Chapter 4

The Meeting of The Strongests

8:45 AM

"Dammit idiot Nishiki, we're going to late!"

"Bitch that's your fault for making me wait for you!"

Two ghouls were quarreling while running like they were being chased by lions. The female one with short dark blue hair snapped her head towards her friend who was also running beside of her.

"What did you say!? Who told you to wait for me anyway!?"

The brunette haired man with glasses gaped his mouth in disbelieve.

"WHA- IT WAS YOU, KIRISHIMA TOUKA! You told me to wait for you because you didn't want to go alone which is one hell of a very stupid reason!"

"I NEVER SAID THAT, YOU FUCKING FOUR EYES!"

"ARE YOU HAVING SOME SORT OF BRAIN DAMAGE!? YOU SAID THAT TO ME CLEARLY YESTERDAY ON FUCKING DAMN PHONE!"

The energy that was used to lashed out seemed not slowing them both for reaching their destination. Not long after, their fast feet finally made it to the base's location.

Giro and Kazu weren't there, indicating that they were absolutely late.

"Shit, we're really late!" cursed Touka as she curtly clicked her tounge. "Oi, Nishiki. You bring your card?"

When Touka turned her head around, Nishiki was already swiping his card on the card machine that was attached on one of the steel bars. Suddenly the ground was shaking lightly and the steel door appeared from under.

"I always bring this with me, unlike you." without anymore talking, Nishiki ran down the stairs, followed by the scowling Touka.

Their arrival at the lounge invited the attention from all the remaining members there. Then suddenly, one of the members with blonde spiky hair who was wearing a shade shouted from his sofa.

"Yer meeting just started 5 minutes ago, tardies! Ya can still make it if ya quickly run ahead!" shouted the punk styled ghoul with a joking tone. He made the other ghouls in the room laugh. He seemed like the funniest guy here.

"Who are you calling 'tardies', huh!?" snapped Touka letting her bad tempered recurrented again. Before somebody got killed this morning, Nishiki smacked the indigo haired ghoul's head from behind.

"Ignore him, idiot! If you wanna get angry over something obvious then I'm leaving you behind!" Nishiki ran ahead towards the big two doors ahead. Feeling embarrassed yet still annoyed, Touka also quickly followed her friend to the meeting room. She was hoping that the leader would somehow forgive them both.

"Those lovebirds sure are late." thought Rize with a bored expression. There was a novel on her lap, and she was thinking of reading it while waiting. It was a 388 pages psychological novel that both her and Kaneki like. The cover was black with a picture of half eaten apple.

"Oh come on, Rize-chan~ You and Kaneki-kun also just got here awhile ago~" said Itori with a teasing tone. Hearing that made Rize get annoyed, even though the brunette woman was right.

Yamori who was seating on the black sofa along with Kazu laughed out loud, making the man beside of him felt irritated. "Gahahahaha! I bet you were waiting until I was gone and asked Kaneki to go inside the bathroom! Gahahaha!"

Kaneki only sighed and put his cheek over his palm with his elbow rested on the sofa's arm. He couldn't say that Yamori was wrong, because it was the truth, and also the reason why they got late. But the leader didn't want to get teased anymore, especially in front of the others. He already had enough of it this morning. Well, even though everyone in Mukade already knew about the leader and the Binge Eater's relationship, still it was something he would like not to show off too much.

"Now... now... Don't make the boss upset, will ya?" said the man with the centipede number 34 tattoo on his scalp. It looked like he had experienced the leader's wrath.

A tall man with purple hair that matched the color of his suit spoke up in french,"Vous plaisantez, Giro-san! Kaneki-kun wouldn't get upset over something trivial, wouldn't he?" he said as he stressed the 'trivial' in english.

"What are you talking about? Kaneki-san would probably get sick of it if you tease him too much, Tsukiyama!" countered Banjou who was standing near the unamused Kaneki. Then all the ghouls inside the room were busy with their argument, besides Kaneki, Rize, and the silent ghoul, Kazu.

Midst of the ruckus, the white haired leader only kept his mouth shut, letting his patience took over. There was no point in joining the silly argument anyway. This always happened, every Sunday. So often that Kaneki almost began to get sick of it. But the leader just tried to focus on waiting another two ghouls.

"Kaneki."

The white haired man heard he was being called by the lavender haired woman beside of him.

"Yeah?"

Without warning, Rize suddenly pulled Kaneki closer by pulling his tie and kissed Kaneki on his lips. Everyone didn't notice except Kazu who didn't give a damn. Between the lustful kiss, Kaneki closed his eyes and went along. Sometimes it really occured. One of them would suddenly 'attack' one another whenever there was a slipped chance. Like this time, the glassessed woman taking the advantage of the others who were busy with themselves.

Not long after, Kaneki broke the kiss and grinned, "You and your sneaky habit, woman." Rize smiled and wetted her pink healthy lips with her tounge.

Suddenly, the doors were harshly opened from outside, making everyone who were busy bickering inside shifted their attention towards the arriving ghouls.

"Sorry we're late!" shouted both of them in unison. All the ghouls inside figured out the late ghouls were running because they were panting heavily and covered in sweat.

Touka immediately bowed 90 degrees, indicating her sincere apology, "I'm deeply sorry. I overslept and it's also my fault that Nishiki's also late. I asked him to wait for me." when he heard that, Nishiki got startled.

"Oi! What are you saying!?" whispered Nishiki outloud. But Touka ignored him without even giving any glare.

"I'm prepared to take any sort of puni-" before Touka got to finished, Kaneki already cut her sentence off.

"Forget it, I don't really care about your reasons. It's alright. I also just got here with Rize, so take a seat. You too, Nishiki." ordered the leader stoically. He separated himself from Rize's clutch and leaned his back on the checker patterned sofa.

"R-roger..." Touka awkwardly moved herself towards a red couch where Itori was seating nicely with her crimson red sleeveless gown. The grown up woman winked and patted the free spot beside of her, indicating where she wanted the short haired ghoul to sit.

Nishiki went to sit on the black armchair. As he sat, he glanced around the room and saw that there was one ghoul who didn't present. The glasses wearing man whispered to the nearest ghoul beside of him.

"Giro-san, where's Uta?"

The baldy haired aged ghoul shifted his attention towards the younger, "Uta is busy with a new member said the boss and Banjou."

"Oh..." Nishiki then began to focused his attention towards the white haired leader who was waiting for everyone's attention.

After Kaneki was sured that everyone was ready and remained seated, he began with the usual greeting.

"Morning, everyone. Let's begin our meeting for this week." he said charismatically. The other 9 were all ears.

"Well, as you know, Mukade has been running for 4 years. We have gained control over 6 wards and the coffee shop business is still running smoothly. Some new members come once in a month, or not at all. But it doesn't matter, though. We already have a lot." before he continued, his onyx eye glanced towards Banjou. Immediately the big ghoul understood. He gave the document politely with his two hands. Kaneki took the document and opened it.

"What is that, Kaneki-chan?" asked Itori after she saw a paper in Kaneki's hand.

After the leader pulled it all out, he showed the front page to everyone. It was filled with names and red crosses on them. "This is the list of CCG's base's locations. It was 29, but we have raided 22 of it for the past 4 years."

Yamori smirked, "Which is very remarkable."

Kaneki smirked back and reverted to his usual straight face, "So I wanna ask you guys..." Kaneki flipped the page and there were some names that weren't crossed yet. "What do you suggest for the last 7?" he asked as his onyx eye glanced the audience from Itori to Tsukiyama.

Tsukiyama raised his eyebrows, indicating his confusion, "What do you mean, Kaneki-kun? We will raid them all of course."

Kaneki shook his head, "No. There are two reasons," Kaneki put away the document and gave it to Rize, "First, there are 2 bases located in the 20th ward. You guys know what I mean right?"

"Yes," Kazu's heavy voice clearly brought attentions from the other ghouls since he didn't talk much, "we have an agreement with the leader of 20th ward to not touch the two bases over there as long as his group doesn't agree to join us." stated the number 40 as he sipped his canned coffee.

"Oi, tardies. Can't you both do anything with that old hag?" said the blonde ghoul with shark-like face.

Touka and Nishiki looked at the one who questioned them. Both of the young ghouls lived in the 20th ward. They were baristas who managed the Onikisu there. Both of the ghouls have known each other pretty long and went to the same university, Kamii. They had their own reason for joining Mukade. Of course, not a very pleasant one.

Thinking that Touka had her share for speaking, Nishiki decided to answer the ghoul number 2, "We have but..." the brunette ghoul put up his sagged glasses back to his nose's bridge with the tip of his long middle finger, "He didn't want to listen and still keep on saying that he doesn't wish to get involved nor make things worse."

"Che... That old Yoshimura is sure a coward. Running a coffee shop that's not even taste any better than ours. Won't do 'im any good." sneered Itori as she wagged her long brown hairs with her red nailed hand.

Hearing that made Touka's mood rised up in the bad way, "Don't say that about Yoshimura-san! He's not a coward!" she yelled, trying to defend her familiar.

Everybody in the room put their eyes on the indigo haired ghoul, surprised by the sudden yell. Nishiki face-palmed himself, thinking just how reckless and idiotic his friend could be.

Touka immediately regretted her action. In her mind she slapped herself just how idiotic she could be. Awkwardly she bowed down her head. "I-I'm sorry... It was just... a reflect..." her voice shrunk low as she finished.

Surprisingly, Kaneki smirked. He leaned his back onto the sofa and spreaded his long arms over the back pillow, which made Touka startled by her leader's action.

"You're right. Yoshimura is not a coward," the onyx eye sharply reverted his attention towards the short haired ghoul, "He's just too afraid to find any problems. Him, that ape, that dog, and that traitor." he sneered cynically.

Rize, Tsukiyama, Yamori, Itori and Giro giggled in return. Touka got taken aback by what her leader said to him. Obviously she got mad. She gritted her teeth and squeezed her short, trying to hold down her boiling anger. Nishiki also couldn't possibly defend her. He was also actually mad because his ex-manager got mocked.

Truth to be told, Touka and Nishiki were working in Yoshimura's coffee shop, Anteiku. Exactly a year and 5 months ago Nishiki joined Mukade. The brunette ghoul made his decision back then, even though Yoshimura already tried to stop him, saying that revenge wouldn't do him any good.

As for Touka, she joined 6 months after Nishiki left Anteiku. Her reason was also the same, revenge for CCG. The organization killed her one and only family member, Ayato. They were living peacefully with Anteiku but Ayato's life couldn't be saved back then. She realized that she was too weak and she couldn't possibly continue that way. If she stayed in Anteiku forever, she couldn't become stronger. That's why the Kirishima decided to quit from Anteiku and become stronger. She believed that by joining the biggest ghoul organization in Tokyo she could achived her goal. After all, Mukade's only purpose was to destroy the CCG.

"Well, enough of that," the white haired ghoul turned serious again, "If Yoshimura and his people still don't want to join us then let them be. But..." the once serious voice now turned nonchalantly cold, "Patience has its limit. If he still doesn't let us to get our hands dirty, then we have no choice but to convince him with force." he stressed the 'convince' word.

Tsukiyama laughed, "Ahahaha! That's not even convincing anymore, bad Kaneki..." said the tall, elegant ghoul with a slurty voice.

Nishiki decided to speak up. He didn't want to hear anymore about his ex-manager, at least while he and Touka were still in that room. Because nothing good would come out anything regarding the old aged ghoul if it was there.

"Then let's just say that we have raided the two bases in the 20th ward. That leaves us 5 more to go. What are we going to do next?" Nishiki questioned the whole participants.

Giro nodded, "Right... what's your plan exactly, boss? What is your second reason?" Remembering that Kaneki hadn't tell everyone the second reason, Giro also questioned specifically to the Mukade's leader.

"Ah, almost forgot. The second reason is I want to leave one base alone," Kaneki lifted up his four of left black nailed fingers and showed it to the others, "The main base of CCG's science department, in the 4th ward."

What the leader said pulled the bait of curiosity from the whole party, except Rize and Yamori.

"Why there?" the sleek haired man spoke up, "Is it one of your 'classified' reasons again?" asked the ghoul frontally but without any hint of threat.

The onyx and emerald eyes met with each other stares. Kaneki could feel his one of strongest subordinate was trying to see through him, but he wouldn't give the big ghoul a chance. "...That's right." he replied simply.

Kazu didn't just immediately relax. He was still staring, secretly trying to convince his leader to spit out the truth. But he just knew that it was impolite to do so, even though the aged ghoul was way elder than the leader.

"Come on! It doesn't really matter, right? Well, at least I don't care." a cheery woman lighten up the situation, "Even though Kaneki-chan doesn't tell us, look at what our organization has become. We're successful and we'll keep it that way."

"Itori..." Touka muttered. To be honest, Touka still couldn't completely trust the leader. That ghoul, Rize, and Yamori kept secrets that the other members shouldn't know. The only thing that she could believed was their outstanding power, especially Kaneki.

She saw him once in action a long time ago, pretty soon after she joined the herd. When they were raiding a pretty big CCG's base and there were a lot of rescue squads coming. Her leader had always waiting on the side of the ring. She was even thinking that did Kaneki was even capable to fight? She underestimated him. Her question was answered when Kaneki decided to help because the situation was out of control.

There was a group of a first classes and 3 second classes investigators. She and Itori were surrounded and they were pretty sure that night would be the end of their lifes. But Kaneki came in time, nonchalantly walking with his hands stuffed inside his pants. The indigo haired ghoul remembered all too well. That night, the leader only lifted up his right arm and released two kagunes behind his hips. It was so fast, that Touka's eyes couldn't follow any of it. The doves obviously fought back, they were even, yet only for a short time. The one eyed ghoul massacred them all swiftly and only took minor scratches.

"Touka-chan?" the female ghoul snapped from her deep flashback when she heard her name was called.

"Y-yeah?" the startled ghoul stuttered.

"You're spacing out..." Itori said worriedly.

"Eh? A-ah yeah, sorry." Touka glanced around the room and saw that everyone were still busy with the conversation. No time for spacing out.

The violet haired ghoul finally spoke out her thought. "We also have a pretty serious challenge ahead of us," Rize picked up the papers and pointed her slender finger on the first name of the list, "the main base of CCG in the 1st ward. That is where the special class investigators stay, the chief, directors, and all of those higher ups. This place will be the toughest for us to mess."

Banjou who has been going along with the flow now finally asked something, "Then what should we do? Judging from the difficulty, we should leave it for the last, right?"

Hearing what Banjou said, Kaneki looked down and think, "...I haven't really thought about that one yet. But yeah, it's going to be hard. I'll think of some plan later," the white haired ghoul lifted up his face and took the papers back from Rize, "Nevertheless, that leaves us 3 bases to go. 21st ward, 9th ward, and another one in 15th ward. And I think we should destroy the one in 21st first." the leader glanced around the room, searching for someone with a face of hesitation.

Kaneki didn't find anyone with any creased eyebrows so he asked again, "It's only a suggestion. If you guys want to destroy the other one first then it's okay. It doesn't matter which one actually. You guys don't have anything to add?"

As a reply, everybody only smiled, except for Kazu. He was a stoned face. Tsukiyama dramatically spread his arm in the air and said, "No need for giving us suggestions, Kaneki-kun! Because every words that came from your mouth are absolu!"

"That's right! If you think that it's the best, then I'll follow!" Banjou added as he clenched his fist enthusiastically.

Kaneki clammed up. His face was a little bit surprised, but there was no way he would show it to anyone. So the leader naturally covered it and smirked.

"If you say so."

Feeling like the meeting was coming to an end, Yamori checked lifted his left wrist and checked his silver watch. It was 9:32 AM. He grinned and raised up his hand.

"Kaneki, I have to go back to the prison." the moment he told that, Touka was getting uncomfortable. The short haired ghouk knew her senior's twisted activity, but she just couldn't accept and went along with it. Until now, she was still wondering just why that leader of her could possibly let his right-hand man do whatever he wants.

Kaneki sighed, "Now? You're not done yet with that trash?"

"Oh, do not worry..." Yamori's face was plestered with a wicked grin, "I'm planning to find a new one later." the blonde ghoul slowly stood up from the sofa, leaving Kazu behind sitting alone, "I'm going to kill this one today."

The leader's black nailed hand shooing the ghoul, "Do as you wish." with that Yamori left the room with a dangerous low chuckle.

At that time Touka's anger went boiling once again. There were sometimes she regretted her decision to join Mukade and leaving the peaceful, cozy, family-like atmosphere of Anteiku. But there was no getting back. She had carried the tattoo of Mukade on the back of her hips, and if she dared to quit then she would be labeled as a traitor.

Itori who realized Touka's irritation hold the indigo haired ghoul softly. Touka got startled by the sudden cold touch and her one visible eye widened towards the alluring woman. Itori's fresh plump lips formed a cheery smile.

"Before we finish today's meeting, there's one more thing I want to tell you," Kaneki's voice pulled in the attentions. "I've been intending to reveal our organization to the public after we destroyed those three bases."

Rize got taken aback by what her lover said because this was the first time Kaneki told anyone about this. The violet haired ghoul closer the distance between her and Kaneki, "You haven't told me nor Yamori about it..." she whispered with a demanding look behind her red frammed glasses.

Even though it was his lover that speak to him, the white haired ghoul ignored her.

Tsukiyama Shuu immediately shouted his joyful cry, "Excellent! Then we shall make it very grand!" he said as the tip of his hand touched his chest.

"Well, well... Have you planned how it's going to be?" Itori questioned with a hint of interest.

Kaneki shook his head and crossed his hands, "I'm going to tell you after we have taken care all of it."

Rize sighed and was still feeling uneasy, Banjou clenched his fist and showed his high enthusiasm, Giro, Nishiki, and Touka nodded with a smile, Kazu emptied his canned coffee, and Itori got so hyped and excited. They were all couldn't wait to reveal themselves. The people outside the meeting room still hadn't know anything about the latest update but Kaneki would make sure to let them now when the time comes.

The white haired ghoul slowly stood up from his seat as he stuffed his hand inside his pants' pocket, "Okay, meeting's over. Thank you for your participation." everyone stood up from their seats and left the meeting room. After everybody was gone, Kaneki glanced over to Rize who were still in a pretty bad mood.

Kaneki bent down until he reached the eye level of Rize's face, "I'm heading to the cell, 'kay?" Rize ignored the leader. Kaneki chuckled and caressed the bad mood ghoul's cheek, "Sorry for not telling you before." the leader apologized with a soft smile. In the end Rize stared back and huffed. Being angry at Kaneki for too long, she just couldn't do it. Being in a bed term with her lover was something she would like to avoid. But still, it irritated her that much.

"You've already promised me that you would tell any plans you've thought to me first. I have never heard this before. What about Yamori?"

Kaneki shook his head, "I haven't told him. I'm planning to tell him now," he paused for awhile, "It's just that I want you and him to know about my plan along with the others this time. If I want to show this damn city about us, then the whole party must know and they also have to be ready." the right black nailed thumb slowly went down to touched the violet haired ghoul's chin, "I'm using my logic, don't worry. I've been thinking about this since last week."

Rize could only stare at her beloved one. His soft single touch were comforting and she loved it whenever their skin made a contact. Even just a tiniest moment like when their hands accidentally touched when Rize gave him his daily cup of morning one shot of espresso.

"So you want to finish everything by this year, huh?"

Kaneki widened his one visible eye. He felt like an invincible knife pierced through his chest, a bullseye. Without a word, slowly he nodded with a feeling of guilt which he didn't even know why.

"I see..." Rize muttered as she looked down towards the novel on her lap, "Then I guess the fun won't last very long now." she smiled.

Kaneki chuckled. What did he worried about? His brief feeling of restlessness only wasted his time. The male ghoul stood back up as his hand offered the female one to take it, "Do you want to go with me or do you want to wait in the lounge?"

Rize took the hand and slowly left her comfortable sofa, "I'm staying in the lounge. I'll just read my book until you're done."

As the couple left the room, there was one ghoul who has been waiting for them. It was Tsukiyama Shuu with a glass of fresh human blood. He approached the leader and stood in front of him.

"Something's wrong, Tsukiyama?" asked the white haired ghoul as he knew that it seemed like his subordinate wanted to talk privately with him.

"Non, there is nothing wrong," Tsukiyama smiled widely, the tall ghoul glanced down towards Rize still with a smile on his face, "Rize, if you may please?"

"Hmph." knowing what he meant, Rize went ahead leaving the two ghouls alone. She went to the bar where the bartender immediately bowed and gave her drink.

After Kaneki made sure where Rize went to stay, he reverted his attention back to the man in front of him, "So what is it?"

"I just want to invite Kaneki-kun for a dinner tonight in my restaurant. I feel like it has been a very long time since the last time we had a meal together, no?" he tried to persuade with a past memory.

"You have something to talk about alone with me, I believe." Kaneki concluded frontally to the point. Tsukiyama only chuckled lowly and bowed a little. He knew all too well what kind of personality his leader possessed.

"Oui."

"What time?"

The inviting ghoul looked over his watch, "7 PM if you can."

"Alright. I'll go."

"Excellent. I shall be waiting for your presence tonight."

With that Kaneki went to the lower level of the basement where Mukade's prison was located. As his black loafers hit the stairs, he could hear the sound of iron clashing and eerie scream.

A/N:

REUPLOAD:

1. changed "I think we should destroy the one in 21st first" to 15th first.

2. changed "What do you suggest for the last 10?" to the last 7 (I counted wrong teehee)

3. changed ...There was a group of 3 first classes and 5 second classes investigators to a first class and 3 second classes. (that would be too OP I think...)

Sorry for the long update! I got too much free time and I couldn't help but to used it for watching lots of animes and read mangas... I just finished watching Aldnoah Zero (my reaction at the end of the episode was 'what the fucking hell'?) and currently following Parasyte, Log Horizon 2, and Psycho Pass 2 (YEY!)!

Oh yeah, and Tokyo Ghoul:re.

Ahahaha... It pissed me off... As Kaneki Ken's hardcore fangirl... TG:re really pissed me off... Ahaha... Haha...

-Please leave your review and follow! It'll give me motivation! What do you think about the story so far? :D