Aogiri Tree, the home of the One-Eye King.
"W-Where am I?" Kaneki asks to no one in particular, as he regains consciousness. The events that happened earlier began to flood his mind. Touka...Nishiki...they tried to protect him, but he was too...weak.
"You should stop talking prisoner, or else I'll break you." Kaneki looks up to the figure before him. "Aya-" He is cut off, as the ghoul's leg slams into his stomach. "Didn't I tell you shut up? Now get up. Follow me. Don't ask any questions. You got it?" Ayato demands, while he pulls Kaneki up and begins their walk to the meeting place.
Kaneki stares at the bleak walls, wondering how he even ended up in this situation. The surreal date with Eto, then this. His life could not get any worse, but this line of thoughts stopped when he saw the massive amount of ghouls in one room. There had to be at least one hundred of them.
"You brought the one-eye, Ayato." A white hair ghoul with red mask stares at the duo.
"Yeah, I brought the guy." Ayato pushes Kaneki to the front of their leader. Before retaking his position on the back wall.
"You are the one of Kanou's experiments." Tatara pierces Kaneki's body with his hand, as the boy lets out a grunt of pain. His ghoul eye flaring to life as the pain registers in his mind.
You are just a weak imitation of Rize. I have no use of you. Ayato, do whatever you want with him. Soldier, plaything, food, whatever you choose. I do not care.
"What do you mean by experiment?" The low voice of Kaneki catches Tatara's attention. "Are you really this ignorant to the matter at hand? Do you believe that what the doctor put inside of you was a kidney? You're just one of the many that have been used by Kanou. All of you adorning Rize's kakuhou. Get him out of my sight Ayato. I hate ignorance." The last thing Kaneki sees is the footsteps of Tatara before his vision turns black.
"Wake up, Kaneki. Wake up." Banjou shakes Kaneki to life with his one healed arm. "I'm up. I'm up." Banjou sighs in relief seeing that Kaneki is still alive knowing what the top dogs are like, he is lucky to be alive.
"Do you want to escape this place, Kaneki?" Banjou asks sincerely, as to not give him false intentions. "Me and a group of others have been plotting an escape, but with you here we will have even more firepower."
"How will we be able to run away? There should be a lot of guards outside, and there are many powerful ghouls as well." Kaneki questions knowing that he wants to escape, but the fear of being lied to once again gives him an ounce of paranoia.
"If you follow me, I can explain in greater detail. Trust me, Kaneki." Banjou says with a small smile. It should be a breeze with the plan we have set up. Kaneki hesitantly nods. The doubt still there, but slowly diminishing as the confidence Banjou holds is comforting.
The duo walks the dreary hallways not saying a word to one another, then Banjou stops. "Kaneki? Is Rize really dead?" Kaneki looks at the man, " I honestly don't know Banjou..."
"You're a good guy. Sparing my feelings from the harsh reality." Banjou begins walking once more, as they finally walk into the meeting area. A group of masked Aogiri members are sitting conversing among one another.
"This is my gang, Kaneki. They all served under me while we were in the 11th Ward." Kankei observes them noticing that even a child was among the group. "A truly tragic world we live in." He thinks to himself, while Banjou begins to explain their upcoming escape
"One-eye ghouls are actually real." The little girl says.
"That is pretty cool I must say." A older member replies.
"We are underlings, so we don't know the full layout of the organization. However, we do know that the leaders leave the base on a set schedule. Ayato and Noro go out every 5 days, Yamori goes to town every 3 days, and the Bin Brothers are always at the base. Therefore, on the 12th day we can make our escape. But, we may have to engage a fight with the Bin brothers."
"What day are we on now?" Kaneki asks starting to get the gist of the entire plan.
"We're on the 7th day, so we still have time to work out the kinks of the entire plan. Most importantly, change it all together." Banjou says the last phrase with a finger by his mouth indicting the fact that someone could have possibly heard their entire plan. Hence, them changing it later on.
Kaneki nods, "If this plan is so high-risk, why do you all trust me in taking part of it?"
"It's simple. If Banjou trusts you, then we can trust you. So, stop overthinking it and just relax." One of the group members say, as they all agree in unison.
"Where are you all going after you escape though?" Kaneki asks curiously.
"Well, we could leave Tokyo all together. I hear that other parts of Japan are nice, or even get out of this country all together." Banjou thinks out-loud.
"The manager could possibly help you all. And, I can put a word in for you guys as well." Kaneki suggests to the small group.
"Yeah. That's a good idea. A very good idea, which could solve our on the fly plan." Banjou remarks to his subordinates, as they all agree on the temporary solution.
"We will escape..."
The CCG begin their preparations for the attack on Aogiri.
Shinohara, Amon, and Juzo begin their walk to meet the commander. "Why are we going to meet this commander?" Juzo calls out in his childlike voice.
"You have all been summoned to meet with 11th Ward Special Countermeasure Unit Commander." Shinohara quotes to the young boy. "Therefore, we have to go meet him. Can you not snap at him, please. Nor, bite his ear off like you did to the police officer?"
"No promises." The young boy replies in a sing song voice as if the actions he commit are nothing but a game. "Hopefully, he doesn't do anything horrible." Amon thinks to himself. Juzo always appeared to be hyperactive.
"Hey, Marude-Chan. You're happier than usual I see." Shinohara compliments.
"Well...I have been promoted to commander so of course I am very happy. Now, for the reason that I have called all of you." Marude looks at them with a devilish smirk. " You all will help me with the upcoming raid on Aogiri Tree. This is my biggest case yet, nor am I asking you all. I am commanding you to help."
"Huh. He wants us to help this high profile case." The inner monologue of Amon goes on.
"Here is the other members that will be along with you all, and the average soldiers that will also be participating in this raid. It will be happening in a week, so be ready. Dismissed!" Marude yells out in anticipation in one of the biggest stepping stones of his career.
"I have go now, Shinohara." Amon states, as the thoughts of the incoming raid plague his mind of the eye patch ghoul.
"I understand. Be sa-" Shinohara is cut off, as Juzo cuts in, "Can weeeeeee get ice cream Shinoharaaa. Pretty pleaseeeeeee." Shinohara simply smiles," Yes, we can get ice cream." The boy was like another child to him, which gave him a sense of comfort knowing the boy is safe with him.
Juzo drags his father figure off, as they proceed to go get the divine substance known as ice cream.
The day of the escape.
"Does everyone remember the plan?" The group nods everyone seemingly in position. "Then lets escape this shithole." Banjou calmly yells, as the group begins their run.
"Will it really be this easy?" Kaneki thinks to himself. The forest feels never ending, as with every step they're an inch closer to freedom.
The run for the most part was simply, as everyone converses their plans after they escape this place. However, they see a figure in place. An Aogiri member. "What is he doing here?" Banjou asks, as fellow group member slices the man head off silencing his screams.
"Shit. Where is Bin?" Banjou questions, however his answer is met with rapidly approaching footsteps of the older Bin.
The Bin brother comes down swiftly aiming to kill the mother of the group. The little boy runs and tries his best to protect his mother. Squelch. The kagune isn't imbedded inside the little boy, but instead is inside of Banjou.
"You all get out of here. I'll hold him off just long enough for you all to escape." The group runs knowing that Banjou is willingly sacrificing himself to give them all a chance at freedom. However, Kaneki stays not leaving the man alone to his death.
Banjou, twist his body slamming Bin into the ground. Temporarily holding him off as Kaneki helps him up. "Why are still here? You should be with the others." Kankei activates his kagune, " I will not leave you alone to die. I trusted you this far and I will see it through."
"You pieces of shit. Just die." Kaneki blocks the older ghouls attack, before having to dodge another that nearly nicks his face. "I can't stay on the defensive. I need to find a weakness."
The Bin brother slashes his kagune horizontally, aiming to decapitate Kaneki on the spot. However, Kaneki uses this to his advantage by wrapping his kagune around the older Bin then pierces the ghoul with his other tentacle like kagune.
Having the momentarily advantage, Banjou cocks his fist back before slamming it into the older Bin's face cracking the mask and knocking him off Kaneki's kagune. "Surrender and we won't kill you." Kaneki says threateningly.
The older Bin throws Kaneki the middle finger, as the younger Bin appears ready to slice Kaneki in half. However, Kaneki dodges the attack before retreating back to Banjou's side.
"Are you okay brother." The younger one asks, slightly worried for his brother.
"I am fine. Lets kill them." The older Bin responds. But, do take care the one eye is strong.
"Two of them now. Banjou is injured and I am getting tired. What to do. What to do?" Kaneki rears his kagune up for a harder fight, albeit may end in his demise.
The rustle of grass stops the battle, as a bandaged figure, Jason, and Nico appear.
"I thought you were in town, Yamori?" The older Bin asks letting his guard drop.
"I heard from Nico about the Anti-Aogiri group's big escape today, so I thought I drop by. And, I even have presents." Revealing two heads, and the bodies of the mother and another man. "The woman, men, and child aren't dead yet. However, the two heads...weren't so fortunate to say the least."
"Were you going to leave me Kaneki-kun? Are you really going to leave little old me all alone in this dark, scary place?" The bandaged woman inquires as she takes steps closer and closer causing Kaneki and Banjou to tense.
That voice sounded familiar to Kaneki. He couldn't place it, but the only woman that held such voice was...Eto. "Eto..?" Kaneki calls out softly hoping it wasn't the woman that he began to hold feelings for. Hoping that life wasn't so cruel as to torture him with such emotions.
"Ding. Ding. Ding." Eto giggles madly, as she is now upon Kaneki caressing his face. "Nico told me that you were trying to leave, so I followed him on this fun adventure. After all, I can't let my beloved* leave..." She kisses his lips softly enjoying the static between them.
"How romantic." Nico compliments and giggles softly.
The Bin brothers had gotten tired of just watching confront Yamori. "We have gotten sick of your annoying attitude. Don't you've any loyalty towards our organization?"
"Shut up. If it's fun for me, I will do it. It's simple as that. Or do I have to kill the both of you to prove my point?" Asking in a sadistic manner. Cracking his fingers, while activating his spiky kagune.
"This guy is a manic..." The Bin brothers think in unison. "We don't have time for this, as they disappear to the base."
Eto smiles, " Now then, Kaneki you can either come back. Or, we will kill all of your friends right here, right now."
"Don't do it, Kaneki! She is lying." Banjou yells to him. The comment made Kaneki slightly angry as Eto would never lie to him. "I will go. But, you won't hurt them will you Eto?"
"I promise. I won't hurt them. Now, Yamori and Nico will take you all back. I have a meeting to attend." She walks to the Yamori, before whispering, " If you kill him. I will make what that investigator did to you look like child's play." Eto disappears into the forest, but her maniacal giggles could still be heard. Causing them all to shudder at the woman's laughter.
"Nico put them in my isolation cell." Yamori whispers as he takes Kaneki back to the base.
"Lets go one eye." Patting Kaneki's back and begin their walk to Aogiri. "I will have much fun breaking you..." Yamori thinks to himself evil.
At Antieku
The members of the cafe have assembled inside the meeting room, as it is all but silent. No one saying a word, as Yoshimura walks in.
"I don't think that we will be able to get to Kaneki anytime soon." Yoshimura says. " However, if we do go I can't promise any of you your lives.
"I owe that bastard my life, so you can count me in old man." Nishiki says quickly.
"I want to save big brother as well." Hinami speaks up.
"I want to save him as well." Touka says, thinking of the time that she has spent with Kaneki.
"Then it's decided. We will begin the rescue mission around the same time that the CCG strikes Aogiri Tree." Yoshimura explains to the small group. Be ready, and the other members of this operation will be here when it's time."
