Chapter 4: The Calm Before The Storm


Hinami ran in circles around Light excitedly talking, "I'm so excited! Thank you for coming with us!"

Touka grabbed her bag and sighed as her eyes landed on L and Renji speaking quietly, "Are you sure it's safe for us?"

L nodded, "Though the CCG isn't thrilled about his species type, they recognize him as a ghoul investigator. Doves won't mess with their own."

Hinami smiled and pulled Light out by his hand, "Let's go!"

Light smiled warmheartedly, "Alright, alright!" Touka sighed and followed both of them out.

Renji sighed, "You think Aogiri will come for him?"

L shook his head, "I know they will. Normally, if I could trust him with someone else's well being aside from my own, I would have sent B with them alone. He's stronger than Light, however, as we both know…"

Renji nodded, "Thank you for considering their safety."

L nodded, "Naturally. They aren't expendable. But, I also sent Light with them because ghoul investigators are prowling the streets, with or without higher permission, they are killing ghouls. Light won't let that happen. They aren't unprotected, however. I've sent B to watch over them. They're rumored to be the sword and shield when they work together, creating a near flawless offense and defense." Renji nodded with a tiny appreciative smile.


Hinami smiled brightly as she held Touka and Light's hands, "Thank you so much for coming with us, Light!" He smiled and nodded.

Light looked up quickly and pulled both Touka and Hinami behind him. A young boy with stitches looked up and blinked before smiling, "Light! Hiii!" Light narrowed his eyes slightly as he approached, "Wow! Small world! I didn't expect to see you guys here in the twentieth!"

Light held Touka and Hinami closely behind him, "Juuzou… Why are you here?"

He looked down, "The hospital… My partner was nearly killed by the Killing Owl… Hey, can I ask you something? Or maybe L?" Juuzou looked down, "Well, hello there!" He waved at Hinami who hid herself further behind Light's leg. Juuzou frowned slightly, "I guess I deserve that…"

Light stared at Juuzou coldly, "What do you want?"

Juuzou looked up and sighed, "Certainly not the worst…" He smirked and spoke in his usual singsong tone, "That wouldn't be very smart… Not with Wolf so close, he nearly killed me in a sparring match, think how awful he'd be to me in a real one on one!"

Touka raised an eyebrow, "Sparring?"

Juuzou smiled and nodded, "He's a resident badass of the CCG… No one has beaten him yet… Wow! Think what would happen if Wolf and Arima went at it… Who do you think would win? The undefeated Ghoul or the undefeated Dove…" Juuzou blinked as B landed in between the two, "Oh! Hello Wolf! I have a favor to ask!"

Beyond shifted a cold stare in his direction, "What?"

Juuzou sighed, "See, I recently ran into the Owl… And, I didn't fair as well as I had hoped… Maybe you can train me in some combat? Specifically against Kakujas." Juuzou smirked, "I already know the answer, but it couldn't hurt to ask, right?"

Beyond glanced at Light, "Doves are coming, it's best to return, they're in a large militant formation… It's best we retreat and refortify their home."

Juuzou blinked, "Huh? They aren't supposed to be here, they're supposed to be hunting Aogiri."

Light scented the air, "They are..." He pulled the girls along towards the coffeeshop.

Beyond stared at Juuzou who timidly asked, "Can I come with you guys? I never had the chance to ask what I wanted asked… I really could use L's advice right now." Light narrowed his eyes and continued away with no answer. Beyond stared at Juuzou's leg and nodded before squatting down. Juuzou smiled brightly and clung to Beyond's back.

"I'll take you to L, but if you cause trouble for him, I'll eat you." Beyond lifted Juuzou and held him tightly to keep him from falling. He walked behind Light and the girls, occasionally shifting an uncomfortable stare at the people walking by staring at them.


The door opened and both L and Renji seemed to be relieved, Renji tensed up at the sleeping Juuzou on Beyond's back. Light motioned for the girls to go upstairs. They both looked down and climbed the stairs. L raised an eyebrow, "What's the matter?"

Juuzou opened his eyes at the sound of L's voice. Light sighed, "Doves are marching towards the twentieth in militant formation, B saw them and Juuzou confirmed they are hunting Aogiri… Seems your bait plan worked."

L nodded, "Indeed."

Beyond smirked and set Juuzou down next to L in a seat, "Time for the Giants to fall." L nodded. Renji prepared a sandwich for Juuzou.

Juuzou looked down, "L. I have a question. Is it wrong of me to resent ghouls?"

L nodded, "Yes."

Juuzou hung his head a little, "Why?"

"You're no better than a scared human that way, you must grow, adapt, use their strength as your own. In a head to head, humans would stand no chance against them. This is a testament to the ghouls as a whole. Humanity still stands."

Juuzou nodded and looked up with a determined stare, "I see! So, like humans, there's the good, the bad, and the ugly!"

L nodded, "An intelligent investigator once said to me; 'If an angelic being fell from the sky and tried to live in this world of ours, I think even they would commit many wrongs.'" L glanced over at a smiling Juuzou, "Who are we to judge this being, if we cannot understand it."

Juuzou smiled as Beyond motioned for L to follow him, L tilted his head slightly, "Excuse me…" He stood and followed Beyond up the stairs, as they rounded the corner he was snatched up and hand Beyond's hand over his mouth.

The door opened and two Doves stood in the doorway, "Ah! Investigator Juuzou S! You're already investigating this shop?"

Renji widened his eyes slightly and stared at the boy like Dove, Juuzou smiled, "Oh yes! Nothing here but delicious sandwiches! No ghoul activity! I've already searched the property. Move along, nothing to be found here."

The other CCG uniforms nodded and waved as they exited. Renji continued to clean a glass, "That was kind of you."

Juuzou sighed and picked up his sandwich, "I won't make that mistake again…" He took a happy bite of his sandwich, "So good!"