Kaneki couldn't wait for the next day. He really wanted to see the observant sunshine incarnate. He still knew to be careful around the boy he met yesterday, but he felt like he could just be himself around the other without consequences. Sadly that wouldn't be the case. Humans hated ghouls, and Kaneki was more ghoul than anything else.

Hide had been nice to him though. Kaneki knew the other was actually a lot more observant than he seemed to be. One of the main questions people had asked Kaneki was how he got his hair white. Along with where he got his nails done. His asked none of these and didn't even ask any personal information about Kaneki. And the reaction that he had first gotten when the other saw his hair. It was clear Hide hadn't been fully looking at him until he sat down, then the flash of emotions in his eyes when he saw the other. Hide knew the sickly white hair that Kaneki had was natural.

Still, Kaneki had to see the other. Hide made him feel like a person. For a moment he felt like he didn't have to put himself back together. That it wasn't a fine line he walked between insanity and stability.

That night and the next day passed excruciatingly slowly for Kaneki. It took him hours to fall asleep and his dreams were more nightmarish than usual. Although waiting for Hide the next day wasn't as bad. Sure, it passed slowly for Kaneki but it was fun. He was having Aunt Rize teach him how to read.

When Hide did arrive, it took all Kaneki had in him not to tackle the other to the ground. He was that excited.

"Hide!" And with that, Kaneki's self control slipped and he ran over to the blonde.

"I didn't know you'd miss me that much 'Neki."

"It's boring without you though! Aunt Rize, when she's not teaching me, is flirting with other guys. Touka doesn't like me and is really mean! And all the other employees are scared of me! Hey Hide! Can we go outside?"

"Sure. Where do you want to go?"

"Can we go to the park? I've never been to a park."

They began their walk to the nearby park. Kaneki was excited. He really had never been to a park before. He'd passed the park with Aunt Rize when she took him home, but they hadn't stopped there. He really wanted to climb one of the trees. It seemed fun.

They first passed the playground the park had, before moving on to the more open areas dotted with a few trees. Kaneki ran up to the largest one. Quickly climbing to the highest branch that he could get to, looking like an acrobat the whole time. He grabbed the branch with his legs and fell forward, facing a flabbergasted Hide.

"How the hell did you get up there so fast?!"

"Look at me Hide!"

"Jeez 'Neki. Are you secretly an acrobat or something? With those kind of moves you must be great in bed!"

Kaneki blushed a deep red at this. The boy may have been immune to a decent portion of factors that caused certain emotional responses, talking about sex was not one of them.

"Hide!"

Hide laughed at the blush covering the others face. He was brash and unstable, but there were parts of childlike innocence about him. He probably never got to have a childhood and was using his newfound freedom to make up for lost time. It was actually kind of adorable, Kaneki's reaction. Who would've thought Kaneki would blush that badly at Hide's statement?

"I'm all alone down here Kaneki, so come back down! Rabbits die of loneliness!"

"Coming!"

Kaneki's descent was even more impressive. When he got to a branch that was about ten feet above the ground, he flipped from it landing on his feet. It was rather fun for him. He hadn't done anything physical since he escaped from Cochlea. Although Aunt Rize said they were going to do a little training with him that night.

"Kaneki, why didn't you tell me you were a professional acrobat? Is it really too much to not tell your new best friend about you secret job profession?"

With this they both burst into laughter. Kaneki's once again pale face turned an even darker shade of red than before. Looking at the others face causing them to start up a new fight of laughter.

When they were done, they continued a comfortable walk around the park. Occasionally they'd start up a conversation, but it was mostly a comfortable silence. Kaneki was happy about that. He never thought he'd be able to make an actual friend, much less one who was already accepting of his unstable state.

They continued to walk around for a while longer. Hide had a class to go to and Kaneki knew that Aunt Rize would want to see him. They sadly walked back to the café and parted ways, promises of tomorrow spoken by both.

After Hide left, Kaneki resumed his reading lessons. He'd always enjoyed it when the guard would read to him. They only did it when he was good though. They saw that he loved it so much, that for their only act of kindness towards the boy who was their experiment, they gave him a copy of the book they read to him. Kaneki wanted to not only be able to read it himself, but any book he could get his hands on.

The rest of the day passed like this while Kaneki and Rize waited for Anteiku to close. Yoshimura had decided that Anteiku needed to know at least some of what their new charge could do. It never hurt to be too cautious.

After the coffee shop closed, Yoshimura along with Irimi and Koma, led Rize and Kaneki down to the underground system built by the ghouls of the 20th Ward.

"Where's Touka?" It was asked by Rize.

"Oh, she went with Yomo to get food. So Kaneki, would you allow us to see your kagune?" Replied Yoshimura.

"How much do you want to see."

Koma and Irimi looked slightly startled. Kakuja's were rare and what Kaneki was implying was that he had one.

"All of it, if you wouldn't mind."

"Okay Mr. Owl. I'm warning you though, my kakuja isn't complete so I won't be able to stay in it long. Unless you want me too?"

"How did you know who I am?"

"Why, I'm shocked Mr. Owl. An SSS-rank ghoul should be able to recognize one of their fellow rank."

"You're an SSS-rank?"

"I don't believe I've properly introduced myself to you guys. The name Aunt Rize gave me is Kaneki Ken, but the name I've grown up with is Mukade. Now, let's begin-"

"There's no way you're Mukade." Koma interrupted.

Kaneki brought a finger up to his mouth in a shushing motion. "Shh, I'm talking."

Crack

"As I was saying, let's begin this. I'm growing bored. "

At first Kaneki just showed them his regular Rinkaku kagune. There were eight of them this time. He then mutated four of them into arms and picked up the others in the room. The others began to take on a more grotesque appearance and formed mouths.

"You should eat them Mukade. Indulge yourself a little more." One whispered.

"No, you should play with them first. Come on Mukade, you never have any fun. They're ripe for the taking." Another spoke.

"Do you really wish to become more of a monster than you already are?" The finale seemingly coherent one said. The other was just mumbling insanities.

Kaneki put the others back down. And brought his kagune back in. He looked at the others faces, all obviously terrified.

Koma spoke first. "Did they just...talk?"

"Yes. They're not really sentient though. They just take on the form of my personality. Sadly for me though, I have multiple. Now, time for the rest."

Next, Kaneki did something none of them thought was possible. He brought out a Bikaku tail and used it, then put it away. Next he used a Koukaku. Then he brought out a pair of beautiful Ukaku wings. He crystallized them, and shot out the shards before pulling them back in as well. Everyone was unable to comprehend how the young man before them was able to have all four Rc types.

"How the hell is that possible?!" They all asked at once.

"Oh, easy. One of the reasons a one-eyeds are special is that they can adapt. With all the testing and experiments I went through led to mutations and additional Rc types. They're a little harder to use for me, but still accessible. Now for the final!"

With that, Kaneki used his Kakuja. The bird like mask formed over his face, an armor covering his upper body appeared along with his four centipede tails. For good measure he brought out his regular Rinkaku as well.

Crack

"Is this...good enough Mr. Owl. I don't...know how much...longer I can stand...this. "

"Are you sure Kaneki? Go ahead then."

Kaneki was barely able to deactivate his kakuja. It's effects were noted by all the occupants in the room, what with the insane gleam in his eyes and the maniac grin on his face.

"Thanks, didn't know how much longer I could ask. Now, if you'll excuse me. I'm pretty sure none of you want to be killed and eaten. Have a good night!"

Kaneki left the underground system and went hunting. His kakuja had a really bad affects on his already fragile mental status. He brought back the painful tortures he had to endure and brought him to a state of instinct driven hunger. And all those instincts were telling him to do now was kill and eat. All while thoughts of centipedes in his ear and his toes on the bench flashed through his mind.

Why did he have to be like this? Why was he broken? It wasn't fair! Why does life have to be so cruel? Why?