Does Man Make the Monster?
Chapter 5
What Constitutes a Monster?
(A/N Hello everyone! Now something interesting has been brought to my attention by a reviewer. My character and CCG partner to Ichigo, Hayashi Akane, actually shares a name with another actual TG character. This was not intentional. I have used variant versions of this character for small rolls in my stories, usually as a plot device of some kind. I had no idea she was sharing a name or I would have changed the family name to something else. So oops on my part. But as I have already invested in her name for this story I'll keep her as such. Thank you and enjoy this lasted chapter.)
SOUNDS/sounds
Thoughts
Inner Voices
(Last Time)
Ichigo rolling up his sleeve and pressed the blade down with a long swiping motion. The blade slid over his skin like it was made of soft yet strong metal. There wasn't even a red mark. He tried again and pushed a little harder but still the blade did not cut through his skin. He groaned, tossed the knife into the sink, and rolled his sleeve back down. Well, that solved that.
It was time he called his dad and Urahara. He'd do it in the morning when he was more awake and they were, too. He got dressed for bed and crawled into his futon. He noticed that the cut on his arm was gone without even a scar. So were the other bumps and busies he recieved. He stretched a bit under the soft covers. It felt good to finally be in his bed after the day he had. Hopefully Ryoko would show up soon. He pulled the covers up to his chin and closed his tired eyes. He hoped that Urahara might be able to at least slow his hollowfication down some. He needed time. He needed time more than anything. He was changing faster than he was expecting and he didn't need this. He still had stuff to do before he quit the CCG for good.
Ichigo awoke the next morning still feeling a little bit like a train wreck. Regardless of how he felt he still had a lot to do and being lazy would do him no good. He reluctantly got up and went about his usual routine for the morning; bathroom, fix a small breakfast, and then TV time. He sat on the floor eating some buttered toast and watching the late morning news. Not too much had happened since last night. He sighed seeing the same segment about his fight with Mado. He touched his lip and found that the cut was no more. He was on his last piece of toast when felt a presence walk into his apartment.
"So, where have you been?" he asked, taking a bite out of the browned slice of bread.
"Really? Is that how you greet me?" Ryoko huffed, crossing her arms.
"Sorry, let me rephrase that. Welcome back," he grinned as she shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"That's better," she answered, walking up to him and sat down. "So I heard about the fight between you and Mado. Nice mugshot by the way."
"Lovely, I know," he snorted, turning to look at her. "We've been at each other's throats for years. I'm honestly surprised we hadn't had a fight well before this. So where have you been? With your daughter?"
"Yeah, I wanted to make sure she and Touka were okay," Ryoko answered quietly and then grew quiet.
He noticed her look down as she knotted her hands together. She was wanting to say something that much was evident. She was just trying to find the words.
"Uh, Kurosaki, about the other night… I'm sorry about Touka… A-and what she did," Ryoko sighed, finally looking back up at Ichigo. "I know what woman was your partner and…"
"Why are you apologizing for something you didn't do?" he grumbled, taking another bite. "CCG investigators know we run the risk of being hurt and killed every day we're out there."
"Yes, but still…" Ryoko said, playing with her hair again.
"Part of it was my fault. I didn't reach your friend Touka in time," Ichigo stated, setting half his toast back on the plate. "We can't always control others like we want. It's just not possible."
"Yes, but—" she found a finger shaking at her.
"No more, 'yes buts,' okay? Bad things happen. Just be thankful Touka didn't kill my partner," Ichigo stated, putting his hand back down in is lap.
"It's just… I know you were angry with her and I was worried that…"
"Fueguchi, I wasn't angry, I was livid. Totally livid."
Ryoko looked at him funny, catching the dark tone in his voice. He still didn't look happy talking about the subject and why should he be? His partner, his friend was now in the hospital with her eye ripped out her of head. Honestly, he had every right to be "livid" as he put it. Touka didn't know how or when to stop. She really didn't like how Ichigo had handled it but Touka finally responded to him because he did get rough with her.
"It was fortunate that I really didn't hurt her," Ichigo said, turning his head away. "I could have done some serious damage and a part of me really wanted to."
She noticed that Ichigo didn't like what he had done to Touka but what else could he do? Touka was a strong ghoul and she… Her mind paused on that as she looked at the back of Ichigo's head. Come to think of it… How did Ichigo mange to restrain her so easily? This thought hadn't even crossed her mind until she was actually talking to him about it. Ghouls are naturally stronger than humans so how did he manage to force and pin Touka back the way he did? Something was clicking in her mind but wasn't turning on.
"Kurosaki…" she muttered, knotting her hands again. "About… About Touka and you that night…"
"What about it?" he grumbled.
"I, um… I-I need to ask you something and it's very important… And I'm begging you not to dodge this," she pleaded, trying to muster up the strength to get the words out. "It's just… It's just that I realized something just now and I want you to be upfront with me. Touka is a ghoul and you… Well, you're a human. So, h-how did you manage to overpower her? It's just that…"
She could see the tension build in his shoulders at those words. They grew tighter and tighter by the second. This was not an easy question or an easy answer. She could tell he didn't want to answer her and she was praying he didn't just avoid it, or worse, get up and leave.
"My power is coming back. It's that simple," he muttered in a low voice.
"So, it's your shinigami powers?" she asked.
No, it wasn't. He would love it if it were that. He'd give anything for that but instead he got his hollow powers instead. He clinched his teeth and balled his hands into white knuckle fists. He couldn't just out and out lie to her about this. That wasn't him. A little white lie like forgetting to do one's homework was one thing but this…? There was nothing little about this. Nothing could cover this up. If he lied about this… He hung his head low and shook it a little.
"Um, Kurosaki, is something…?"
"It's not that…"
"It's not what?"
"Dammit!" he took his fist a drove it into the floor.
"Ku-Kurosaki? What's wrong?" she asked panicked and carefully inched a little close to him. "What's the matter?"
It would be easier to talk to his father and Urahara about this. Maybe he should talk to them first. They would understand what was going on. He didn't want to hurt or scare Ryoko with his burden. She was the first ghost… No the first person he could really talk to since moving to Tokyo. He couldn't tell anyone about his past adventures they would throw him in the looney bin faster than he could blink. He wanted to be open with her but… How? How could he be? Should he even try to be that open with her? Would it even be the right thing to do? Humans eat food, ghouls eat humans, and hollows eat… He hoped it would never come to that. Not ever but… He was never hollowfied long enough to really find out… He felt a cold hand on his tense shoulder.
"I'm sorry if… I'm sorry if that question hurt you or…" her voice faded off as Ichigo reached up and put a hand on hers. "I shouldn't have asked that…"
"No, it wasn't just the question… The first time I became a shinigami a woman gave me her powers to help me save my family from a hollow. But I robbed her of everything she had so while she recovered she taught me how to do things as a shinigami. But one day her brother and another man came to take her away," Ichigo said, letting out a long breath. "But it was more than that. She only meant to give me a fraction of her power, which was not allowed in the first place. Not only was she taken back to Soul Society but I was robbed of those shinigami powers.
"I was desperate to save her as she was considered a criminal. So a former shinigami offered me a chance and I jumped on it. But it didn't come without its consequences. I had to learn to become a soul again before becoming a shinigami. Her brother took it all away and I had to start from rock bottom. To round this up… In order for me to get my shinigami powers back… That chain on your chest do you know what it is yet?"
Ryoko looked down at the long chain with the thick metal plate protruding from her chest. Every soul she knew had them. She didn't understand what they were for.
"No, what is it?" she asked, looking back him and turned around to face her.
"That is called 'the Chain of Fate.' When it's severed a person dies but it's more than that," he said, pointing at it. "If a soul is not brought to Soul Society that chain eats itself up and the soul becomes a hollow."
"You mean…?" she grabbed at the chain, hanging from her chest. "I could…?"
"You still have time I wouldn't worry about it just yet," he said with a long sigh.
She let out a sigh of relief as well. That was good to know. She lightly fiddled with the last link.
"To make me a shinigami my Chain was severed."
"Wh-what?"
"They severed my Chain and threw me into a pit called 'the Shattered Shaft.' I was bound and ordered to climb out," he grumbled, thinking back on it. "But it was worse than that. At the bottom of the pit was some sort of concoction to speed up the process of becoming a hollow. I either come out a shinigami or died a hollow. I did make it out of there of course but…"
"But what?" she breathed, looking at him with worry.
"I had regained my shinigami powers as promised but something else came with it. Something I didn't want," he said, looking down at his black fingernails. "I almost didn't make it out of that shaft and I had actually started to hollowfy just before… What I'm saying is… I am getting my powers back but it's not the powers of a shinigami."
Ryoko's face blanched at those words as she leaned back away from him some. She felt a knot build in her stomach and a cold chill slid down her spine. It couldn't be?
"But… B-but that would mean…" her voice faltered as she covered her mouth in shock.
"I'm hollowfying again. It's just that… This time it's not my soul but my physical body instead," Ichigo said, sniffing a bit and rubbed his nose. "I can't stop it and the changes are coming faster than I'd like. While I was a shinigami I struggled to control it at first. It threatened to consume me and it would have if a group of people like myself hadn't shown me to overcome it. I struggled at times with my alter ego but at the very end we worked together to accomplish our goal. When I lost my powers everything went with it including him or so I had thought. The nightmare, for whatever reason, remained buried within me, sleeping, and only recently started to resurface. The bottom line is that I will basically be a living hollow. I don't know what that will mean for me in the long run."
All Ryoko could do was stare at him in dumbfounded shock. This was not good, not good at all. This was the last thing she would ever expect to come from him. She got to her feet and walked away a little unsure of what was given to her. She didn't know what do or what to think. The only living person she could talk to was becoming a hollow. A monster that ate souls and… He looked back down at her Chain and shuttered. Ghouls were no different. Fundamentally the same and yet vastly different from their counterparts. Ghouls and humans. Hollows and souls. She let out a shaky breath and closed her eyes.
She knew what it was like to be called a monster so she had no right to even think that way about him. He couldn't be like those beasts she saw roaming the streets. He had to be different, right? He was human first and foremost. There was no way he could become something like that. He said he was to become a living hollow so chances were he could still survive on normal food and not eat souls. She didn't want him to be like what she had been, eating others to survive.
"So now you know… That's how I was able to overpower her," he said as she kept her back to him. "And my strength will only grow the more I advance."
Ryoko shook her head and spun back around to face him. She looked like she was about to cry. Ichigo felt a bit awkward and guilty as the sight of a woman on the verge of crying. No doubt he had scared her with the cold bitter truth. He scratched his head and looked the other away.
"Y-you… You said you c-could control it—so—so try it again," she choked out, folding her arms over her stomach in a panic. "Pl-please… I can't—I don't w-want you to be… To b-be…"
"Fueguchi?" he blinked, looking up at her again. "Are you…? Look, I didn't mean to scare you! Please don't—UMPH!"
Ichigo was practically tackled onto his back with Ryoko on top of him. She was clinging to him and crying just as hard as she could. Ichigo just stared at his ceiling in shock. He was not at all expecting this response from her and he felt a little uncomfortable with this. He hadn't known her for long after all. If anything he had expected her to be scared of him but it seemed more like she wanted to pity him instead.
"Fueguchi… Are you okay…?" he muttered, trying to sit up. "Please, calm down!"
"I-I don't want this f-for you," she almost yelled, holding him tighter. "I don't want y-you to become one of th-those beings!"
"There's nothing I can do," he said, lightly stroking her back. "It's going to happen."
"But you… You said you st-stopped it once," she cried into his shoulder.
"I never really stopped it. I could control it to a degree because of my shinigami powers but now they're gone. I don't have that leverage anymore," he stated, pulling her off him a little so he looked at her. "As it is we have some form of understand between each other so it's not that... bad...?"
He gave her an awkward shrug and she sniffed. It really could be a lot worse.
"I-I just don't want you t-to become another monster l-like I was. I ate h-humans to survive. What if y-you have to eat souls to do the s-same?" she exclaimed as Ichigo looked at her wide-eyed. "I know what th-that feels like and I wouldn't w-wish it on it anybody!"
"Feuguchi, please, calm down! I don't yet know how far the hollowfication will go," he tried to calm her, holding onto her again. "I may not have to eat any souls. I just don't know."
"B-but what if it turns into th-that?" she asked, rubbing her tear soaked eyes.
"Then I'll deal with that issue should it arise," he answered her. "Are you really that worried for me?"
"Wh-what do you think?" she almost snapped at him. "How are y-you not a-about yourself? H-how are so calm about th-this?"
"I wouldn't say I'm calm per say…" he drawled. "I've just accepted a fair amount of it."
"Y-you accepted…" she gasped, pulling back from him.
"This isn't my first rodeo with this devil," he answered, putting a finger under her chin. "I have friends that can help me deal with this. I've accepted it but that doesn't mean I'm not going to fight it."
She just stared at him through her tears and he smiled at her. Did she honestly think he was going to give up? He slid out from under her and got back to his feet. He then helped her back to her own. He drew in a deep breath and ran a hand through his hair. It was about time he cut it. He was getting tired of it getting in his eyes.
"Oh, and another thing…" he looked her dead in the eyes and put a hand on her head. "Never call yourself a monster again."
She just remained quiet as he walked around her and headed back to his bedroom.
"You didn't even realize you said it, did you?" he gave a weak grin, opening his bedroom door.
She shook her head as her answer.
"You're no monster, Fueguchi. The term is quite broad and highly misused. There was only one person I know of that I can truly call a monster and you are the complete opposite of him. Never use that word to describe yourself."
She wiped her eyes again and sniffed some. It was so widely accepted that ghouls were monsters that she hadn't realized that word came out her mouth. She heard that all her life and as much as she tried to think differently she just couldn't…
Thump…
She pulled her hands from her eyes seeing the bedroom door closed. She really wondered just how much he actually accepted his fate. She didn't want to say he was putting up a front but she couldn't shake the feeling. He was trying to make her feel better but… She sniffed again and turned to look at the TV briefly. She wanted to check on him but thought against it. He closed the door for a reason and it would be rude to intrude on him. Maybe it was the mother side in her that was worrying about him so much. It was odd really. The man was only a few years younger than her but still…
Kaneki sighed as he walked out of the kitchen with some clean dishes. What he wouldn't give to have this day off. Touka still wasn't quite up to par and she wanted one extra day to make sure she was fit enough to go back to work and school. He obliged her of course and Hinami had moved out to live with Touka. He was happy to hear that. He was just a little surprise by it though.
He sat the tray of dishes down and started to line them to be used next. He recently became quite popular in the ghoul community for facing down that investigator. He tried to play it off. He really didn't want the attention but it seemed unavoidable. He looked out over the counter at the café. It was pretty much dead. There was only one person at a table and Kaya was taking care of her. He turned as he heard someone walk down the steps. He saw a woman and young boy walk towards the door followed by Yoshimura.
He vaguely remembered them from earlier wanting to see his boss. He didn't think much on it then and no too much now. They were most likely here to get "meat." The two walked out the door Yoshimura shut the door behind them. He smoothed back his gray hair and turned back to the stairs. He then paused and looked at Kaneki.
"Kaneki, do you have a moment?" Yoshimura asked.
"Y-yes," he nodded, setting the last cup down and hurried over.
"Come with me," Yoshimura motioned and the walked up the stairs. "I want to talk to you about something."
"Like what, sir?" Kaneki asked as Yoshiro let him into the room that Hinami had been staying in.
"Take a seat," Yoshimura gestured to one of the couches. "You're not in trouble."
Kaneki nodded and took a seat as Yoshimura took the one across from him. Kaneki wondered why Yoshimura called him up here. He said he wasn't in trouble so…
"Kaneki, the two that I just escorted out… Well, they told me a very interesting story," he said with a long sigh slid a few strand of silver hair back into place. "What I want is for you to tell me about that day with those flowers again."
"You…? You mean the ones from Hawk?" he asked and Yoshimura nodded. "Well, uh, let's see. It was the day right after Mrs. Fueguchi's death. I was there to pay my respects but… I saw Hawk there. He set down two bunches of flowers. One for Mrs. Fueguchi and the other for Hinami."
"You said the arrangements had hidden meanings behind them?"
"Yes… Yes, I did… I can't remember it too well now but… He was basically saying that Mrs. Fueguchi was a brave mother and that she won't be forgotten. Hinami's basically said that he was planning to protect her."
"Hm… Interesting… Now, Kaneki, about those two. Her name was Watanabe Sachiko and her son's name was, Junichi. It seems last night… Well, they attempted to pull off a very dangerous stunt. The whole ordeal left Mrs. Watanabe and her son quite shaken. They faced down Hawk and alone at that."
Kaneki looked very stunned at those words and he felt a knot build in his stomach. Why would he save Hinami and then turn around and attack this family?
"What? But…" Kaneki voice faded as Yoshimura shook his head.
"They attacked him first. They thought they had the upper hand. They foolishly believed that because he was in a fight earlier that he would be injured. Also the fact that he's suspended he would be defenseless without a quinque. That clearly was not the case."
"So what happened?" Kaneki said, feeling that knot tighten more.
"Something very interesting. Watanabe and her son took their idea of hunting down Hawk from the attacks made by Incognito and of course Touka. They followed him for a little ways and in between bus stops they jumped him," Yoshimura explained. "He was unarmed do to his suspension and they saw an easy target. Despite being knocked to the ground and about to be killed... Watanabe told me something most peculiar. She said that the young man laughed her for what she was trying to do."
Kaneki said nothing but just stared hard at his manager. Ichigo laughed at them. If they were really planning to kill him that's not something to laugh at.
"He laughed at them?" Kaneki choked out and Yoshimura nodded.
"But things only get stranger from there. Although Hawk was innocent of this act it was to get revenge for her late husband. Hawk being one of the CCG's most well known she saw this as a way of getting back at the company as a whole. When she started to explain things he just laughed and brushed off their threats. It was enough to rattle them and he eventually took control of the situation and no one was actually hurt. He agreed with them that he had no right do what he was doing as an investigator but that they were just as guilty by attacking him and making themselves known to the rest of the CCG. Watanabe told me the Hawk said something that resonated hard with her. He was concerned about Junichi and what would happen to him should she be killed or if she let her son be killed by mistake. That alone was what really got to her. Hawk was worried about her son and what might become of him. Hawk this supposedly told them to leave and to never try to kill another investigator. Hawk just picked up his hat and walked off after that."
Kaneki let those words bounce around in his head for a few moments. He was worried for the boy and his mother? Just like he was with Ryoko and Hinami. He lightly licked his dry lips. So, had he really had a change of heart after all?
"Something else... Hawk didn't take over the situation with his words alone. He was completely weaponless but still used hand to hand combat which is very risky against a ghoul. Both told me that he just tossed them around about like they weren't much of anything. He was also unnaturally quick, catching them off guard. The fact that he manhandled them completely alone and barehanded really said some thing to me and I think you might have something to add."
"Wh-what do you mean, sir?" Kaneki asked, uneasiness in his voice.
"I feel you know a bit more to this story than you're letting on," Yoshimura stated and Kaneki flinched. "I started thinking about those flowers while they were talking to me. You were the one who saw them be placed down and you even deciphered their meaning. Touka reported that Incognito had a strange ability to also move unnaturally fast and had actually handled her with his bare hands as well. Incognito's mysterious appearance and mission seems to follow perfectly with what Hawk had stated in those flowers."
Kaneki closed his eyes and lowered his head. The manager didn't need to go on anymore. Kanaki knew that Incognito was Ichigo. He had smell that same herb mixture on Touka that was coming from Ichigo's apartment. Yoshimura just wanted to hear it straight and remove any doubts.
"I'm assuming you asking me if are they the same person… Well... Then yes, they are," Kaneki let out long breath, glancing up at his employer for a moment.
"Are you sure?"
"Aren't you, sir?"
Yoshimura sat up a bit straighter and studied his employee.
"Kaneki, be honest with me. Just how much do you know?"
"I-I know… He kept his word. He d-did help protect Hinami and he even stopped Touka." Kaneki was feeling very uneasy and Yoshimura could tell.
"Kaneki…" the manager drawled and young man gave up.
"Okay… I kinda sort of know him… H-he lives three doors d-down from me," Kaneki muttered just loud enough to hear clearly.
Yoshimura almost held his breath at teh moment. He did nothing to hide the look of surprise on his wrinkled face. That wasn't what he was expecting to hear. Not even close. Kaneki and Hawk had had contact in the past?
"So you've had contact with him?" Yoshimura asked and Kaneki shrugged. "How much?"
"Well… Yes and no. I don't... W-we would talk to each other a little when we ran into each other going and coming… Well, th-that was before Mrs. Fu-Fueguchi… After that I avoided him and he seemed to do the same with me," Kaneki said, lightly biting his bottom lip. "I-I haven't had any real contact with him since. I've been keeping my h-head down, trying to stay off his radar. I'm sure he knows I have something to do with ghouls. He tried to help Touka and I get away from that strange investigator Mado the other wh-when we to the C… Oh…"
"What?" Yoshimura asked and Kaneki clamped his hands over his mouth.
Clearly Touka talked the poor boy into something that might have gotten them both killed. It might be best to not question what that was. Some things are just better off not knowing.
"I-I wasn't supposed to…" Kaneki mumbled through his hands. "Sh-she'll…"
"I'm not going to press it but, Kaneki, I want you to do me a favor," Yoshimura said, getting to his feet and walked over to the window and looked out. "If you don't want to do it I won't force you into it. But if Hawk really does mean to help us I want you to be Anteiku's liaison."
"Wh-what…? M-me, sir?" Kanaki stuttered, looking at his boss, wide-eyed. "Y-you want me t-to…?"
"Again you don't have to do this," Yoshimura stated, turning back around to Kaneki. "It's completely voluntary on your part."
Kaneki shuttered thinking about actually confronting Ichigo after all this time. He never even tried to look the man at those brief instances. Now hear about what Ichigo could do without the use of quinque made Kaneki even more nervous. He didn't want to say no to Yoshimura but he wasn't sure of the risk. Ichigo was never hostel towards them and he was stupidly brave enough to leave that flower as thank you. Ichigo never confronted him about it so...
"I-I'll think on it," Kaneki said, tilting his head down.
"Normally I wouldn't advise such a dangerous move but… After all the things I've seen and heard lately…" Yoshimura said, walking back over to Kaneki. "We may have a true alley should the need arise. But still tread carefully with this. I want you to decide if this is possible or not. I want you to make the choice."
"Like I said, sir… I'll think on it," Kaneki said, getting up to his feet wanting to get out of uncomfortable situation. "The next rush will be here soon."
"Yes, of course. You may go," Yoshimura said, stepping aside to let Kaneki out of the room.
Kaneki walked out and closed the door with a quiet click. Yoshimura wanted him to be a liaison? The thought sounded good but… Was it a good idea? He walked back down the stairs and into the café. Like he told his boss, he'd think on it. It would be nice to have Ichigo on their side but did Ichigo want to risk his own safety? As Incognito, ghouls seemed to love him but as Hawk they hated him. It was also reversed. As Hawk the CCG adored him but as Incognito they wanted to kill him. When it came to it Kaneki was more worried about Ichigo's safety than his own. If anyone was walking a thin tightrope it was Kurosaki. It might be best to keep his distance like he had been doing all this time.
Ichigo sat on his futon and dropped his phone from his fingers into the light blue covers. He had just finished talking to his father and Urahara. His father said he'd be out there on the next available train but Ichigo told him to hold off for now. He was working on something on his own and didn't want to get others involved at the moment. He just wanted his dad to be aware of his situation. Then he called Urahara. The man… Well… Ichigo wouldn't say the man was delighted to hear about his blight but there was a tone that just said, "new test subject." But he knew Urahara was genuinely concerned that much was certain. Ichigo needed to log any new changes and how fast they happened and relay them over to Hat 'n' Clogs. Urahara also wanted a DNA sample to study as well. Albeit creepy it was quite understandable.
He had been cooped up in his bedroom for a while now. He didn't even know if Ryoko was still hanging around or not. He gave her a watered down and basic as basic could get explanation. He really hadn't accepted his fate as much as he put on. He lied when he said he only knew one true monster. He knew two. One of course was Aizen and still reigning king in that department. The second was his inner hollow. He knew the wants and desires of his albino demon. They were little whispers at the back of his mind. Like last night when the mother and her son attacked him. He normally wouldn't find that funny. He would have taken it more as a serious matter but he laughed at it like some childish sitcom.
Even now the corners of his mouth twitched thinking about that. He shook his head to clear it. No, that wasn't him! He suddenly got to his feet and walked back onto the living room. Ryoko was gone. He doubted she would stick around if he wasn't going to talk to her. He turned off the TV and picked up the last of his breakfast off the floor. He dumped the last of the toast in the trash. It was close to lunch now but he didn't feel like eating at the moment.
More than anything he just needed some fresh air to clear his head. He put on some jeans, a t-shirt, and his coat. He grabbed his ball-cap and keys and out the door he went. He did needed to do a few odds and ends so shopping seemed like a good thing to do. He raced down the stairs and headed off to his favorite store.
He had another week off of work tacked on to his medical leave. He'd take it as an extended vacation. However, he wasn't getting paid for that said extra week off. Suspensions tended to do that. He'd be a little short next month on his paycheck. He was only a block from the store when he noticed something rather unpleasant move his way. Ichigo clicked his tongue as he saw of all people, Mado walking towards him. He was so not in the mood to deal with that old bastard.
"Well, now… I'm surprised to see you out and moving about," Mado leered, stopping beside him at the crosswalk.
"Mado, not now. We're not even supposed to have any contact with each other according to the suspension agreement," Ichigo state frankly, taking a step back from him. "So don't talk to me. Ever!"
"Now, now… I just wanted to apologize for yesterday," he said, looking over at Ichigo. "No harm in that, is there?"
Ichigo just pursed his lips together and looked away from him. Mado adjusted his sling a little.
"So Amon tells me Akane is pretty much awake now. She is a little groggy from the pain meds though. Of course that is to be expected. She hates that you can't visit her," he hummed as Ichigo turned and walked off. "I thought you'd be interested in her condition? She is your partner after all!"
Mado wanted something, Ichigo knew that much. He wasn't stupid enough to stick around and find out what. He was using Akane as a way to make him stay and he wasn't going to fall for it. He kept moving down the sidewalk, he'd just take an alternate route to the store. He didn't feel like putting up with that old corpse today.
"Kurosaki, just a little of your time, please," Mado said, catching up to him.
"Leave me alone," Ichigo snapped, moving a little faster.
"Look, I really just want to bury this hatch between us," Mado grinned as Ichigo stop dead.
"You mean bury it between my shoulder-blades?! Now, you look! I've known you long enough to know that you're trying to glean something out of me," Ichigo barked, pointing a finger in the older investigator's face. "Whatever you want you can forget it! We aren't even supposed to be within a certain amount of distance of each other. Not contact, remember?"
"What makes you think I want something out of you?" Mado shrugged, trying to look innocent.
"What other reason do you have to talk to me?" Ichigo pointed, crossing his arms. "Any other time you avoid me like I carry the plague!"
Mado and Ichigo stared hard at each for a long awkward moment. Mado finally cleared his throat.
"Ah… Yeah…"
"Mm-hm…"
"Right… Well…"
"Bye…"
Ichigo spun around once more and started walking at a fairly brisk pace. He called the bastard out on that one. Ichigo knew Mado wanted something that really was the only reason for Mado to talk to him.
"Just one last thing! Akane said the Rabbit took her eye not Incognito. Why do you think he'd lie about that?" Mado called after him.
Ichigo bit his tongue and kept moving. He was not going to indulge that old goat. He just needed to do his shopping and go home. Mado didn't like geting the brush off. It was better to just go for the throat on this one.
"By the way that cut on your arm… Where did you get it?"
Ichigo whipped around and without missing a beat...
"My apartment's haunted by a vengeful ghost! He has knack for throwing knives! Asshole!"
He shouldn't have even been a smartass but he didn't like how this was looking. Mado must have caught the scent of something. Damn it… Now he really had to be careful. Mado was trying to bait him and once Mado hooked something he doesn't stop reeling until it's in his hands. Hopefully, Ichigo wasn't on a hook just yet.
Mado watched as Ichigo hurried away from him vanishing into the crowd. Such a sarcastic answer. Ghosts? That was laughable. If it wasn't for the suspension agreement Mado would have badgered the boy even more. Ichigo was using that to his advantage to avoid speaking with him. Mado turned the other way and started back from where he had come. Ichigo wasn't as stupid as he led others to believe. Mado started to learn that only the last couple of years. The young man had a good head on his shoulders when he wanted to use it. Now of all times he was choosing to use it.
Mado scoffed looking at his injured arm. It wasn't great when he started that fight but it got worse after it. That was to be expected. Ichigo was young and fit and Mado was older and his age was slowly catching up. He gritted his teeth and slammed a fist into a street lamp. The metal pole rattled and hummed from the impact.
"Kurosaki…" Mado practically growled, shaking his sore hand a little. "Let's see just how good of a poker player you really are. Heh. Hehehehe…"
Ichigo walked to his door with is arms were laden down with heavy bags. He bought more food than he meant to. It wasn't good to shop while hungry. He wasn't even hungry when he started and that's what aggravated him. He groaned as he set the bags down and unlocked his apartment door. He shoved everything inside the door and shut it behind him. Finally it was good to be home.
He picked through the bags for his food items before walking into the kitchen. When he walked in he wasn't too surprised to see Ryoko but the other person there startled him and he dropped his bags to the floor out of shock. He blinked at the timid man with short brown hair, round glasses, and a large, bloody cut running down his face.
"Ku-Kusaba…?!" Ichigo choked, staring dead at him, mouth slightly hanging.
"H-hi… Kurosaki," he half waved, looking rather uneasy and a little hunched over.
"Wh-what's he doing here?" Ichigo asked, running up to Ryoko. "Where did you find him?"
"He spotted me walking back to your apartment and he followed me," Ryoko said, crossing her arms. "We ended up startling each other and I defended myself."
"You kicked me in the balls!"
"You aided in killing me! I'd say that was fair!"
Ichigo could feeling the very beginnings of head ache building.
"Okay… How about not fighting in my apartment, thank you," Ichigo said, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Ugh… Oh, man… I need to deal with another ghost like I need another hole in the head."
"It wasn't like I invited him. I didn't know he was following me until I arrived here," Ryoko said, playing with her hair again.
"Well, what else was I supposed to do? I mean you are a ghoul," Kusaba stated. "Of course I'd be suspicious of you."
"Ghost not ghoul," Ichigo corrected and he picked his groceries up again. "Fueguchi can tell you herself that her ghoul ability disappeared on her death when she became a soul."
"Wh-what?" Kusaba stammered, pointing at her as Ichigo put his groceries away. "You m-mean she's…?"
"I'm a normal person like you now," she said with a small huff. "Ichigo said death was the great equalizer."
"Uh, wait a minute! You can see me?" Kusaba suddenly caught on as he raced up and got in front of Ichigo. "You can actually see me?!"
"A tad slow, are we?" Ichigo snorted, pushing Kusaba out of the way of the fridge. "The answer is yes, and you're in the way."
"Y-you can… You can touch me?" he reached up and poked Ichigo in the side of the head. "I can touch you, too."
"Kusaba, cut it out," Ichigo snapped, swatting his hand back. "Go somewhere while I put up my groceries away."
"I'm sorry… It's just that… You're the first person to notice me," Kusaba almost shouted, stepping out of the way. "I tried to get in contact with Nakajima, my mother, and others but…"
"Not many can. It takes a special kind of person to see spirits," Ichigo said, putting in the last of the cold groceries and shut the door to the fridge.
"Could you always do this?" Kusaba said as Ichigo gathered his bags. "See ghosts and stuff?"
"Since I was a kid," Ichigo said, turning to look at him. "Can't really say that I see spirits, now can I? Especially with our regular psych-exams to make sure we're not completely nuts. Grant it, to do what we do we have to be a little crazy."
"Yeah, I guess," Kusaba muttered, rubbing the back his neck.
"Man… I didn't even do anything today and I'm still tired," Ichigo yawned, putting the bags in a basket to use later.
"Didn't your doctor say you sustained a minor concussion?" Kusaba asked as Ichigo snorted in response.
"If only it were that…" Ichigo grumbled, walking into the living room and grabbed the last of his bags.
"What does that mean?" Kusaba asked, pushing up his glasses.
"Long story," Ryoko said, hanging out in the kitchen door. "Best not to ask him."
"Why not?" Kusaba inquired, turning to look at her.
"Just don't. It's not a good subject to bring up," Ryoko sighed as Ichigo ducked into the bathroom before shutting it. "He's just having a really hard time right now."
This was a little awkward, if not a little unnerving now that he thought of it. He was dead, talking to a dead ghoul, and standing in a co-work's apartment that can see the dead. Yeah, this was just perfectly normal. He sighed and sat down on the floor. He shivered a little taking everything in around him.
"Is he sick or something?" he asked as Ryoko walked up behind him.
"I'm not really sure if you could call it a sickness," Ryoko said, looking down at him. "I shouldn't even be talking about it to you."
"I guess that's fair," he said, looking at the bathroom as the sound of an electric razor turned on. "Are you really… You know…? Normal? Like normal normal?"
"Yes, I am. There's not a trace of ghoul in me," she stated, firmly. "And if I wasn't?"
"I-I… I don't know… It's not like I could fight you," he grumbled. "I was only a Rank 3… I was better suited doing office work more than anything."
They just stared at each other for a long heavy moment.
"Hmm… So, this is a bit uncomfortable," she sighed.
"Yeah, uh… Totally agree with you," he nodded.
The two became silent again and turned from each other. The only sound was that of the buzz from the electric razor, coming from behind the bathroom door. A few minutes passed by and Ichigo finally stepped out, brushing a little hair off his shoulders. It was a little shorter than normal but with the way his hair was growing it was best to do it this way. He saw Kasaba and Fueguchi talking to each other but they were keeping their distance. Animosity was hard to get rid of.
"Getting along any?" Ichigo asked, walking up to him. "No more crotch shots?"+
"Don't bring that back up…" Kusaba shuttered and Ryoko snickered a little. "It's not funny! That really hurt!"
"Oh, your hair looks good," she said, looking up at him.
"It's a little shorter than normal. Did you use the wrong guard?" Kusaba pointed out.
"No. I wanted it this way," Ichigo mumbled, running a hand through his much shorter hair. "I did it for… Never mind."
Kusaba blinked at the strange answer. He did it for what? Ichigo seemed different from what he remembered. He wasn't acting quite as goofy. Something was really bothering him. Fueguchi hinted at something but zipped her lips up tight. How could he open up to her and not to him? They'd known each other for years. Sometimes he, Nakajima, Hayashi, and Kurosaki would go out and eat together on their down time. Ichigo really seemed quite distant and that worried Kusaba.
"You okay?" Kusaba asked as Ichigo walked around him to pick up the remote for the TV. "You're not acting like yourself."
"I just have a lot on my mind," Ichigo replied dully, turning on the TV and started surfing the channels for something to watch.
"What sort of an answer is that?" Kusaba grumbled as Ichigo shrugged. Suddenly something caught the ghost's eye. "Oh, what's that?"
"What?" Ichigo asked, turning to look at him, noticing Kusaba was staring at something.
"You painted your nails black?" he pointed out as Ichigo closed his free hand.
"Yeah…" Ichigo grumbled.
A moment later Kusaba felt a light swat on his back. He turned to see Ryoko shake her head and place a finger over her lips. It was just a simple question. What were these two hiding? He didn't like it. He pursed his lips and hunched his shoulders. He then let out a sigh. Whatever it was hopefully they'd tell him sooner or later.
A few days passed and Ichigo was about to go mad from Ryoko's and Kusaba's constant bickering. They weren't bad fights but it was just that perfect amount of annoying and infuriating. They would take jabs at each other constantly. Oh, yes, animosity wasn't something someone could just overcome. To make matters worse they were trying to pull Ichigo to one side or the other. He just wanted to be a neutral party. Not able to take it any more Ichigo decided to get out and take a walk in the afternoon air. Hopefully things would be calmer by the time he returned.
He stepped out and shut the door behind him taking in deep breath. He rubbed the bridge of his nose when he heard a thunk on the metal walkway. He turned to see someone passed out. He hurried over and crouched down to see who it was. The person looked like he'd been through hell and back. He was dressed rather nicely, well, was dressed rather nicely. His clothes were dirty, torn, and bloodied.
"Hey, are you okay?" Ichigo asked, rolling the person over. "Ka-Kaneki? Hey, Kaneki! Wake up! What happened?! Kaneki! Damn…"
How did the boy get into such a poor state? Well, he couldn't leave him lying there. He picked Kaneki up from under his arms to take him somewhere. He thought about bringing Kaneki into his apartment but that might not be such a hot idea. He needed to keep a safe distance. Bringing him inside might undo a lot of his plans. He carried Kaneki over to his own apartment. He found Kaneki's keys and opened the door. He carried the boy to his bed and took off his shoes. He really was out cold for him to not even respond. What should he do now? It couldn't hurt to get him a cold cloth for his head and leave him some water by his bed.
Ichigo hurried and got the wet cloth and a cup of water. He set the cup down with the keyes and put the cold cloth on Kaneki's head. He sighed as he looked down at him. His injuries didn't look too server. He partially closed the bedroom door and then walked outside, making sure the front door was locked. He continued on down the walkway and to the steps. Ichigo wanted to find out what happened if he could.
He found a few drops of blood here or there but with all the foot traffic it quickly became impossible to follow. He dropped his shoulders and kept walking. He didn't know what else to do. He hated to just dump him off like he did but he didn't want or need to get involved. He had his own issues to deal with. His hair was growing faster than before and his body hurt from time to time. The black eye, split lip, the cut on his arm, and even his broken nose had healed up. There wasn't even a trace of bruising on his face. A package showed up the other day from Urahara. It was a swab to collect his DNA. He mailed it back out the same day.
He just meandered around the streets for a while. It wasn't like he had anything better to do. In just a few days he'd be heading off to work. He'd wait a little while before putting in his resignation. He'd stay just long enough to tie up any loose ends that might be hanging. When he got back to work he'd have to put up a front that he was still against ghouls. That was going to be hard to do. He suddenly stopped, taking notice of where he was. To his right was the hospital Akane was staying in. He'd loved to walk in and see her but being barred from the grounds made it was kind of impossible. He didn't feel like going back to jail just to see her. She wouldn't like that too much.
He had called her several times but it seemed rather impersonal. At least to him it did. She was depressed of course but she seemed to try and be a little optimistic. It would be a good while still before she'd come back to the office. He shook his head and kept moving. The guards didn't need to see him lurking just outside the grounds. He pulled his hat down a little as one of the said guards walked by. He debated going back home. He had been out over an hour now. He might just stay out a little longer to snag something to eat.
Kaneki slowly woke up to a hazy but familiar room. His head was pounding and every little noise around him sounded 100X louder than what they were. It looked to be a around sundown given how little light was coming into his room. He slowly sat up onto his elbows when something slid off his head and on to his middle. A wash cloth? It was just barely damp at this point. He didn't remember getting that. Hell he didn't even remember walking into his apartment. He sat up completely and saw the room temp glass of water by his bed. His shoes were paired together right at bed.
He picked up the cloth and looked at it. He gave it a quick sniff knowing that smell instantly. He clothes even carried the same scent. It was Ichigo's. Kaneki turned back to the glass on the night stand and saw his keys next to it. So, Ichigo was in here? How? He... He didn't even know how he got in his own place. What happened to him hours before started to resurface little by little. He hugged himself realizing how close he had come to being killed and eaten by someone he thought he could call a friend. He shivered remembering everything. He still managed to stumble home it seemed but possibly not far enough. His neighbor got involved somehow and drop him off in his bed.
Kaneki went to stand but realized the drug was still weighing on him a little. He flopped back down and let her head settle for a moment. He got back up slowlly and stumbled a bit to his door and out into the living room. He unlocked the front door and looked outside. He groaned. It really was dusk outside. He turned his head towards Ichigo's apartment. He wasn't sure if the investigator was home or not but he was still skeptical about walking over to see. He drew in a long breath and shut the door. Right now he needed to look after himself more than anything. After what happened today going to face Ichigo could wait just a bit longer.
A couple more days passed and Ichigo was coming back home from the night at the movies. He was trying to get his sleeping schedule back in order before he got back to work. That meant forcing himself to stay awake, whether he liked it or not. He had gotten into the habit of sleeping at night and waking in the morning. He didn't need that. He unlocked his door and stepped in. He did not feel like staying up but what choice did he have? He yawned a bit and walked over to the TV and turned it on.
"You're back," Ryoko said, walking up to him. "How was the movie?"
"You could have watched it with me, you know. It's not like anyone was going to stop you," Ichigo said, turning to look at her. "There are a lot of ghost in theaters. Free movies, I say that's a win-win."
"I know it's just that I don't like action flicks like that," she sighed and looked over at the door. "Oh, you didn't see it?"
"See what?" Ichigo asked.
"The note. Kaneki slipped it under the door for you," she pointing at the folded paper on the floor. "He looked worried about something and he left it in a rush."
Ichigo walked over and picked it up. He opened it and read it over. A look of fear took over his face. It couldn't be… He quickly turned on his heel and rushed to his bedroom. He reached under his futon opened the plastic bin holding his Incognito costume.
"Kurosaki? What's the matter?" she asked as he got his outfit in order. "What did the letter say? Is it Hinami?!"
"No, it not your daughter. It was very short handed but he told a human friend was kidnapped by a ghoul and he needs help. He told me where and I have to hurry," he said, rushing into the bathroom. "When did that letter show up? I need a time frame!"
"Uh, well… I'd say about… Uh… 15 to 20 minutes ago. Maybe 30 at the most…" she stammered out and she heard him getting dressed in a hurry from behind the door.
"Damn," Ichigo bit out, rushing from the bathroom, tightening his belt. "I hope I don't arrive too late!"
"Hey, what's going on…?" Kusaba asked, walking through the front door only to stop dead watching the chaos. "What's with the outfit and why does it smell so bad? It really reeks!"
"Later, Kusaba. I need to go," Ichigo snapped, looking at him briefly.
Kusaba pushed up his glasses up as Ichigo ducked into his bedroom and quickly came back out with a few more items in his hands. Kusaba watched in confusion as Ichigo threw a large heavy cloak over his head. Ichigo slid on a pair of thick gloves and adjusted the voice modifier in his gasmask. Something then dawned on Kusaba as Ichigo put the mask on and strapped it down.
"Hey, wait… That outfit is the same one that…" Kusaba said, looking wide at Ichigo. "You can't be… Don't tell me you're…"
"We'll talk about this later, Kusaba," Ichigo snapped, tying up his boots and stood. "I don't have time to explain."
"Kurosaki, hold on! People we'll see you in that," Ryoko said as Ichigo opened the door.
"No, they won't," Ichigo's robotic voice answered as the door was shut in the blink of an eye.
Ryoko and Kusaba rushed out but there was no sign of him anywhere. Not even on the stairs. They stood still for a moment or two on the empty walkway. Kusaba than turned to Ryoko. His face was rather stern and he crossed him arms. She looked over at him and took a step back.
"Kurosaki is Incognito?" Kusaba spat, glaring at Ryoko.
"Yes," she nodded with a soft. "He took on the persona to save my daughter."
"Your daughter? Has he lost his mind?!" Kusaba snapped, clinching his teeth. "Why is he trying to save you ghouls?! I don't understand that!"
"We're people, too, Kusaba! Or haven't you realized that yet?" she bit out and he stepped back in surprise. "Yes, some of us are what you think! I won't deny that! But... But we have a lot of the same needs and wants as any other human! Not all ghouls can kill… I couldn't…"
"You really expect me to believe that?" Kusaba snapped back at her.
"You were there that day. I didn't even know how to fight against those two," she said, shaking her head. "I never used my kagune to hunt so how I was to know how to fight? Did you honestly think that it was that easy to take down a ghoul?"
"No… I… It's just…" he didn't know how to respond.
She had a very valid point. He had been an other cases where it took lot of work to even bring children down. She hardly lasted any time against Mado and Amon.
"I never hunted because I could never bring myself to kill another living person," she said, sharply. "And another thing! Just because others do hunt doesn't mean that they don't have any regrets for what they do."
"I don't see how ghouls can have any regrets about what they do!"
"Look at me! What do you see? Without my ghoul ability what am I? I want you say it. Please. Tell me, what do you see?"
Kusaba stared at her from a little distance. What was she? She was… She was just an average woman. There was nothing special or monstrous about her. If it wasn't for the fact that he knew her history he would think nothing much else about her.
"A woman. An average woman."
"So… What if suddenly the entire ghoul population lost their ability, what would they be?"
Kusaba struggled with actually saying it.
"H-human…?"
"So… What constitutes as a monster? How does man make the monster, Kusaba?"
"I'm not… Sure…" he mumbled, hanging his head down. "It's just…"
"Ghouls aren't the only 'monsters' on this world. There are human monsters too; serial killers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and so on," she said, pulling at her braid in a small fury. "Monsters are more than physical but a matter of perspective. It's just… People can't see beyond what's… Humans and ghouls; we're all short sighted as a whole."
She then turned sharply on her heel and walked back into the empty apartment. Kusaba was left alone in the cool night air to think. He looked back to the paved ground far below. Does man make the monster? She was right? There were human "monsters" that was true. It was more than common knowledge but it's easier to call ghouls monsters as they weren't human. The things they could do defy human's abilities so it was only natural to call them that… It also didn't hurt that they fed on people. They fundamentally looked human and that's what scared people the most. But serial killers also look and act like average person fitting in perfectly. So maybe in some way it was a matter of perspective. He sighed heavily and pushed up his glasses again. What really was a monster and how could they be properly defined?
The fight had been going on for several minutes now in a church of all places. Nishiki was hurt and came in already too weak to fight but the poor man tried nonetheless the moment he walked through doors. Tsukiyama was having none of it and quickly acted on removing Nishiki from the picture. Kaneki was trying his best to fight Tsukiayama as well but a sharp kick to his middle brought him down quick. Even after Touka showed up to help, Tsukiyama still had the upper hand.
The extravagant ghoul was truly enjoying himself fighting Touka and Kaneki, the poor boy he wanted so desperately to eat. He even had the audacity to flirt with Touka a little and that was not going over very well. His face quickly met the broad side of a hard hitting sneaker. He was forced back, knocking out some of the church's pews in his wake. Seeing his chance Kaneki even took a shot. He struck the same cheek Touka had. Hopefully that would be a little more damaging to the weirdo.
"I won't be eaten by you and I'm getting Kimi out of here," Kaneki stated, holding his ground.
"Very nice kick, Kaneki," Tsukiyama said as rested among the broken pews before sitting up.
Not missing a beat Touka and Kaneki went to attack him together.
"Hahaha! Oh, boy…" Tsukiyama laughed at them.
To their surprise and horror he blocked both of their attacks at once. He had Kaneki by the hand and forced a hard kick into Touka's middle. She managed to land on her feet but just barely. She was hunched over, holding her aching middle. He then turned his eyes on Kaneki.
"Look at the two of you," he mused. "You move in the exact same way."
He then twisted Kaneki's arm over, forcing the inside of his elbow to face upward. Kaneki had an inkling of what was coming but didn't know how to stop it. The look of fear was etched into his face. Tsukiyama was going to do what Kaneki had done what the that hulking brute back at the ghoul restaurant.
"If I remember correctly… I think it was like this…" Tsukiyama bit out and forced his knee into Kaneki's fragile joint.
There was an audible crack as Kaneki's arm broke at the elbow. He let out a gut reaching scream of pain to Tsukiyama's delight. Touka watched in shock as Kaneki hit the church floor, writhing in pain from his now inverted elbow. Tsukiyama looked down at the damage young man and licked his lips a little. The anticipation was getting to be too much for him.
"Heh. A little taste," he hummed, taking his hand and quickly pierced Kaneki's gut.
Kaneki coughed blood from his mouth before Tsukiyama yanked his blood soaked hand out. The anticipation was getting to him more and more with each passing second. He practically put his entire hand into his mouth to have sample of what was to come. A look of surprise and enjoyment painted Tsukiyama's his face.
"TRES BIEN," he called out into the rafters of the church. His face mirrored the ecstasy he was feeling. "What is this flavor?! It's like nothing I've ever tasted before… A complex harmony of flavors swirling on my tongue!"
There was nothing else he could compare it to for there had never been any like what he just tasted. Kaneki was rare find and a true delicacy.
"Damn… This is way better than I expected. But… This is… Exactly why I want, something better… I won't settle for simple greatness," he stated boldly, looking down at the wounded Kaneki, before moving his hand to gesture towards Kimi. "Now is the time to server… Her… Where did she…?"
"Tuski—" Touka yelled, ready to lay another kicked to his pretty head.
But instead he caught her leg and tossed her back to the ground. He clinched his teeth as he glared at the empty alter that Kimi had been lying on. How did she get out of her binds? His body shook a little in anger. How was he to enjoy his feast if she was missing? He planned this whole thing out and he would be damned if…
"Hey, asshole," a robotic voice sounded from out of the blue from behind.
Tsukiyama barely had the time to register the odd voice before finding a hard fist in the side of his face. He went flying once again into the empty pews. What was that? Who was that? He suddenly caught the scent of something most foul. How did he miss that? It was pungent and acrid. It was enough to make him sick. That rancid smell was now on his face from where he had been blindsided. He forced himself to sit up to see just who would…
He blinked at the figure before him. He was tall and cloaked in dark, bulky clothing. In his right hand was a long black bokken and his face was obscured by an ugly gasmask. Adding on the ungodly smell… The corners of his mouth pulled apart as he got back to his feet. Oh, this certainly was a treat.
"My, my… Now who do we have here?" he grinned, rubbing his sore jaw. "Incognito, I presume. Now, I must say you really pack quite the punch."
"What are you doing here?" Touka asked, standing a little ways behind the cloaked man.
"I'm helping you out," Incognito replied sharply. "I thought that would be obvious."
"So I take it you know each other?" Tsukiyama said, looking between them.
"Not really, no," they both replied in unison.
"Oh? Well, no matter. However, this something I need an answer to…" he hummed, before pointing at the empty alter and yelled. "Where the hell is the woman? She is a key ingredient in tonight's feast!"
"Aw, too bad. You'll just have to go hungry then, won't you?" Incognito scoffed. "She's not even on the property anymore."
"Not on the... What did you do?!" Tsukiyama yelled at the newcomer. "Where is she?!"
"I untied her and told her to run," Incognito answered, pointing at the end of his bokken at the irate ghoul.
"K-Kimi she's… She's okay?" Nishiki asked with a strained voice.
"She wasn't hurt when I released her but very much scared," Incognito said, glancing at him for second. "Hopefully she won't bring the police or the CCG down on us."
"Sh-she won't…" Nishiki said, trying to get to his feet. "She knows better… Than that…"
"You know… I'm rather upset about this, Mr. Incognito. Rather irate in fact," Tsukiyama bit out as his eyes flashed red on black. "All the painstaking work I went through to have this feast and you just… You just…"
A split second later Incognito and Touka jumped out of the way as Tsukiyama came down with his kagune. It struck deep into wood floor, just missing them. The long kagune spiraled down his right arm and ended in a sharp point. He glared at Incognito and put on a mocking smile.
"Do you have any idea what I went through for this?! I've been fasting just for this very moment and you ruined it! I'm practically starving," Tsukiyama stated, brushing back a piece of fallen hair from his angered face. "I've waited so long for the moment when I could eat Kaneki and you had to go ruin it all! It was a simple plan really—"
"Ugh… L-long story short. He wanted me to eat Kimi wh-while he ate me," Kaneki summed up, holding his torn and bloodied middle.
Incognito did a slow blink, before turning to look over at Kaneki. Was this asshole actually going to dine on Kaneki like some delicacy? This guy had much more than a screw loose.
"What. The. Fuck," he responded slowly. "You've got one hell of a freakish fetish."
"He's the Gourmet if you haven't figured that out yet," Touka stated, helping Kaneki to sit up. "He's sick in the head."
"Oh, now, Kirishima, that's not a very polite thing to say," Tsukiyama growled, trying to keep a civil grin. "You just don't have the same taste in food that I do. Of course, I don't expect you to understand the refined palate that I have."
"You, uh, want me to hit him again?" Incognito asked, pointing the purpled haired ghoul..
"Why are you even asking, idiot?" she snapped as Nishiki finally stumbled over to them. "Knock that pretentious smirk right off his damn face!"
"Fair enough," Incognito sighed, gripping his bokken firmly and took a step forward.
"Hahahaha! That… That is just too damn much! Are you really going to fight me with that toy?" Tsukiyama laughed, pointing at the wooden bokken. "Please don't be hesitant to use your kagune! We're all ghouls here! There's no point on hiding it!"
Kaneki looked between Tsukiyama and Incognito or rather Ichigo. Ichigo was human he didn't have a kagune and how was he planning to fight Tuskiyama? He didn't have any of the CCG's weapons on him that he knew of. He looked over at Touka if there was anyone that could help him fight, it was her.
"Help him," Kaneki said, turning back to the two combatants. "Please, he might need you."
"I don't think so… What I saw down in the tunnel… Even without using his kagune he's no push over," Touka stated.
"Please, Touka," Kaneki begged again.
"Ugh, fine! But don't ask for anymore favors like this again," she snapped, getting her feet and stepped over Nishiki. "Hey, Tsukiyama!"
"Oh? Two against one? Why that hardly seems fair," he grinned as Touka walked up and stood beside Incognito.
"Shut your damn mouth," she snapped.
"I can handle this," Incognito told her, flatly. "You don't need to get involved."
"You think I don't know that? Kaneki asked me to help you."
"Did he? Well, let's see how much damage we can do together."
"Heh… I'd much rather have you with me than against me, that's for sure."
"The feeling is rather mutual."
The two then lunged forward and up into the air, aiming straight for Tsukiyama. Now was the time to see how well they could work together to take on a mutual enemy. After all, Tsukiyama wasn't going to go down without a fight.
(A/N Well, are you happy? Another update! Okay so… Tell me what you think? I now the first half was a little slow but I hope the end made up for that. Let's see how this fight turns out. I bet I've made a few of you mad. Please, forgive me but it keeps you coming back, right?)
Millie M. Banshee