Chapter III: Dragon's death
"Rize-san" Kaneki halted to see the cause of his tragedy and Furuta's despair. "I am sorry but I have to kill you too" Kaneki clenched his fist. He fought her with his everything. He barely escaped death too but luck is on his side. He wounded Rize mortally just like how he wounded the Washuu king.
"You became strong" Rize rasped out. Her time is running out. A moment ago, she felt Souta is slowly fading. She's been angry for what he did to her despite his claim of loving her. Furuta is selfish, he freed her and when she did not look back towards his direction again, the man chained him. Rize can't blame him though. She heard from Arima two years ago what Tsuneyoshi did to their brother. Nimura was disowned and ostracized because he pitied Rize and set her free. The only reason he wasn't killed by V was because their father genuinely loved his son and Nimura is the only memento he has from Lady Furuta. The old man loved Nimura's mother with all his heart and she reciprocated it. V killed her because she became a threat. V took Nimura under their care and shaped him into an emotionless tool as a payment for the sin he committed against V.
Consuming her new prey, Rize paid no heed to her surroundings until she felt a man standing behind her. Her rinkaku tried to slice whoever is it but when she turned around, to her surprise she saw none other than the white reaper. Rize shivered by merely staring into those silver depths of her half-brother's eyes.
"Rize" Kishou started. He let go of his quinque to indirectly tell his sister that he mean no harm.
"Arima Kishou" Rize back away but the reaper's hand captured her slim arm before she can run.
"We need to talk. It is about Nimura" Her brother's eyes softened.
"Nimura?" Rize did not fight her way out of her brother's grasp. The familiar name made her heart dance. I missed him. She told herself.
"Let's go somewhere safe" Kishou beckons for her to go first and he followed after her. They reached her apartment. Kishou made no comment about the rotting scent inside.
"So what about him?" Rize said. She put a cup of coffee in front of Kishou as they sit into her apartment's living room.
"Send him away if he were to find you" Kishou did not mean to be rude but he is running out of time and he won't risk any chances of Rize ruining their brother's life anymore more than she already did.
"Why would I have to listen to you? Since when did you become an authoritarian?"
"V will kill him this time and there's no way Chairman Washuu can save him. He can't make an excuse that Furuta's actions were out of immaturity on his part. Nimura was punished because he gave you your freedom. The only reason why he was alive was because Chairman reasoned out on his behalf. I doubt V will listen again"
"You think I will believe you, puppet?"
"Nimura was disowned and ostracized. He is not even allowed to see Tsuneyoshi or anyone until two years ago when he joined CCG as a part-time investigator in behalf of V to shadow SSS rate one-eyed owl. V took him away from Chairman's custody upon discovering it was him who freed you. They punished him and forced him to live alone while killing according to their will. I know you love him as children. Do me a favour and save him from getting himself killed. Stay away from him Rize" Kishou stood up without even drinking the coffee. He left in a hurry.
"I am sorry Rize for hurting you" Kaneki said. "That was Furuta's last words. He asked me to tell you that"
"He is the only one who treated me as a person. I want to save him but there's no other way— he is safer without me. Arima told me what they did to Nimura. It was horrible. " Unshed tears clouded her beautiful purple eyes.. "That is why when Nimura met me a few days prior on that night of the incident with the steel beams, I sent him away. Told him I just used him to escape that house. I saw the pain that came across his face. I feel so guilty" Rize admitted. "I want to be with him Kaneki-san but there is no other way—"
"I killed him because I have to save everyone from his destructive tendencies" Kaneki admitted. He was surprised to learn that the two Washuus really loved each other but their circumstances did not allow them to be together. He couldn't imagine him and Touka in such situation; he'll lose his mind it that happens to them. No wonder Furuta turned so rotten.
"I will never forgive our ancestors for being selfish. None of us can truly be happy. We were tools."
"He planned on marrying you" Kaneki automatically answered and Rize smiled.
"Rize" Nimura called her name and he stares at her through his single eye.
"Hmm?" She stared at him.
"Even when we are grandma and grandpa— I want things to stay like this" A genuine smile came across his face. Rize was surprised at her brother's words.
"Washuu blood is like a poison to his body and it is killing him slowly. I was bred to breed with our father and brothers. Nimura planned my escape afterwards. I told him to go with me but it'll be impossible for two children to survive outside and someone needs to distract V"
"Rize-san"
"I can't let him wait for me anymore Kaneki-san"
"I understand. Please be happy with him." He took her life with his bare hands. Kaneki later on carried her with him. When he reached the first ward, the clowns were waiting. Nimura's body was recovered an hour ago. He also found out that Eto died upon Furuta's death because orgel was performed on her. Her control was on Furuta and she died again along with him, Kaneki's guilt-trip tripled. Not only he killed Furuta, He too indirectly killed Eto by killing the Washuu king and he had to murder Rize to save everyone. He placed Rize's body next to Furuta and Eto's cold body. Kaneki Ken later on revealed everything from Kishou and Eto's plans till Furuta's plan because it is befitting to let everyone know that they only want the same thing, Freedom. The only difference is their method and choices on how to obtain the freedom that everyone deserves despite death is their only choice for themselves.
"We need to give them a proper burial" Matsuri commented. He stood beside his uncle's corpse, realizing how this boy resembles his grandfather and father when they were around this age except Furuta's features is a little bit softer. He looks like grandfather when he was young and Lady Furuta at the same time. He couldn't begrudge Furuta anymore; none of them could after they learned what the man had to sacrifice. Souta along with Kishou and Eto gave them their freedom using Kaneki as their front while sacrificing their lives as they play their role well.