Eto wearily rubbed her eyes. It was four in the morning, and (thankfully) Kaito and Hitomi were fast asleep. Kimi had brought Eto flashlight to use so that she could still write or draw, even when the sun went down.
Eto had finished the drawings on the cover of the children's Kanji books. On the cover of Kaito's, there was a bird soaring over the open ocean. On Hitomi's was a very detailed realistic eye. She wrote their names in the upper right corner.
She sighed, and tears began to stream down her face. Hitomi and Kaito were a week old now. That entire week, Eto had one nothing but argue with herself over what to do. And she had finally come to a decision. It broke her heart, and it stung more than anything Juuzou had said to her.
She pulled a notebook and a pen out of the nightstand. She took in a shaky breath and began to write. When she finished her letter, she tore it out of the notebook and read it to herself.
Kimi,
I'm sorry to have to do this. It breaks my heart, but it seems to be the right choice. I am leaving Kaito and Hitomi at an orphanage anonymously. They are more human than ghoul anyway. I've read up on ghoul hybrids, and apparently, they have no functional kagune and are capable of eating human food. The only ghoul trait I know they have for sure is a single ghoul eye. If they have shot at living in human society, that is what I want for them. As for me, I am returning to Aogiri. It is my job. I wish I could take the children with me, but my organization is no place for them. I am grateful for your friendship and all that you've done for me. As for Kotori, I will leave a body here each month, and she can eat. Thank you again.
-Eto Yoshimura
Eto got up, made her bed, and placed the letter neatly on the pillow. She pulled her dusty suitcase out of the closet and packed all of her belongings into it. When she made sure the room looked exactly as it did when she had found it many months ago, she walked over to the stroller in the corner.
It was one of those nice double strollers that are comfy for babies, and Kaito and Hitomi were sleeping soundly inside. She wiped her tears away and laid the infants down onto the bed for a moment. She hastily took the stroller down the stairs, and then ran back up and fetched her children.
She held them tightly as she walked down the stairs, and it felt as if her heart tore a little more with every step. Eto reached the lobby and walked across it, the full moon's light illuminating the dusty furniture. She went outside to where she had parked the stroller.
She situated Kaito and Hitomi inside the stroller and tucked their kanji books next to them. She sighed and began to push the stroller to the only orphanage she knew of in this area: Kokucho Orphanage.
She walked slowly, streetlights casting strange shadows. After what seemed like a heartbreaking eternity, Eto reached the orphanage. It was surrounded by woods on three sides. Good for the kids to play in, she thought.
She walked the stroller the the front door. All was silent. It was a once story, old fashioned wood and cobblestone building. Eto leaned over and kissed Kaito and Hitomi on their foreheads.
"Be good now," she whispered, tears beginning flow again. "Mommy loves you."
With that, Eto knocked on the door as loud as possible, and then turned and ran as fast as she could. She ran all the way back to the hotel, where she grabbed her suitcase. She wanted to cry, but Eto would not allow herself to. She was no longer their mother.
She dragged her bag along a familiar route, and she finally stopped in front of an apartment door. Her old apartment, the one she had given to Noro. Using a bobby pin, she picked the lock and entered.
It was still simplistic inside, and Noro's scent indicated he still lived here. She set her bag down next to the couch, and then walked to a small closet in the guest bedroom. Inside, she was delighted to find her dress, bandages, and scarf. She went into the bathroom and flicked the lights on.
She stripped down and began to wrap herself, and she caught a glimpse of the stitches on her arm. No, she told herself. You will not think about Juuzou. And you will not think about your chil— Kaito and Hitomi.
When she was ready, she walked over to the fridge. There was a schedule hung on it.
"How expected of Noro," she said to herself, smirking.
She found today's date. It was marked for a meeting. Five thirty to seven thirty a.m. She glanced at the clock; it was five twenty. She looked at the location, and then headed out to the abandoned office building where the meeting was being held.
She arrived at the building at 5:45. She was late, but Eto honestly did not care. She followed the heavy scent of ghouls through the hallway in order to find the room the meeting was being to held.
She felt a little nervous, but then remember it was her who had founded Aogiri. Plus, she was more powerful than anyone else. She followed the smell to a pair of double doors. She could hear a familiar voice she identified as Tatara's speaking. She took and deep breath and busted through the doors.
"I'm bbbaaacckkk!" she sang out.
All the Aogiri executives sat around a table, and they stared at her with expressions ranging from horrified to downright confused.
"So I see," Tatara said.