So, those of you following my Potterverse compilation The Cauldron will know that I've got a recent interest in Tokyo Ghoul, and tried a story where Harry is raised by the Fueguchis. However, I also wanted to give this story a go, where Ken Kaneki is actually raised by the Fueguchis. It'd be interesting to have a Ken who is actually used to Ghouls already before he got Ghoulified. I posted a challenge based on that premise, and this might be the beginning of me answering that challenge.

That being said, sorry, Hide fans, this fic is not for you...

Still, I hope you enjoy.

KEN FUEGUCHI

CHAPTER 1:

A LAMB AMONGST WOLVES

The boy trudged through the pouring rain, the grey sky seemingly the only thing joining him in lamenting the passing of his mother. Karoushi, they called it. Death by overwork. A sadly too-common occurrence in Japan. His mother had not only been providing for him, but for her sister, his aunt, who took the money with a smile…but when the time came and his mother died, she had shown her true colours, the monster lurking beneath a human façade.

Nothing as pedestrian as a Ghoul. A Ghoul would have killed him and eaten him by now, a mercy by comparison. No, she had rejected him, told him he wasn't welcome. Not a burden like him. That was the pot calling the kettle black, in hindsight. The landlord had already kicked him out. And here he was, weighed down by the meagre possessions he could carry, the few books he couldn't bear to leave behind, clothes a few toys…but he had nothing else. No family, no money, no friends or love. Hide was on holiday with his family, so he couldn't turn to him. It would be dark soon, and he needed to find shelter.

So preoccupied was he with his thoughts, he didn't notice the shadow lurking in the alley he passed until the arm was already snaking out, grabbing him around the neck, and dragging him into the alley, a clammy hand clamped over his mouth. "Well, well, well…looks like my luck's changing," rasped a voice, horrid smelling breath turning his stomach. "After all that time locked up and left to starve…I've got myself a nice, bite-sized meal."

The boy tried to struggle and squirm, but knew it was futile. He was going to become a meal for a Ghoul, like a princess in a fairytale eaten by a dragon. Only, there was no knight in shining armour to save him. Reality was too cruel for that. With a despair no boy his age should possess, he resigned himself to his fate…

…Only to suddenly have the arms wrenched away. Hot blood spattered his face, and his attacker howled a shrill, pained howl. "What…what the fuck?!" he screamed. The boy staggered around, and found that the man, with long, stringy hair and dishevelled clothes, was missing an arm, blood spraying. And nearby was a man, tall and stern…but with tendrils that looked like whips made from a spinal cord protruding from his back, and eyes with black sclerae and red irises.

The kakugan of a Ghoul.

"These are my hunting grounds, you disgusting animal," the newcomer, another Ghoul, sneered. "And I only go for criminals. Not innocent children." Suddenly, the spine-like whip lashed out, taking the other Ghoul's head, which rolled to a stop in front of the boy, expression frozen in a pained leer.

This turned out to be all too much for the boy, whose eyes rolled up in his head, and he fainted, not expecting to wake up again…

Only, he did wake up. To a wonderful smell. It smelled like chicken soup. And he was lying on a couch. He sat up, disturbing the blanket that had been placed on him…before realising that whoever had him here had taken his clothes off, replacing them with a kimono.

Watching him was a girl of about five. "Oh! You're awake! Daddy! The boy's awake!"

"I heard you, Hinami," came a familiar voice, and the Ghoul who'd killed his attacked came in, his eyes no longer showing a kakugan. He was cradling a mug. The boy felt a stab of fear at his approach, but the man halted. "It's okay, we're not going to hurt you. I'm a doctor, and I wanted to make sure you were well before I contact someone to take care of you." He handed the mug over to the boy. It took several seconds for him to accept this offering. "Just mind that it's hot. I've never really made chicken soup before, even out of a packet, and I don't want you burning your mouth."

"…Why? Why are you helping me? You're…you're a Ghoul…"

"Ah. I'm sorry you had to witness that. But he was going to kill you. Look…I know it's hard to believe…but not all Ghouls eat any human we come across. I promise you…once you're ready, I'll call your parents, or your guardians or relatives…and you can go home…"

"I don't have a home," the boy said quietly, miserably. He didn't know why he was saying it. "My mother died not long ago…my father died years ago. My aunt didn't want me…I…I…" Sobs caught in his throat.

And then, he felt a hand on his face, the girl's hand, who looked at him sadly. "Don't cry. You're a big boy, big boys don't cry. I'm Hinami, and that's my daddy! What's your name?"

"…Ken. Ken Kaneki…"

Eight years later…

Ken grimaced as he put the newspaper down. "Ghoul Attack on the Aqua Club Building!" he read the headline out. "Binge Eater and Jason Strike Once More! Rize has come to the 20th Ward. Not to mention someone from Aogiri Tree. There goes the neighbourhood."

"Yes…it's not good," Ryoko Fueguchi said, the gentle-looking woman cradling a cup of coffee. "Rize being here will cause the Doves to come down on top of us like a ton of bricks. And Aogiri Tree are always trouble."

"Hmm. Touka's going to be more irritable than usual, I'm sure," Ken sighed quietly. "She's in her last year of high school, she's got exams to deal with…and if Doves start popping up everywhere, she's not going to be happy. Then again, it's hard enough for her to smile anyway."

"You know what she's gone through, Ken. To be a Ghoul is to have a hard life, especially for those who don't hunt, or else don't hunt indiscriminately. To try and look normal for society. You've lived with us for long enough to know that."

"I know, and I'm grateful for that, Ryoko. You've given me more love and affection than you had to over the years, more than I des…"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Ken Fueguchi," Ryoko said, her usual gentle demeanour becoming stern. "Given what happened to you, you deserve love and affection. Any decent person would have loved to have a child like you, thoughtful, caring, intelligent, kind…your aunt was a fool. What you lack more than anything else is self-esteem." Ryoko chuckled softly. "You're a bit like Hinami in that regard."

"Unlike Hinami, I haven't had to hide what I am," Ken said quietly. "I don't have an excuse."

"You're better than you were when we first took you in. Then again, you saw Asaki kill that other Ghoul. A bit of a traumatic thing to see."

"Yes, but…he saved me. I owe him my life. And then, you took me in, and sometimes I wonder…why."

Ryoko chuckled. "Remember what you asked a couple of times, whether we were fattening you up to eat, like in a fairytale? It hurt then, but now, it's funny."

Ken chuckled weakly. He felt bad about hurting their feelings now. "Maybe. Anyway, I'd better get a move on. If I don't get there soon, Touka will chew me out. Probably literally…"

Ken was in a pensive mood as he walked to the Anteiku coffee shop. Then again, he was frequently in a pensive mood. Even after being taken in by the Fueguchi family, he had a tendency to be introverted and shy, self-effacing and soft-spoken. Still, at least they loved him. It was odd how his own aunt had rejected him…and yet, a family of Ghouls, obligate cannibals demonised as monsters in the media, treated him like he was their own. It was like a pack of wolves adopting a lamb, and it took him some time to trust them.

And yet, here he was. A human amongst Ghouls. Since high school, he had been working at Anteiku, a coffee shop that acted as a hub and refuge for Ghouls in the 20th Ward, aka Nerima. The coffee shop was owned and run by Mr Yoshimura, a kindly old Ghoul who, like Ryoko and Hinami, refused to kill to eat, instead scavenging from suicide victims. And working there as well was…

"Good, you're early for a change."

Touka Kirishima. Ken had met her through the Fueguchis. The dark-haired girl had been rather cold, sullen, and bad-tempered, and while she still possessed those qualities, she had warmed to Ken over the years. Her dark hair hung over her right eye in a manner that was rather cute. Indeed, she was quite pretty, and the two of them had, albeit only recently, begun to go out on dates…though dinner dates, given that she was a Ghoul and he was a normal human, were out of the question. She was standing near the rear entrance of Anteiku, carrying a few boxes.

"I thought I'd get here soon. Did you see the news?" Ken asked.

"About the Aqua Club? Hard not to. That's all we need, having that bitch here," Touka said. "By the way, a little help, please?"

Ken nodded, opening the door for her, and then taking one of the boxes of coffee from her. Touka nodded her thanks, and they got through the door, kicking off their shoes. "Did your food run last night with Yomo go well?"

"Didn't find a damn thing," Touka said. "Not that we need to for the time being, the freezer's pretty well-stocked, and I butchered that paedophile last week, remember?"

"Yeah…though I dunno why you'd want to eat a person like that, Touka. I mean, don't get me wrong, killing that sort of person is a service to society, but…"

"It's probably the most use he is to society, sating my hunger," Touka said grimly. "One less child molester, one less person I'd have to kill, everybody who matters is happy."

"I guess. Do you need help with any schoolwork?"

"No. Here, open the door for me, okay?"

Ken nodded, opening the storeroom door, and the pair of them put the boxes of coffee bean packets onto the bench, Touka running a hand through her hair. "Right. Thanks, Ken," she said, turning a rare, soft smile on him. Not the usual air stewardess smile that she used with customers, even if it was so well-practised, only those in the know knew it was a fake. Rather, it was the smile she showed to those she knew, and trusted, a true smile. It had taken time for her to smile at him like that.

Touka was cold and abrasive much of the time, but Ken knew enough about her past to know why. That she trusted him at all was a minor miracle in of itself. That she was willing to consider him her boyfriend was a somewhat greater miracle. After all, he was a human…and she was his Ghoulfriend, a pun she had threatened to eat him over, even as she had tried to conceal her smirk.

"You're welcome. By the way, Hinami says hi."

Touka chuckled. Hinami was effectively her little sister as much as Hinami was Ken's. "I wish I could go and see her, but school's beginning to get more busy. Plus, Yoriko wants to hang out more. She's really persistent. She keeps bugging me to introduce you to her since I let slip you and I were going out. I thought going out with you would mean she'd stop bugging me about boys she wanted to set me up with."

"Yeah, Hide's the same lately. He's jealous that I've got you as a girlfriend. Then again, he recently said he's met this really hot girl, so he claims."

"I'm surprised he managed to get someone, with his personality," Touka said. "I mean, he's smarter than he looks, but he's such a loudmouth. I'm still amazed that you two are friends."

"Is it because of what you think of me, or what you think of him?"

"Yes."

Ken scowled lightheartedly. "Some Ghoulfriend you are."

"Stop calling me that, Spare Meat!" Touka mock-snarled, batting at his shoulder. It was her own mocking nickname for him, one that had become affectionate over the years rather than insulting.

"Ah, young love," came the voice of an old, kindly-looking man standing in the door. This was Yoshimura, the owner and manager of Anteiku. Then, his expression became more solemn. "Now, Ken, I presume you heard the news?"

"If you mean what happened at the Aqua Club, then yes. I'll keep an eye out for Rize. Though why does Aogiri Tree have an interest in her?"

"I have no idea. Rize's rather too independent to join them, I daresay, and Aogiri Tree do not take refusals well. The strife they cause between them may bring the Doves down upon us," Yoshimura sighed. "Still, we can only do what we can. Now, Ken, Mr Kurosawa wants a different blend when he comes in today…"

It was on the way home after a day at Anteiku that Ken received a message from Hide. A photo with a caption, a selfie of himself and a girl, marked #MeganekkoBabe. Ken paled when he saw who it was. Long dark hair framing a demure, beautiful face, glasses…Ken had only met her once, running into her with his family. But he had been warned about her.

Rize Kamishiro. Aka the Binge Eater, one of the most brutal and messy Ghouls in Tokyo. And she had his friend in her sights. Despite her lovely smile in the picture, he knew that she was one of the worst Ghouls.

Instantly, he called Hide. "Yo, Ken, what's up? Did you get my little picture message?"

"Yes, I did. Where are you, actually?"

"Well, I'm escorting Rize to her home in Takada Building Street. Why? You're not looking to be a gooseberry, are you? I…ARRRRGGHHH!"

The blood-curdling scream echoed up the line, and then, the line was cut off. Ken looked around, and then scurried off, knowing that he was close. Not that he could do much against Rize, but maybe he could distract her, long enough for Hide to get away, or…something. Anything!

By the time he got there, though, it was too late. Rize was crouched over Hide's broken, mutilated body, her kagune, a quartet of crimson tendrils, out. "Get away from him, you BITCH!" Ken yelled.

Rize rolled her eyes, showing off her kakugan. "Wow, Ellen Ripley…but did you forget your power-armour?" she sneered. "He's dinner, and you…" Suddenly, her kagune lashed out, and yanked him off his feet, sending him crashing into a nearby construction site. "You're dessert."

Ken couldn't even scream, the pain was that bad. It got worse when she jabbed some of those tendrils into his side, probably turning some of his organs into mince. "You and your friend are just right," Ken heard Rize say in a sickeningly lilting tone as she approached through a haze of pain and shock. "Not really fatty, not that muscular…just right. Tender and juicy and oh so yummy…huh?"

Suddenly, as if a bolt of divine retribution from above, a number of steel girders suddenly crashed down on top of Rize, flattening her. Before the pain and the darkness of what was going to be oblivion took him, Ken smiled a painful grin. "That one…was for Hide…you bitch…Asaki…Ryoko…Hinami…Touka…I'm sorry…"

And then, darkness claimed him.

He was surprised he woke up. He had vague, feverish recollections of words, sentences. Of a man saying he'd use 'her' organs. That he'd take responsibility. The beeps of an ECG. Pain. Warmth. Fever. The feeling of a woman's arms around him, her breasts pressed into her back

And then, he awoke. In pain, feeling a haze full of drugs, but he was alive.

But something was different. He couldn't define it, not at first. Aside from the loss he felt at Hide dying (the nurse reluctantly confirmed it when he asked), which was bad enough, and the feeling that he hadn't got there fast enough…the guilt, the horrible guilt, and the fact that he probably worried his family and friends. But he couldn't define what happened that was different.

It wasn't until sometime later, when, after he was declared well enough to try and eat some food, he tried it. But…it didn't taste good. And not just by the standards of hospital food.

The fish tasted…well, fishy. Not appetising, just…awful. The miso soup tasted like some kind of machine oil. Tofu tasted like rancid lard. Rice was like paste glue. Hospital food was bad, true, but it was never this abysmal.

It was on his third attempt at eating the fish, and struggling to keep it down, that the notion came to him. He remembered what his family and friends said that some foods tasted like. How Ghouls perceived some foods.

And when he asked the surgeon who'd helped him, Dr Kanou, what he did, he got his answer. The kindly-looking doctor said he had transplanted Rize's organs into him to save his life.

It took every ounce of composure for Ken to not break down then and there. Instead, he waited until Kanou left. He began laughing, not in joy or mirth, but rather, sheer despair and denial and anger. A catharsis of mixed emotions. Laughter soon sublimated into sobs, his head in his hands.

There was a bitter irony in this, he supposed, even if he couldn't be certain. A few times, once he was used to Ghouls, he'd wonder what it was like to be in their shoes. Well, he should've been careful what he wished for, lest he got it…

CHAPTER 1 ANNOTATIONS:

So, a fairly different Ken has been Ghoulified. And unfortunately, Hide's copped it. Sorry, Hide fans. But will Ken be able to cope with being Ghoulified better, now that he's been raised by them?

No numbered annotations this time.