Chapter 17 - They are coming

It's there, right in the shadows moving on thin air, almost touching you…. He can feel them, he can sense they're near him and yet…. He can't touch them. He tried to scream for help, but nobody listened to him. It almost felt like everybody was ignoring him. He decided to walk the big dark hall that led to nowhere. Eventually, he walks into a big and grey room. They were people talking to each other. He couldn't hear what they were saying, as he tries to walk near one of the people.

A big scream kept on replaying on his head. The person kneels before him and grabs his chin. He looks up, sweat dripping from every part of his body. He didn't know why he closed his eyes when the person grabbed his chin, but he remembers the touch of the person was delicate but also forceful. As if, it was trying to invite him to the unwelcome party.

He held his breath. The person whispered something unto his hear. He grabs this person's arms, but the person was forcefully being grabbed by another group of people. The person was screaming "Save me! I'm dying…. Save me!"

Kaneki woke up…

Kaneki's heart starts beating fast. His body felt very heavy, he blinks several times as if he was trying to tell himself, that he wasn't in that dark room. Kaneki slowly moves his head up, while still breathing hard. He runs his hand over his face, removing the excessive sweat he has.

His legs were numb, he decided to shake his legs a little. So he can get the tension out of his legs. It's has been such a long time, ever since he had a nightmare. Just as he sits down properly on the bed, and put both of his legs and feet on the floor. Kanki started breathing properly and scratches the back of his neck.

Once again, he runs both of his hands all over his face. He stays there sitting while contemplating what to do, or just what to think. Normally, the past version of himself would probably be panicking over a nightmare. But not today. He insisted to himself, that only because he had a nightmare, that will mark this day, to be bad.

Just like Shachi had told him, "A bad times, a good face". So, as he drops another sigh, as he left the unnerving thoughts on the past. He stood up and he will focus his attention on something else. He grabbed the phone, that was near his night table. He opened his unread messages, he had many unread, as he scrolled down with an indecisive expression. His eyes light up when he sees an unread message of Hide.

He smiles to himself, and taps on Hide's message. There was a photo, along with four messages attached to it.

(type this, to see the image on the web) ( i dot imgur dot com/ ArrAyER dot png )

"Ah…. why is uni so hard….. Ughhh I can't…. (ᗒᗣᗕ)՞

"Ken-chan! I'm drowning over this many Homeworks… This processor is trying to kill me! /(o)l"

"*professors are, my bad Σ(°ロ°) (￣▽￣*)ゞ

"I want to see you so bad, but ugh, (＞﹏＜) Take care, my beautiful and cute Ken-chan! (･ω)

He started laughing. As he replies with some encouragement texts towards his best friend. Hide, was really his really big ball of sunshine, and he couldn't be luckier, than being friends with the greatest boy, he has ever met!

Now that he had those lingering and black thoughts on the back of his mind. Kaneki tries to smile onto the new day. Everything was good and simple, the birds were soaring outside the windows of his house. The sky was bluer and prettier. Everything seems so beautiful just like any day of his life. Yes. Of course. Is not like anything will be bad, right?

I mean, what can possibly happen to him on this day? Leaving aside, he had a nightmare at the beginning of this day. I mean, he had a silly and cute message of his best friend, what could else he can ask for?

I mean, is not like all the positive adrenaline he had was crashing down, as he sees somebody on the first floor, he didn't recognize. All the good hopes were crumbling, as he stood there on the stairs, as he looks inside the living room. He peeked a little and saw a woman. The woman was facing her back to him, as she was looking outside the windows. She is quite short and her salmon-colored hair really brings color to the living room. Most of her hair was tied into a high top-knot.

He greets his teeth while moving his head back and forth to look at her. After some thinking and digging on his mind, he doesn't recognize this woman. He had never seen a person with that unique color of hair. Perhaps, this person, is a client of his mother? But isn't it strange that a client comes this early? His mother opened her workshop at 9? So then, who is she? Or perhaps, this woman is another stalker he had?

He wanted to facepalm himself. Didn't he warn her not to allow anyone in their house? But, of course, perhaps this person couldn't be a stalker of him, just another new acquaintance of his mother. He really needed to stop labeling new people, as if they were stalkers or bad people. But on the other hand, Shachi told him, 'not to give all your trust to new people.' As he stood there, he felt a big rumble on his stomach.

He ran down a hand over his stomach. He was getting hungrier by each second. If he could pass fast, the woman would probably notice and then tell his mother, that his son didn't have manners to greet new visitors. And then his mother would scold him and the cycle will repeat itself. So… just as his anxiety and hungriness grew. He built the courage, to entered the living room.

As he steps inside the living room. The woman tilted her face to look at him. She blankly stared at him, with one of her eyebrows raising. "Um… excuse me… and who you might be?" The girl glare at him and folded both of her arms near her chest. "Ha, who am I?" He flinches and tries to avoid eye-contact. He began muttering some words, but he was in a loss of words. That was a rude way, of trying to greet someone. Of course, she will feel offended.

See? This is the reason why hungriness and anxiousness can't be together. Because then, you muttered rude conversations, such as he just did. As the girl was waiting for an explanation. His mother came, from the Kitchen with a laundry basket. She looks at the woman and then back at her son. "Oh… Miza chan, so you already met my adorable son, Kaneki Ken."

He looks at his mother, while she puts the basket on the floor, she then proceeded to wipe some dust she had on her red long skirt. "Ken-Kun, this is Miza." His mother signal Miza, with both of her hands. "She will be helping me doing the special suit for Mirumu san." Miza just bows in her direction and just stares at him.

"Ah, welcome Miza…. And." He bowed towards her direction. "I'm sorry for earlier, that was really rude of me…" His mother widened her gaze and look at Miza with a confused expression. Miza rolled her eyes. "Whatever, I knew you that were behind me all this time, but hesitant to enter the living room."

"Still… i-"

"Idiot! Just stop bowing!"

"Yes!" He putting himself straight again. His mother just stared at them both and clap her hands. "Alright, why don't we have some breakfast?"

"So, where do you know this midget?" Hooguro said as he bites a piece of his french toast.

"Huh, do you want me to add another scar on that ugly face of yours?"

"The fuck, you said bitch? I will show you who is the real big gangster here and now!"

"Well, Miza was my Kouhai in my old job. We work in the same department, after some years, I got assigned to be a top manager on another department…" Hiroko tilted her head, as she serves more tea in Shousei's cup. "Since Kaneki was still in middle school, I couldn't just leave him alone with my sister anymore, so I declined and recommended Miza instead." Hiroko just smiles at the table went silent. Even Miza and Hooguro who were fighting at the end of the table stopped fighting.

Kaneki gulped. He knew that his mother sacrificed a lot for his sake. Even though, now his mother is doing what she dreams for, he somewhat feels responsible for being the person, who held back his mother. Now that the atmosphere feels kind of heavy, the door of the living suddenly opened and everybody took their position. Shousei and Kaneki lifting their fists, while Miza and Hooguro grab the kitchen knives that were near them.

"Ah, where is everybody?" Everybody just sighs and returns to normal. Naki peeks in the kitchen room and smiles. "There you guys are, good mornta!"

"What the heck is good mornta? Are you saying, good morning? Trying to say it properly." Miza says as she furrows her eyebrows in Naki's direction. Hooguro looks furiously at the other side of the table. "How dare you! Don't you ever correct big brother Naki!" Miza just rolled her eyes and sips her tea unbothered by the situation. Hooguro started trembling in anger, while Shousei just patted him in the back.

As Shousei, moved himself to give a seat to Naki. He stood up and bowed in the direction of the entrance. "Good morning boss…" Hooguro panicked, he stood up and bowed. Kaneki just sighs in the usual situation they always had in the morning. Luckily this time, Koori didn't enter to argue with Naki. The only thing, that made weird this morning was Miza. But now, that Kaneki looks at her, she looks unbothered by the situation.

Hiroko who just finished her breakfast greeted Yamori with a smile. "Good morning, do you want some coffee, Yamori san?"

"Orange juice for me!" Naki lifted his right hand, where he was now seated next to Shousei. Hiroko smiled in Naki's direction and nodded. Yamori nodded in Hiroko's direction. "Alright, i-"

"I will do it, mom…" Kaneki cut his mom, as he stood up, going in the direction of the fridge. As he passed through Yamori, he nodded in his direction. Yamori returns the gesture, as he seated on one of the chairs of the kitchen table. All the members of the White Suits started talking. Kaneki pours the juice on a panda mug, while his mother pours the coffee for Naki on another panda mug, she bought for the White Suits members.

As Kankei approached Yamori. Kaneki noticed that The White Suits got quiet when he approached the table. Kaneki put both of the mugs in Naki and Yamori's side. While he stared at them. Yamori stared at him. "Is there any problem, we need to aware of?" Miza raised her eyebrows in amusement. Hiroko just stared in awe. "How do you know, Ken-chan?". Hiroko raised her eyebrow and rested her head on the kitchen counter, as if she was a kid, discovering the adult world.

Kaneki stares at his mother and back to the group in front of him. "Naki and Yoshimura's suits are dirty and they always come clean and besides Yamori san doesn't come. Unless he has to announce something. No offense Yamori san... " Kaneki says as he just looks down, with an annoying expression. "So, Is either having an announcement or a reparation for the suits, but even with the suits, you always send your suits with the others." Miza hummed in agreement.

"Wow…." Naki exclaimed, as he nodded to look at Hooguro, who nodded in return in amusement. Yamori started laughing, but soon stop. He looks back at Kaneki and grin. "Okay, brat sit down then…" Yamori motion his head towards the seat that was on his left side. Kaneki seated down, not breaking his gaze towards Yamori.

Yamori who was grinning, stop and looked at Hiroko. Hiroko took note and seated in between her son and Miza. "Well… remember the time you met us…" Kaneki flinches and looks at his mother and back at Yamori. He shook his head and rapidly moved his eyes to the side and back to Yamori. Yamori took note of Kaneki's expression and proceeded to talk. "I was talking of OUR first meeting together including your mother, of course excluding Miza." Kaneki raised his eyebrows. "Well, we already know who are the people who are destroying small businesses."

"The Pierrots, right Yamori san?" Hiroko said as everybody stare at her. "How do you know that Hiroko san?" Miza says as she put a hand over her Hiroko's shoulder. "Kentarou san…" Kaneki flinches and stares at her. "You mean your old retailer of fabrics?" Hiroko nodded and furrow her eyebrows. "It was not him, but his son. His son has a pawnshop near the red district region, and his store got destroyed. His son had just bought some security cameras and then all of the sudden they stop working. When his son came to the store, the only thing in the store that was intact was a clown mask, with the name Pierrots all over it. He had called all his contacts who had businesses since his son heard a rumor about that the Pierrots just attacking small businesses that can't recover for the damage."

Kaneki widened his eyes when he was looking at his mother. Kaneki didn't know what to say in that situation. His hands started trembling. "Hiroko chan, you shouldn't worry since we…" Naki patted his chest and smile. "The White Suits are going to protect you! Right guys?" Naki looks at both of his sides. Shousei and Hooguro nodded. "Naki is right but is always important that you know about this. This morning, Naki and I went to a nearby Pastries truck that was destroyed by the Pierrots, and just like many cases, there was just a fucking mask left as evidence…"

"Wouldn't police get mad if you take evidence from the scene?" Hiroko said as she raised her eyebrow. "Don't worry madame, those corrupt groups think all these small shops are doing it, for the money. Since the prime minister implanted the protection of small business law. So must of them, they don't even look into it." Hooguro says.

"It's really sad because is not that much of the money they give for reparations and even takes a whole month, for the government to investigate the case and when they do. You need to wait even more, for the money. That's if, you get approved by it." Shousei says.

"And that's where we come in. Most of these places, since they are protected by us, don't want the luck, that most of those businesses do" Yamori scoffs, as he stands up. The other members do the same. As he was leaving, he stops his tracks and looks at Hiroko. "So, watch yourself you and your mother. After lunch, Shousei is going to come here…"

As the white suits exited the residence, Hooguro smiled at Shousei and extender his hand. "Now then, money." Shousei just rolled his eyes and put one of his hands unto his inside coat.

"What do you gamble on this time?" Yamori stops walking, looking back at his other subordinates. "Well, I gamble with Shousei that ever since Kaneki entered the gym of you know who, he will become more observant. Shousei on the other hand said that Kaneki would see right through that man's intention. But hey… he can't be two things right?" Hooguro laughs, as he grabs the bill out of Shousei's hand.

Kaneki was putting some books on the upper space of the shelves. And just as he was getting off the mini ladder. Koma who was behind all this time came near him. Koma started rubbing the back of his shoulders. Even though, it felt kind off. He particularly didn't care this time. He felt like he was heaven. Ever since that strange dream, he had, and the news of that certain group came to him. Kaneki's mental health has been all over the place and all this day he felt so tense.

Ever since he entered his work shift, everything on his vision felt heavy. Even though he admitted himself, that ever since he entered the shop, he forced himself to smile. Of course, his coworkers especially Koma, knew something was off. Of course, Koma doesn't know why he feels like this, but is better not to say something and just lie.

Koma moves Kaneki's body, so he can be seated on a chair. While he was doing the massage on him. "It's good that nobody is here, or we will get in trouble," Kaneki said as he looks back at Koma. "Yes. Usually, people don't really come near lunch hours." Kaneki slightly laughs and flinches at the touch of Koma's knuckles hitting a certain spot on his back.

"Perhaps, this is no concern of mine."

Oh, here it comes…

"But, Kaneki-Kun, you really seem so tense." Kaneki slightly smiles and turns around to see Koma. Who had his eyebrows together, as he was getting worried each second it pass. Kaneki looked around, trying to figure it out something he could say to Koma. "Ah… that's um… interesting you say that. I mean, perhaps is because I have been going to the gym? Maybe that's the reason why…" Kaneki smile once again. 'I mean, he is not telling a lie. He has been going to the gym, but his body doesn't tense up anymore.' Kaneki thought. Koma slowly takes away his hands from Kaneki's shoulder. "To the gym?"

"Yeah, is nothing much, really. It's just some defense classes. You know…" Kaneki turns around to look properly at Koma. "You never know, when those things can come in handy…" Koma stared at him, as he was investigating his face. "I mean, especially these times. You never know who could attack you.."

"Who is attacking you?" Came Irimi's voice, from the stairs, as she arrived at where they were. And just when Kaneki wanted to reply to Irimi. The door of the cafe suddenly swung open. The three of them got surprised. Kaneki stood up in surprise, just to see Yoshimura entering along with a middle-aged man.

"Manager, did you need water for him?" Koma said as he and Irimi approached Yoshimura quickly. "Perhaps some medicine?" The man in question was sobbing, his head was resting on Yoshimura's right shoulder. As Yoshimura was heading to the staff room, Irimi held it open for him. Yoshimura without looking back at them, just muttered, "Koma prepare the special tea we serve and Irimi go and bring me the special kit. And Kaneki." Kaneki firmly looks at Yoshimura's back as the door slowly closed as his boss speak "Watch the store, be prepared to do everything your Senpai's do since they will be busy."

Since he couldn't go out for lunch. Kaneki didn't have anything to eat, since he always bought food for lunch. Luckily not many customers came, at the hours. So, in the many in's and out Koma did in the kitchen. He told Kaneki he could eat one of the many pastries they still had from the morning.

"I'm sorry, we don't really have many lunch options," Koma said, as he took yet another kettle to the staff room. "No need…"

"Koma Kun!"

"Coming, manager!"

Around 2:30, everything was normal. Kaneki was sent out to eat, so he bought himself a sandwich and as well to everyone who was at the cafe. After he delivered the sandwich to Yoshimura's office, he looks at the main room and saw Shirazu who was getting seated in the romance section. As Kaneki approached the main room, Shirazu raized his head to look at him. Shirazu's expression turn with joy, as he opened his mouth in a big smile. At that moment, Shirazu stood up, to give Kaneki a big hug.

"Hello, Kan san!" Kaneki returns the hug, with an awkward smile. "Hello, Shirazu Kun!" Kaneki was about to cut the hug off but was noticing that Shirazu, for some reason didn't want to cut the hug off. They stay like that for about two minutes. Kaneki felt Shirazu was getting tenser.

Kaneki took away his head, from Shirazu's shoulder, to look at him properly. Kaneki tilted his head. "Are you okay? Is everything okay?". Shirazu looks at him, directly in the eyes. Shirazu was trembling, but at the same time was smiling at him. "You know… Kan san…"

"Yes…?" Shirazu stops hugging Kaneki and looks to the ground, in a defeated mode. "My sister.." Kaneki jumps and raised his eyebrows, to grab Shirazu's shoulder. "Wha-, what happened to your sister?"

"Haru, she is….. She is… um…" Shirazu rubs his hands together, while he still was shaking. "My sister Haru…. Is going to have a surgery…" Kaneki widened his eyes, and his heart started beating. "She is going to have this umm… Resective Surgery."

Shirazu widened his eyes and put both of his arms in front of Kaneki. "The doctor told our parents, that most of the cases turn well, so she will get through this! Okay?…. Yeah!" Shirazu looks at him. "It's almost 70 percent of the cases that turn out well.." Kaneki nodded. "But, what about the other 30 percent…. What if… just what if…" Shirazu looks to the ground while putting his hands on both of his cheeks. Kaneki grabbed the hands of Shirazu and firmly look at him.

"Listen to me Shirazu, your sister will go through that surgery and she will make it through! She is a fighter just like you!" Shirazu trembles, but lightly smile. Shirazu's gaze was almost in an agonistic state. It almost feels like he was trying to cry, but was holding it for him. Shirazu shook his face and went a little bit away from Kaneki's side.

Shirazu passes his hand all over his face and then looks at Kaneki. "In other news…. Kan san, Did you know people are fighting over you?"

"Wait…. They are?"

"I'm joking, I'm joking… ha ha ha." Shirazu forced a smile while closing his eyes. "Oh okay, if you say so." Kaneki nervously smiles at Shirazu. "Well, I'm going now. We are having midterms soon and I need to study. I came here especially to see you, so…" Shirazu stood there, looking at the ground. Like he was gathering words to explain himself. Kaneki just smiles at him. "It's okay, you know you can always text me or come visit me, whenever you feel down."

"Yeah, that's why I came. Kan san always knows!" Shirazu who was looking down, now directly looks at Kaneki, while opening his mouth into a big smile. His cheeks getting redder, by each second. As each other give a hug, they immediately finch as they hear a cellphone vibrate. Shirazu grabs his cellphone out of his pocket. As Shirazu scrolled down his cellphone, he jumps a little bit, surprising Kaneki in the process.

"What happen Shirazu, is it your sister?" Kaneki's heart began beating fast. "What the hell is this…" Kaneki push Shirazu, a little. "Hey, watch your language." Shirazu looks at Kaneki and blush in embarrassment. "Ah… I'm really sorry Kan san… but, I mean…" Shirazu hand his cellphone at Kaneki's hand, which Kaneki grab. "Look at this…" Kaneki saw a video started reproducing on Shirazu's screen.

Kaneki started noticing something off. The video was exposing some people walking, in a place that resembles a park. Then the video was cut off, and now the people were inside a car. As video pans on the driver. The driver's face was covered with a clown mask, who was dancing on the driver seat. Kaneki looks horrified and looks back at Shirazu.

"Is this…. Are they…."

Shirazu just gulped and nodded. Kaneki's heart didn't stop beating fast. He wanted to look away, but his eyes wanted to travel the video. Now the people, all wearing a clown mask were dancing around a truck. As they were dancing, they started to break inside the truck. One of them, that was the smallest person in the video started spraying graffiti and writing 'Pierrot was here' all over the truck. Another person, Kaneki assumed it was a woman, grab a bat, and break all the plates inside the truck. In the end, someone wearing a black suit lighted the truck and clapped.

Kaneki couldn't look more and turn his gaze to look the other way. "Shirazu, who send you that horrifying clip?" Shirazu gulped. "Saiko did, she says somebody sends it to her while she was playing Fornite, listen."

Shirazu grabs his cellphone and starts tapping. He put his cellphone near Kaneki's ear.

"No Kukie, how many…. Ughhh" Saiko's voice was unnerving, it almost feels like she was about to cry. "I told you many times guys… I stop browsing on the deep web… the video… God, the video. I was, it was a prank or I thought it was…. Ughh, I hate this, so much! The person who I was playing, send me a request on personal friend's group list on my PlayStation and… and ughhh, this person was ughh….." Saiko started crying over the voice not. "And this person sends me the link and this person didn't just send it to me, but the other members as well… ughh so disgusting…."

"Then Ching Li asked her why did she send the video onto the group chat and then she responded this.." Shirazu said as he tapped another voice note on his phone. "No, I didn't. I don't know how… or why… but ughh… ughh… I think that person hack my phone and the other player's phone as well…how many times, ahhh Saiko, you reap what you sow! God…. I need to protect my phone! That was so horrifying, I want to vomit…. Oh dear god!"

"It seems like the video already got leaked." Both Shirazu and him surprised into the surprising new voice who came behind them. It was Yoshimura along with the man, who still look really awful. "Yoshimura…. I can't anymore. My life's ruin!" The man put both of his hands unto his face. Yoshimura furrows his eyebrows as he gives the older man another pat on his back.

"My ughh…" The older man hiccup. "My precious food truck…. We just got it renovated!" The older man started crying once again. "Boy, tell your friends…" Yoshimura looks at Shirazu directly on the eye. "Tell your friend to go to the police or else they will think she is a suspect." Shirazu nodded and look back at Kaneki. "I will then and goodbye Kan san!"

Author's note: Thanks for reading! I hope you like this chapter because I force myself to do things for the new chapter and I'm proud of how it turns out. Since I think I will eventually do more illustrations for the upcoming chapters that are going to come. If you do want more illustrations, make sure to follow me on Instagram and twitter as itsale_castro and let me know. Well then, so give me kudos and comment on your favorite parts of the story.