So many choices,

Screamed by the voices.

People shouting for the dead

And screaming 'off with his head'.

I know my mind as well as you,

So let's see all you can do.

You seem to have this power,

So please help me in my darkest hour.

They watch me,

That's plain to see,

But I know I'm not the same.

It's all my fault, I'm the one to blame.

It'd be so, so easy to just let go,

But we made a promise, you know.

So on I'll scream

And on I'll scream.

….

"Goddamit! Where the hell did that brat go? He was supposed to go through here!" A starved ghoul walked the alleys of the ward. He had just lost the meal he had been chasing, and still couldn't find the little shit. "Fuck! I'm starved!"

He walked down the alleyway, smacking the wall when he still couldn't find the little shit who was to be his dinner. It was all fucking Rize's fault. The stupid Binge Eater had to make everywhere her territory, never mind the weaker ghouls who wanted to eat too (not that he was admitting he was weak). The fucking bitch. Even if she wasn't hunting as often, she still made it fucking hard to eat.

An older man began to shuffle out in front of him. He was stick thin and old, but he would do. Any human would really do at the moment, but the older man was a more preferable candidate for consumption. Activating his kakugan, the ghoul jumped and launched himself at the man.

Click

The ghoul was quickly cut in half, hands flying as his torso was separated. "Gah!"

"My my, you were eager to leap into the fire. That was rather easy.

"Did you know that in Article 12, Clause 1 of the Anti-Ghoul Act, it states that 'A species, against which special precautions should be taken, known as ghouls are distinct in that it is confirmed that they can produce kakugan and kagune.' Same article, Clause 2, 'In relation to the target distinguished as ghouls-'"

"Do-don't tell me… It can't be… You're jo-joking r-right?! How d-did I-I miss the briefcase?!"

"'There are no laws which protect those individuals.'" Screams filled the now silent streets.

"I'm sorry for keeping you waiting, sir. The information about that ghoul I got from the CCG…

"... Err, what happened here? All this?" He said after staring at the dismembered body that lay in front of his superior.

"Well, I was attacked by a rather foolish ghoul. Thought he could eat me."

"Is that so? Of all things, to think he'd aim for you."

"The weak little bastard fell right into my spider's web."

"What an extremely foolish ghoul. Isn't that right, Mado-san?"

"Indeed, Amon-kun."

It wasn't until they had packaged the body that Amon spoke again. "We'll first need to go to the Branch Office in the 20th Ward."

"That's true, there's also some information we need to hear from the Branch Director."

Amon began to glance around. It felt like they were being watched, and definitely not in a good way. 'Where the hell are they? The roof?' He looked up at the roof of a building facing them. Nothing was there, they must have gotten away.

"What's wrong, Amon-kun?"

"Nothing really, sir. I just felt like we were being watched. That's all."

"You sure are on edge. I guess someone from the Academy would get worked up over different things."

"Haha… I suppose my nerves are a little strained."

Both were now oblivious to the ghoul hiding behind the building. He had almost been caught, he hadn't really thought the younger investigator would be able to sense him all the way up there, but he had gotten the information he wanted: Doves were coming to the 20th Ward.

….

How do you do it?

You don't make me feel counterfeit,

You make me feel like I should live on,

To make an effort to be less withdrawn.

As my sunlight fades,

I'm shackled by the choices I made.

The agony I hold in my hands,

Is a dream I hope you never understand.

My life will never be stable,

In this broken and empty fable.

I never want to see you end,

So don't say goodbye my friend.

It'd be so, so easy to just let go,

But we made a promise, you know.

So on I'll scream,

And on I'll scream.

….

Kaneki needed a haircut, and he needed one badly. When he had been in Cochlea, while not often, they would cut his hair. Just enough so that it wouldn't affect anyone experimenting on him, so it was only done when it got too long. Which would be now.

"Aunt Rize!" he called out. Maybe she could cut his hair. She'd probably be real gentle while doing it too.

"Yes, Ken-kun?"

"Could you cut my hair? Please Auntie Rize." He stared up at her, a pleading look in his eyes. He actually looked rather cute while begging, almost as if he was a child.

"I'm sorry Ken, but I don't know how to cut hair." She felt almost guilty for denying him.

'We shouldn't go out for a haircut, too many people.'

'Hunger's right Mukade. There are too many out there. You've seen the posters, somebody might recognize us. Going to Anteiku during the day is already dangerous as it is. Somebody someday is going to take the time to piece together the information, we should try to prolong this as long as possible.'

"No salons."

"That would probably be for your best interest, I guess. Maybe we can see if Anteiku could help. They try to restrict my feeding grounds, the least they could do is help give my nephew a haircut." She continued to mutter about the restrictions they were trying to place on her. Stupid doves and stupid Anteiku, trying to mess with her feeding and eating habits.

"Can we go now Auntie Rize? Pretty please!"

Rize sighed, "Okay Ken, we can leave now. They shouldn't be too busy at the moment right now anyways."

"Thank you Aunt Rize!"

So off they went to Anteiku, Kaneki blathering on about his upcoming haircut and Rize smiling at her adorable little nephew. He was just so excitable and, while annoying at times, was still so innocent. Seeing him like this was just fueling her desire to act in what most would consider rather uncharacteristic, and for her it was; he made her want to protect, not for herself, but for her wonderful little nephew who needed a good cuddling and a peaceful life. Yes, she deemed, it was rather out of character for her, but she didn't give a damn.

When they got to Anteiku, they were met with a tired Touka who had just gotten off her shift. "Excuse me, Touka-chan, but could you help us for a moment?"

"And why the hell would I help you, Rize?"

"It's not me that needs help, rather it's Ken-kun."

"What's Bakaneki gotten into this time?"

"Hiya Touka! My hairs getting really long, but I can't go out to get it cut and Auntie Rize doesn't know how to do it. Would you please cut my hair?" He was making that face again, Rize could tell. Touka's resolve was beginning to weaken.

"Fine! I'll do it just this once, shitty brat."

"Thank you Touka!" A huge smile was plastered on Kaneki's face. For the next twenty minutes, he tried not to fidget as Touka led him to the back room of Anteiku and sat him down as she got out a pair of scissors and began to cut. By the time she was finished, his hair was shorter and a lot neater than he'd ever had it. When he was imprisoned, he was lucky if they just cut his hair. Most of the time, he was scalped. So this, this was something special. Touka was gentle and actually made sure he liked his haircut. It was rather strange being cared for.

"That actually looks really good."

"Yeah, it looks great Touka!"

"Yeah, whatever." After many more thanks, the pair left Anteiku and returned home.

….

It was later in the day, and Kaneki was playing with his hair while sitting on Aunt Rize's couch. It really was rather strange to get a haircut that didn't bring pain (not that he felt much of that anymore) and looking like he'd just hacked his hair off with a kitchen knife.

"Maybe I should get a book on beauty techniques," he mused. "I'd be able to learn how to cut my own hair and could even help Aunt Rize." He went back to fiddling with his hair.

A knock sounded on the door, it interrupted his train of thought. Aunt Rize had gone out about an hour ago to patrol her territory, to make sure no lowlife ghouls decided to hunt on her area while she wasn't there, so maybe it was her? It wasn't likely though, Auntie Rize wasn't one to lock herself out of the apartment. So with great curiosity, he rose from his seat and walked towards the front door. What awaited on the other side was actually a rather pleasant surprise.

"Yo, 'Neki." Hide walked into the apartment carrying a bag.

"Hide!" After making sure the other was fully in the apartment and the door closed, Kaneki drew Hide into a bone crushing hug. Burying his nose into the crook of the others neck, he took a deep inhale of the relaxing scent that was Hide. It had only been a few days, but he missed him.

"Hide…" He murmured softly against the others neck. Hide's arms gently encircling Kaneki, gladly reciprocating the now gentle hug.

"Looks like you got a haircut, Kaneki."

"Yep! Touka gave it to me."

"Touka-chan did? That's awfully nice of her."

"It was. Aunt Rize doesn't know how to cut hair, and I don't know how to do it either yet, so we asked Touka and she knew."

Hide slowly let go of Kaneki, putting enough space between them so that he could show him the bag. Hide started to chuckle, "Looks like we both had plans for your hair today."

"What do you mean Hide?"

"I thought we could dye your hair," he lifted up the bag in response. "We don't have to of course, but I think you'd look good with dyed hair. Besides, it's good boyfriend bonding time material. I've been dying of loneliness these past few days." An exaggerated look was thrown in for effect.

"What do you mean 'dyeing my hair'?"

"We'd be changing it a different color."

Kaneki was worried now. He knew his hair hadn't always been white. They had started the experiments when he was an older toddler, something about babies not being developed enough and having to wait, but even then he knew that his hair wasn't white. From the few glances he saw, his hair had been dark. After they started though, it turned to that sickly white.

"Will it h-hurt Hide?"

Hide was startled by this sudden change over Kaneki. The poor kid. "No, it won't hurt you Kaneki. It may itch at times, but that's only with bleach and we're not bleaching your hair."

"Are you sure Hide?"

"Positive." He reached over and ruffled Kaneki's hair, hoping to calm him down some.

"Okay."

"Well, I think black would be best for you. You don't seem like the kind of person of person who'd want bright hair. I bought a few other colors though, if you want something else."

"Black's fine."

"Then follow me." Hide led the way to the bathroom, pushing Kaneki down on the toilet seat when they got there. He set his bag on the counter, pulling out the box with the black hair dye. He quickly got to work, mixing the correct bottle and shaking. He slipped on gloves and began the process of dyeing Ken Kaneki's hair.

By the time Hide had gotten half of his hair done, Kaneki was fidgeting like crazy. "'Neki sit still," he stopped for a brief moment to laugh," I'm almost done, but it's hard to work when you're moving around."

"Oh, sorry. This stuff just feels really weird."

"I know, but I'll need you to sit still to finish. The faster we get this done, the faster we can wash it out."

From then on Kaneki sat as still as he could. It was hard though, the stuff felt really weird. It was kinda cold, and made him feel like he'd just dunked his head in a tub of mercury, except not has heavy. It was definitely a lot nicer than the tests he had to go through with liquid metals though, that's for sure.

They spent the next twenty-five minutes after the initial application goofing around, with Hide trying to keep Kaneki from accidentally dyeing the apartment. Kaneki was actually rather relieved when he had the chance to wash it off, stuff still felt strange.

Hide quickly covered Kaneki's eyes and pulled him over to the mirror. He slowly removed his hands from Kaneki's face, making sure to drink in the others reaction. Kaneki reached up and touched his now black hair, surprised at the sudden change. It felt the same and was still his hair, but it wasn't white. It wasn't white.

"Thank you, Hide."

"Glad you like it 'Neki." It made Hide happy to know he could help Kaneki, even if Kaneki didn't know it himself. He knew changing his hair color had a more special meaning to Kaneki, but it was also Hide's way of protecting him. The doves were looking for Mukade, who had white hair. While he couldn't do much about facial features, he could at least make sure he wasn't as easily noticed. Black was a lot less noticeable than white, and Hide didn't want to lose Kaneki.

….

He was chained to the wall again, facing it with his back exposed. Well, what was left of his back. Where his lower back had been was now a gaping hole of blood and torn muscle trying to remain on bone. They'd taken his bikaku kakuhou again for their masses produced quinque knives.

Drip… Drip… Drip…

His blood continued to splatter against the floor, coating his feet and adding to the puddle on the floor. Blood was dripping from his wrists, the chains cutting in deeply.

'Come and join us.'

'No, you need to wake up.'

He closed his eyes.

….

I'm still running through this nightmare,

I really wish you didn't care.

All I do is drag you down,

I never ever wish to see you frown.

Bound with chains and hung by shackles,

Listening to their maddening cackles.

I'll never forget that day,

Where all my pain just faded away.

You make me happy,

And oh so sappy.

But all good things must leave,

Before my happiness can conceive.

It'd be so, so easy to just let go,

But we made a promise, you know.

So on I'll scream,

And on I'll scream.

Thanks for being my beta Kuro~!