure soul in every aspect to Kaneki; long purple hair, matching eyes, an hourglass-like figure, red glasses, a voice like a goddess, the list went on and on.

"I'll take the hint that's her, huh?" Kenji asked with a raised brow.

"Y-Yeah, that's her… That's the girl!" Kaneki half-whispered in joy.

"Oh boy," Hide groaned in pain for his best friend. "Kaneki, don't mean to burst your bubble man but you might as well give up now."

"Wah?! Why?

"She's too hot for you dude, and if she took off those glasses? Woo, I'm pretty sure Cecil would have a run for her money." Hide bemused. "Speaking of which, where is your girlfriend Kenny?"

"One; don't call me that. Two; she's not my girlfriend," Kenji said. "And three; she's at the bar, where else honestly?"

"Good point," Hide nodded.

"I-I know she's out of my league I…" Kaneki looked to Rize, who made direct eye contact. He blushed the moment that smile came, that pure, joyful smile. "I guess I'm happy from looking just from here too! But whenever she meets my gaze, it's like love at first sight…!"

"Or clear signs she's got a boyfriend," Kenji noted, much to Kaneki's heartache. He looked at his phone and sighed. "Speaking of friends, I got to head out. I promised C I'd hang with her and some friends after work."

Hide nodded in agreement. "Same here, if I stay any longer I'll die of laughter. And I think now I've got blackmail for days!" He said, gulping down his drink in a flash. "Good luck, Kaneki! Your gonna need all you can get, buddy!"

And with that Hide took off and out of the cafe, followed by a chuckling Kenji. "You think he'll do it?" He asked.

"Oh trust me," HIde replied, motioning to the window. Kenji looked and smiled when he saw Rize walk up to Kaneki's table. "He does." He smiled at Kaneki's joyous look, glancing over to Kenji. "You know you have to apologize sooner or later."

Kenji's head snapped in his direction. "Apologize? If I recall he started it first and wouldn't back down when I-!"

"But who instigated it?" He fell silent as Hide stared him down. "That's what I thought."

Kenji bit his lip. "I… I know I have to apologize." He replied, turning to leave. "I just… I just wish he was willing to take back what he said too."

Hide shook his head at his now gone friend. "He does though, Kenji." He whispered to himself now. "He does more than you know."

19th Ward, Tokyo

Kenji hummed to himself, passing by the many people that walked in and out the Ward area. "Doubts are creeping in, how on Earth can I win?" He sang softly, crossing the street. "If only you were here!"

"Betrayed in the end, By the one you called a fri-" He paused, stopping as he noticed a pair of men passing on the opposing street. Uh oh, he told himself. They weren't paying him any attention, but that didn't mean they wouldn't soon. He started to turn when he heard-

BOOM!

All around him, smoke Kenji, violently sending him flying. Cars swerved out of control, crashing into one another while people screamed in terror above the explosion. He gasped, groaning as he clutched his sides. "Oh, God!" He cursed, barely hearing himself as stood up beside a crashed car. "What the hell was that?!"

He squinted his eyes. He couldn't see! There was too much smoke and dust kicked in the air, it was so hard to make out people as he ran past. It was horrifying; men and women laid bloodied and burned to unfathomable degrees, children screamed and cried in fear-riddled pain, and close gunshots filled the air. He gasped again, feeling pain all across his side.

Kenji forced himself onto the sidewalk, catching the walking until he fell into an alleyway. He grunted, finally pulling his hand back to see blood. "Shit," He looked down, wincing when he felt it; it was big, and it stretched from his armpit up to his abdomen, which was bruised by the impact. "Damn…"

He sat there for a moment, catching his breath when he heard the sound of footsteps. He looked in time to see someone, covered in robes or something, rush past him with… "Hey-Stop!" he cried out, forcing himself up and chasing after. He followed the silhouette into the smoke, tripping over rock and concrete. "Oh God was that a terrorist or-?!"

Kenji was cut off by a sudden roar and felt himself get lifted off the ground. He gasped when he hit the wall beside him, now staring into the eyes of something he never thought he'd seen. "An Eliksni…." He whispered in awe, and the Eliksni seemed to recognize what he said.

It growled. "Human," and dropped him to the ground. "Why are you still here? Come to die like them?"

"W-What? No, I- Wait your…. Your Japanese it's… your fluent." He gasped in shock. "It's damn near perfect-!"

"Near-perfect?!" The Eliksni snapped. "What are you implying, boy?"

"N-Nothing sir, I-!" The sound of bullets made Kenji flinch, and he looked to see a figure standing on a column on concrete, firing above. He watched the man jump fast, firing at attackers from all sides and throwing hits only when he needed to. "Who is that…?"

"Our Ghoul Hunter… Osiris." The Eliksni clicked, raising its weapon and roaring as it fired. Kenji could make him out now; a man in dark robes with golden armor across his arms, chest, and head. There was this odd Egyptian style Kenji saw in him, which made him both excited and terrified.

Osiris was a madman in regards to attacking; he fired his gun all sorts of directions, the cries of pain signaling to attack another as he unveiled his greatest weapon. A long, sharp blue tail tore it's way into an attacker, sending white blood and metal across the pavement as he continued the onslaught. "He's a Ghoul too…" Kenji breathed in realization. It was beyond incredible, watching this Ghoul, this… warrior fight off hordes like they were nothing.

Below him the Eliksni pulled his weight too, slicing into attackers with their sharp blades and firing explosive rounds at whatever moved. It was… It was like they were… Are they… working together? Kenji thought, looking up to see Osiris no longer firing. It's over.. Thank God.

"Blast! It's as we assumed the Devil's had been trying to raid this Weapons Sec-" Osiris paused, looking from his Eliksni friend to the newcomer. "Oh, Mithrax! I see you've come to take on an apprentice, eh?"

"Silence, Osiris!" The Captain growled, lowering his Shrapnel Launcher as he gestured. "This one's no friend; a mere civilian caught in the crossfire."

"Well it doesn't matter now, you've gone and dragged him into this," Osiris remarked irritably, scoping the wrecked area. "And now we've got this on our hands! Wonderful-"

As they spoke, none were aware of the red-armored Eliksni above, a powerful Null Cannon raised. The humming caught Kenji's ears, and he looked to see the Vandal aiming right at them! "Look out!" He screamed, jumping in front as the Cannon fired. All three were sent flying, with Kenji slamming into the close wall painfully so.

"No!" Osiris screamed, firing at the Vandal who rushed out of sight. He grunted in anger. "Dammit!" He turned towards Kenji, now gasping in pain. He rushed over. "Easy now, boy! Easy!"

It wasn't good; there a large hole that exposed Kenji's now burnt intestines, and the skin and ribs over his lungs seemed pushed in too deep. Half of his face was completely burned exposing that to the cold air too. "Ah-Ah-AH! Ah-Ah-Ah-Ah-AHH!" Kenji tried speaking, but he couldn't even to that. It was so hard to breathe. It was so much! So much pain! "Ah…..AH!... A-AH…..ah…...a…"

"Sta... wit…. e, kid! Come….. eathe…. Brea..!" He struggled to stay awake, unable to even scream any longer at the pain. He could barely make out Osiris, who yelled at someone to help him….

Kanou General Hospital, following day

…..Beep….. Beep….. Beep… Beep…. Beep….

What the…. Kenji stirred, mumbling at the sound of beeping beside him. His ears still worked, that was good. He groaned, forcing his eyes open to see… Sunlight? What is this…. Is this Hell? Looks a lot like Earth….

He breathed softly, finding himself in a bed beside… "Cecil?" He whispered, looking to his sleeping roommate. He sighed, brushing a strand of hair out of her face before she grumbled. He rolled his eyes somewhat. "Typical…"

"I already told you, doc… I'm not gonna-" She yawned, stretching up till she saw Kenji's gaze. She froze up, choking up sharply at his sudden awakening. "K-Kenji?"

"Cee." He whispered back.

"Kenji!" She screamed, hugging him tightly. He was thrown off a bit but hugged her back as he heard her sobbing. "I thought I'd lost you…!"

"I know, I did too." He replied, smiling with joy and relief that he wasn't dead. He stroked her back soothingly, not letting go as he heard the door open. "Hm?"

"Oh, Mr. Saito! I'm glad to see you awake!" In stepped an older man, a doctor by the looks of it, with grey hair and hazel eyes dressed in a medical coat, and a Hawaiian shirt underneath. "I suppose it's safe to say congratulations are in order! Your operation was a success!"