"Consider this…"
Kaneki gripped the side of the door, blood from his recent injury running down my arm and staining the wood. Still the young woman's voice echoed, the sound and tone so familiar, but the creature spitting those words; a stranger. And here Kaneki was, just as helpless, his friends lying unconscious, food for the ghoul that threatened them.
"If there is a creature so vain as to destroy humankind," the young woman said, her eyes flashing in a terrible anger. Kaneki felt the air heat up as if the building had caught on fire, but he could feel no flame. "Then how could you think…that there is nothing that can destroy such a creature? I had hoped to be a regular girl a bit longer, but…you have harmed the children."
An explosion caught Kaneki off guard, and black smoke flowed out of the windows of the church. A sound hit his ears, like a bowstring, and then…darkness.
6 Hours Ago
"What happened to Kimi?" Nishio snarled at Kuri. "Use your powers to find her!"
"I don't have that kind of power," Kuri said sadly.
"Then what the hell good are you?!" Nishio cried, grabbing her by the shirt. "You'll find her! I'll make you!"
His kagune shot out. Kaneki grabbed it. "This isn't her fault! But…Kuri you know where she is, don't you?"
Kuri's eyes grew very sad, but she nodded.
"Whatever danger you see…we can handle it." Kaneki glared at Nishio. "Together."
"Like hell." Nishio growled. "I'm just using the bitch to find Kimi. Then the ghouls can have her."
"You ungrateful—"
Kuri's hand stayed Kaneki. "This is not the time. Kimi will die if we don't hurry."
So they rushed off into the night.
xxx
The three of them found themselves inside a large room lined with columns, along with Tsukiyama and his hostage.
Gourmet knelt over Kimi. "What a specimen you are, so blessed to be my sacrifice. All I do…I do for that perfect dish…"
"Stay away from her!" Nishio shouted.
"Welcome, my friends," Gourmet smiled.
He threw out a hand to attack, and Nishio was thrown against the wall out of the way.
"No pathetic human-lover could ever stop me," Gourmet spat.
He was a high level Ghoul at the peak of his power. Kuri's senses were being crushed from the very nearness of him. He laughed again at Nishio. "Stupid stupid stupid!"
Time seemed to slow. Kuri tried to help but was thrown back. Kaneki was the only one still standing, and she had a feeling that's because he was the real meal.
Kaneki still…couldn't move. He hadn't been attacked, but this place. The smell. The Ghouls and the screaming. It was all over again. Kaneki was losing. And he couldn't fight anymore. Kaneki watched the light leave Nishio's eyes as he fell into unconsciousness.
Kuri crawled to Kaneki, barely conscious. "Kaneki…don't be scared…you can…protect everyone…"
The Ghoul slammed her to the floor.
Kaneki knelt, clenching his fists and drawing blood. Fighting all alone for so long made him forget why all this got started.
Kaneki looked at Kuri's face, knocked out protecting him. For people like her.
"Hey!" Kaneki glared at Tsukiyama. "You hurt them. It's unforgivable!"
Kaneki stumbled to his feet, preparing to fight. It was hard, but he managed to call his kagune out. Tsukiyama was there, laughing at him, and delivered a solid punch.
Kaneki collapsed, darkness overtaking his vision.
No…NO! He…had to protect them…He couldn't pass out! Not now! Not N—"
"Consider this…"
Back to Present Time
"I had hoped to be a regular girl a bit longer, but…you have harmed the children," Kuri smiled indulgingly at Tsukiyama, like she was chastising a child.
Gourmet snarled, his kagune attacking her, but they bounced off her like it was nothing!
Kuri's wings unfurled, and she plucked a feather casually, as if she was perfectly safe, taking out a bookmark for one of her novels. She held it up, drew her arms like pulling a bow and—
SNAP. The feather arrow hit Gourmet in the chest. His kagune shuddered, and shattered, for just a second. Gourmet's eyes flickered, alive, dead, alive, dead.
And then the kagune rushed back into him and he fell to the ground.
Kaneki's mismatched eyes widened, and he stared at her. "Kuri…"
She walked over and held out a hand to him. "I didn't scare ya did I, Kaneki?"
"That heat I felt…it was your barrier…" Kaneki whispered. "You were protecting us, drawing his attention."
The boy was quick, Kuri had to give him that. Kaneki had a very sorrowful look in his eyes. Kuri gripped him more firmly. "Kaneki…what's wrong?"
A tear coursed down his cheek. "I…am so sorry…you and Nishio are here because of…"
Kuri embraced the shaking boy, cutting him off. "Don't think about it that way. I'm just happy I got to help you…in some small way. I-I'm sorry you had to see me like that."
"Like…what…" Kaneki breathed. He was sure of it now. Kuri was different when she fought…like he was.
"Lethal…" Kuri hissed, shuddering.
Kaneki shook his head and put a hand on her shoulder. "Thank you. Kuri, I'm glad that it's you."
On the Altar, Kimi was awakened by Nishio, who barely had time to apologize before she embraced him, sobbing.
Kuri approached. "I'm sorry. But I have to take her memory."
Nishio snarled at her. "Like hell."
Kuri chuckled. "Who's gonna stop me? You?"
"Me." Kaneki got up. "You can't erase their feelings for each other."
"I have to." Kuri said. "For both their sakes. At some point, Kimi could be eaten, or she could betray Nishio to the CCG. On the other hand…the CCG might take an interest in the strange couple. Either way, this must end."
She held up a feather.
Kaneki grabbed it, crushing it in his hand. "It's my fault. Punish me for it. Please."
Kuri slapped him, but her face looked like SHE had been slapped. "Don't. Say that."
Kuri knelt in front of Nishio. "Get stronger. Protect Kimi. And if your relationship ends…she held out the feather. You must forget."
Kuri straightened and looked over at Kaneki for a second. "Your right. They shouldn't forget. But memories like this one are stuck in their heads now, and they'll suffer. That's fucking on you."
"They won't suffer." Kaneki glared at her. "Remembering times like this makes them stronger!"
Kuri gave him that same, sad, struck look. "Someday you will understand.
