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Chapter 11
What Does Daffodil Mean?
CCG Main Base, 1st Ward.
"THIS IS INSANE!" A man in his 30as yelled in rage as he slammed down documents on the table. "It has been 4, fucking, years, since we were first raided but we haven't FIND them!? How could it be so hard to find a herd of psycho fucking GHOULS!?"
The other participants who attended the meeting could only look down with a sad face. They all felt distressed over their slow progress, and too many victims have drastically fallen since the first raid.
"This ghoul organization is no ordinary one. There are a lot of other ghoul organizations as well, but never so brave enough to attack our building." The raged man calmed down a bit after his outburst, "The ONLY lead we have is the painted 'Centipede' picture on the walls. Nothing more." The man shook his head, feeling useless. "And that Arima is not here again. Jesus!" He added in frustration.
"Um... Ano..." A shy voice of a young man made the raged elder lifted up his head.
"What is it, Shoji?"
The young Dove named Shoji continued, "Centipede*... Is what we call them right now, right?"
"Oh my God, Shoji! How many times do we have to remind you!? Yes it is!" A woman with ponytail yelled. Judging from what she said, Shoji seemed to be a forgetting investigator.
"I-I'm sorry!" Shoji immediately bowed his head feeling embarrassed. The other present investigators didn't pay any attention, but some of them did sighed.
"Then what of it?" The leader of the meeting demanded answer.
"Um, you see, I think we should wait for the result of the 21st ward's inspection of Onikisu. A coffee shop as big as that has a higher chance to have a ghoul as its owner." Shoji replied firmly.
"Ah, you're right," A man with tough face with thick long eyebrows voiced, "I have asked them about the progress, it will be ready in half an hour."
"Is that so? Then that's good. They inspected yesterday, it should be done now." A woman with beige colored hair replied stoically.
Between the important meeting, a very young man with black hair and hair pins was busy folding papers and giggled on his own.
"Juuzou! Stop folding those do you even read them!?" Again, the woman with pony tail yelled in annoyance. She didn't like when things didn't go her way.
Juuzou didn't care but he stopped folding the papers. They became airplanes. "Haha... Sorry, Sakuya-san~ I didn't read them~ But I heard everything you all said." He said lightheartedly even though he knew he would get yelled at again.
"WHY YOU-" Sakuya abruptly stood up.
"Special class investigator Sakuya, please sit down." A heavy voice stopped the angry woman. Sakuya flinched after hearing it, but nevertheless she followed his order.
Amon felt like he should try to melt the heating atmosphere, but he knew this had happened a lot. Trying to fix it would just put him in an awkward situation.
"By the way, Amon and Madou. Are you both familiar with the 21st ward?"
Akira shook her head, while Amon replied, "N-no, not really, sir. Why?"
The elder man nodded, "Then you will know. This may be sudden, but I'm moving you there."
Amon looked almost perplexed. He didn't understand why he had to be moved but he believed he didn't do anything wrong.
Akira was calmer and she used her right to ask, "Is there any particular reason for our transfer, sir?"
"There is. Our base in 21st ward needs more manpower. We decided to send 2 special classes. I believe you both can be more than reliable there."
Thinking that it wouldn't hurt him to change new environments, Amon agreed to be transferred. After all, he got Akira Mado, a woman who had been his closest ally. He'd surely feel comfortable having her around. Akira who didn't seemed to have any troubles also did as she told. It was her job, and as long as she could be any help to stop the ghoul organization.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the mahogany door.
"Come in."
The door slowly open followed with a man with stoic face. "I'm sorry to interrupt. I have received the reports of inspection in Onikisu yesterday." The stoic man walked towards the eldest man there. "Here you go, Marude-san."
"Th-that's fast..." Amon muttered.
"Great, thanks. This might help us a lot." Said Marude.
The unknown stoic man bowed and walked away leaving the room. The others didn't care who he was. Their interest was focused onto the brown big envelope that Itsuki Marude was holding. Except Suzuya who didn't care whatever happened.
The 40 year old man opened the envelope and pulled out the papers. His face seemed desperate for any single clue. "I hope this inspection is worth it. My nose feels itchy whenever I go to that overrated coffee shop."
"Yet you always go there, Marude-san..."
Marude read over the papers, ignoring the embarrassing fact. The other participants in the room were waiting patiently for Marude's reaction. Was the paper filled with what they were hoping for or not?
After 2 minutes of reading, what Marude did was slamming down the results in his hand. The others knew what surely was the outcome, and it didn't fail to disappoint them also.
"Investigator Amon, you have a minute?"
The raven haired man looked back and saw his most reliable ally.
"Akira. What's wrong?"
"This investigation regarding our nemesis. I want to do something about it." The beige haired woman seemed serious, "And I need your help."
Amon raised his long eyebrow, what in the world his late superior's daughter was thinking. "Why do we need to talk about this outside the meeting?" The tough man didn't want to find any unwanted problems.
"Because I don't think they will take this the right way, considering Centipede has been our nail in the ass for 4 years." Akira crossed her arms over her chest, "Whatever Investigator Marude read back there, Onikisu is still on top of my suspicion list." She said with a sharp tone.
"Then what do you want us to do?"
"Investigator Marude mentioned the name of the owner right?"
Amon nodded, "Shintaro Tatsuya. But the report said there's nothing suspicious about him." The big guy already had a bad feeling when Akira asked.
The daughter of Madou shook her head as she turned on her heels, "I don't believe that. We'll start with him."
Amon lost his composure when he heard that. This was what he expected. "What makes you say that, Akira!? I don't want to find any trouble with a successful business man like him! What if we get sued!?"
Akira secretly formed a small smile, "My intuition."
"When did you come home last night?"
Kaneki switched between channels as he propped his feet on top of the coffee table.
"Twelve." Rize replied simply accompanied with a hum. The violet haired ghoul was reading her book on her lap.
"You had late night snack first?" Kaneki put up his sarcasm. His thumb still didn't stop pressing the button. Again, he skipped all the food shows. A cold can of coffee was in his other hand, half-emptied.
Rize chuckled, "There's no snack in my menu, darling." She paused, "Only main course."
Kaneki ignored that and he yawned as his reply. Rize didn't feel upset at all, she understood her lover doesn't like it whenever she comes home late after dinner. The Binge Eater continued to read her book silently. It was already half way done.
"Kaneki, what kind of flower is a Daffodil?" Rize suddenly asked.
Kaneki turned his eyes away from the TV, "You're already in that funeral part?"
"Yes, the end of chapter 9, Daffodil. An unknown person put a Daffodil on Andrew's grave. Does it have any particular meaning?"
The white haired man answered, "Daffodil means rebirth, new beginning, or eternal life. When I say this, you probably know what's going to happen."
Rize made a surprised face as she opened her mouth in awe, "Ooh... I see..." Suddenly, Rize thought of something interesting. "Kaneki, do you know a lot about flower meanings?" She wanted to test something.
Kaneki shrugged, "Kind of. I read a book about it, out of curiosity. But I don't remember them all. Why?"
The violet haired ghoul smiled, "What flower would suits me the best?"
Now the man's interest had turned solely into that question. He didn't turn off the TV, in case if there's something interesting going on. The white head put his canned coffee on the table. "Hm..." Kaneki lightly creased his eyebrows, "I've never thought about that before. I wonder what suits you..."
The leader tried to remember all kinds of flowers he read before. There are some of his favorites and he tried to find any of the flowers' connection with his lover. Then Kaneki managed to find something that might suits The Binge Eater, "From my point of view, Amaryllis would suits you."
Rize leaned forward her body, "What does that flower mean?"
"Splendid beauty." Kaneki answered proudly. Because for him it's true, Rize was one hell of a beauty.
Rize blushed, she couldn't help but to cover it with laugh. "Ahahaha! Oh you!" The female ghoul lightly punched the leader's shoulder. Kaneki chuckled and faked a groaning sound.
"But... You know," As his laugh ceased, Kaneki's eyes turned warmer, "You're even more beautiful when I see you kill, so..." The white haired man leaned his face closer towards his loved one until their noses were just inches away, also putting his index finger under her finely shaped chin, "The Red Spider Lily would suits you even better."
Rize froze by the sudden close contact. She was mesmerized by the sweet, fresh smell coming from Kaneki's mouth. His gray eyes locked her move, pulling out sexual desire inside her mind.
"And that flower means...?" Rize whispered as her eyes glanced down towards Kaneki's lips.
"Death." Kaneki grinned.
Rize widened her eyes. She didn't see that coming, but it was weird. The Binge Eater actually liked it. "Not bad. Give me a bouquet of those sometimes."
When both ghouls slowly shortening their lips' distance, suddenly Kaneki's phone rang from inside of his pocket.
"...Nice." The leader grumbled as he backed away. The atmosphere immediately turned off. His black nailed hands pick it up and put it on his ear without looking at the phone's caller, "Hello?"
"Is this Shintaro Tatsuya?"
Kaneki's face turned tense. He squinted his eyes, he knew this is someone different. He might not have met this person yet. The leader was getting cautious.
"Kaneki? Who's-"
Kaneki put up his index finger on his lips, silently telling Rize to stay quite. The white haired man walked away towards the window to make sure the caller didn't hear any other voice beside him.
"Yes. This is Shintaro Tatsuya. May I ask who's calling me?"
"Shintaro Tatsuya-san, I am sorry to call so suddenly. My name is Akira Madou, a CCG special rank investigator."
Kaneki widened his eyes, feeling bewildered. A special investigator was calling him and this never happened before. How in the world this investigator got his phone number? That didn't even matter anymore. Now that the one who called him even know his number, Kaneki already planned to change his phone. What mattered to him most is Akira's objective.
Kaneki hid his tension by speaking as usual, "What does a special investigator want to talk about with a mere cafe owner like me?" The leader spoke as he smiled to sound friendlier, "Is it about the inspection the other day?"
"Yes, that is right. However, do not worry Shintaro-san. We only want to talk, nothing else."
'We? So not only this woman.' Kaneki deduced in his mind. "I see. When?"
"If possible, this afternoon 11 AM, your cafe in 20th ward."
'20th? Tch... Why there?' Kaneki protested in his mind. He didn't like to be in the same area with Anteiku. However, the leader didn't want to say his protest over something so trivial. So he obeyed. For now. "Alright."
"Thank you very much. I appreciate your cooperation. I'm sorry if by any chance I interrupted any important business."
"Ah, no, you didn't interrupt anything," Deep inside the leader already cursed, "And you're welcome. Have a nice day Madou-san." With that Kaneki ended the call first and put off his fake smile.
"..." Kaneki silently stared at his phone. Thinking that looks like things were about to get complicated. Rize who was worried now walked closer towards her troubled boyfriend.
"Hey, who called you? You seem troubled right now." Rize carefully asked.
"It looks like CCG puts me in their suspicion list, Rize." Kaneki ruffled his hair roughly, confused and a little bit stressed. "That was a special rank investigator, she said her name is Akira Mado. She wants to talk with me." The leader began to search a certain contact to call.
"A special rank!?" Rize got bewildered and quickly calmed herself, still The Binge Eater felt uneasy, "How could a special rank contact you...? That'd be dangerous for Mukade, Kaneki."
"I know." The leader put his phone on his ear, "That's why I have to investigate Akira Madou first and re-check everything. I'm going to meet her later in 20th ward-Banjou, it's me," Kaneki turned his focus onto the ghoul he called, "I want you to check all of the secured documents in the main base right now. Yes, now. Make sure every branches submitted theirs. EVERY SINGLE ONE. You understand?" Shortly after giving out his order Kaneki put away his phone and typed another number to call. It looked like the leader didn't give Banjou any chance to complain.
"In 20th ward? Where? When?" Rize asked again after the busy man finished talking.
"Onikisu, 11 AM." Kaneki answered quick without looking away from the screen. He typed another number to call, didn't take him long to wait for the receiver. "Tsukiyama, I need your help again. Go investigate a special rank investigator named Akira Madou. A woman. Yes, thank you Tsukiyama." He put away his phone inside his pocket. Indicating that was his last call. "Might as well buy a new one on the way back, I guess."
Rize who had been watching what's happening grabbed her boyfriend's wrist to gain his full attention. "Kaneki, what did you do?" The Binge Eater was worried and angry at the same time. "How on earth a CCG investigator called you? A special rank on top of it. As far as I know you're low profile, the TV never ever speak about you. You did something I don't know... Didn't you?" Rize was full of doubt. She couldn't let anything bad happen to them and the organization.
"Ah... yeah... You're right. I forgot to tell you..." Kaneki groaned, "You see, I wanted to tell you what I did after I came back from Onikisu in 15th ward. But when I came back, you were already gone binge eating until late night." The leader explained.
Rize gone mad, "What did you do!? Have we talked about it!?" Her grip gotten stronger on the white head's wrist.
"Rize, calm down." Kaneki put his other free hand onto Rize's shoulder, looking at her straight in the eyes, "We haven't, but this is my decision. It is all for my plan. When they inspected our cafe... I met them. I showed them my face, the owner of Onikisu." Kaneki embraced himself for a big shout.
Rize widened her eyes, her mouth was slightly opened in disbelief. "WHAT!?" The mad ghoul released her grip on Kaneki's wrist roughly. "Why!? I thought me and Yamori already told you that it's not the right time! Why are you being too excited, Kaneki!?"
"I know, I know, but listen to me." Kaneki kept his temper to fix things out, there's no point to shout back. That'd make things worst especially with Rize. "The reason why I showed my face... Is to make the CCG get a hold of my name. That way they will have the fake data about me. I also want to test if that person recognizes me-."
"Are you kidding me?" The woman still not satisfied with the answer. "That's reckless! You're putting yourself in danger! What if he knows that you are Kaneki Ken, and then he tells the other investigators that you are dangerous, that you are the one who they need to put on top of their most wanted list? They'll find you Kaneki. They'll destroy Onikisu!" Rize slapped the air harshly and fold her arms, like she threw away her frustation. "That son of a bitch is in German anyway. Who are you talking about here?"
"Tsuneyoshi Washuu."
Hearing that name, Rize snapped widened her eyes. "The chairman of CCG? What's the point of him knowing your existence?"
"Rize, don't you remember?" Kaneki's voice turned cold, "He's the only one who knows about the illegal experiment and the very person who's responsible for it." The leader's eyes' also began to filled with deep hatred. "Him... and Kanou."
Rize felt sudden pain on her chest. Hearing the cursed name, she remembered a lot of her bitter past. The past she shared with the half-ghoul.
"If Tsuneyoshi Washuu knows me, he will call Kanou to come back here. Don't want to keep their monster loose on his leash, do they?" Kaneki smirked and conciously he cracked his finger. "Washuu won't tell anyone. After all what he did is illegal. The current CCG have no idea what actually happened in the past."
Hearing the plan that her leader had been planning his head, Rize understood what he wanted. Kanou and Tsuneyoshi Washuu were the top priority. She believed that Tsuneyoshi Washuu would probably recognized Kaneki's face. However, the chairman wouldn't be so reckless as to give command to eradicate the successful businessman right away. That'd give controversy.
"I understand." Rize sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just... I'm really worried about you and our organization. Sorry for yelling out."
The white head smiled, glad to see Rize was understanding and approved his plan in a way. "No worries. I'm sorry for not telling you before." Kaneki frowned shortly when he remembered who called him, "But that woman calling me is not in my plan. Could it be that she's suspicious of me?" The leader asked himself.
Rize also frowned but she held Kaneki's hand, telling him that everything's going to be okay. "You will know that later when you meet her. Tell me everything after you come back."
Kaneki nodded. That's right, he needed to know why does Akira Madou wants to speak with him. He began to doubt that the Dove called him by orders from above.
Suddenly, The Binge Eater got an idea. "Hey, you're giving Washuu a greeting right?" She smiled slyly. "Why don't you anonymously send him a bouqet of Daffodil? As a symbol of your rebirth and coming back."
Kaneki astonished. He had never thought about it.
"You're right... I should send him that. That's a cool idea." Kaneki smiled as he leaned his face closer towards Rize. "I'll send him one later. Now, shall we continue where we left off?"
Rize laughed as she locked Kaneki's neck, pulling him closer for a deep kiss.
*I write Centipede as just a mere kind of animal, not an organization's name
No words can express my gratitude for those of you who follows this story. Thank you so very much for the reviews again!
I am so sorry for updating so late. Whatever the reasons, I'm making it up by revealing a big piece of Kaneki's and Rize's past. You're all must already have the picture of what actually happened to him right?
Oh yeah also I'm sorry if there are many of OCs. You see, I can't find a perfect real chara for those roles! :( I'm sorry for any grammatical error and typos as well! Anyways, thanks again! Don't worry, I'm not stopping here. I'll try to write this story until the very end!
Disclaimer: not mine