Chapter 30

The Criminally Insane

After their another loss of manpower, CCG was getting distressed. The higher ups at the first ward was doing meetings, they called the very best of their investigators to talk about how they could push their archenemy back and eradicate them.

Marude was angry. He hated losses. He couldn't afford to lose another bases, another men. He was waiting for Akira and Amon to show up. Those two were his best people he could trust and talk sense with. Juuzou? He couldn't even understand how to talk with the kid. He was walking towards the meeting room with long strides until he saw the CCG's reaper in front of him.

"Arima?" Murade called out to the man.

Arima looked back towards the voice. When he saw who it was, the white haired man nodded, "Marude."

"Another loss." Marude sighed, "I tend to wonder why we lose so much when we have strong people like you in our side."

"I can't always be present, Marude. I couldn't come to Ward 15th. It would be too late."

"Tch. I know." Marude threw his wrinkled face away, "I'm just angry. Didn't mean to blame ya."

"...I'll see you in the meeting." Arima's face was stoic as always. He understood Marude was ashamed of himself. The old man was in charge of commando. He was put in first ward because his ability was reserved to protect the main castle. Arima noticed Marude was starting to doubt himself. However, not so much of an empath he was, Arima decided to just continue walking towards the meeting room.

Marude stood still in his place. He looked down while thinking about what was the CCG's future would be like. He was afraid humanity would lose.

"Marude-san."

Marude looked towards the voice to find both Akira and Amon were arrived.

"Hey. How are you both?"

"We're fine." Akira replied, "By the way, have you heard?"

Marude raised his eyebrow, confused and curious by what she meant. "Heard what?"

"Toukage Zetsu is back after four years."

"What!?" The captain immediately shouted. He didn't like the news at all.

"That son of a bitch. We don't need his help!"

"I know. I'm pretty surprised too," Akira sighed, "They said he's going to the meeting today. I guess we'll know why later."

Marude's face turned sour. He didn't like this. If Zetsu Toukage joined again, that could only mean one thing. CCG was getting more desperate before the old man could. Now he doubted himself in his own judgement.

--

The meeting was starting. In one long table, the top investigators gathered facing each other. Arima, Juuzou, Marude, Akira, Amon, and another more that the chairman trusted in their strength. Soon after everyone had seated, the wooden double doors opened to reveal the chairman himself with his glorious ashy long hair and beard, walking in with two of his personal guardians behind him. Everyone in the room quickly stood up from their seats and bowed down.

One of the guardians with black slicked hair and sharp eyes pulled out the chairman's designated seat.

The chairman sat down without a word. Until he was comfortable and ready, the guardian spoke, "You may sit."

Everyone did as commanded.

After a short silence, Tsuneyoshi Washuu began to speak.

"Starting today," He began. His raspy yet heavy voice echoed across the white room easily gains maximum attention from all participants, "Under my permission, I allow Zetsu Toukage to work as an active associate special class investigator."

Everyone's faces went shock except Arima and both Akira and Amon. That news came out like a bullet. Without sweet talking nor greetings, the chairman immediately gave an overwhelming news. Most people hated it, yet some could see why and understood.

"Call him in." Washuu ordered his guardian. The guardian nodded and walked to the doors to open it. He called out towards the spoken man then stood side way to let him in. The moment his face showed up, Akira felt anger bulging up inside her stomach. Zetsu's face was smug. He looked like as if the world revolved around him. The tall man stood beside of the chairman to reintroduced himself.

"Anyone miss me? Been a long time isn't it? Heheh." Zetsu smiled widely. He loved the moment. When he saw several unhappy faces, it was hard for him to hold in his mocking laughter.

"Associate Special Class Investigator Toukage will work in a team. This is to prevent him for making the same mistake again," Washuu paused, "I appoint Arima as Toukage's partner and to watch over his actions."

Arima's stoic face kept its form. His icy eyes looked towards the problematic investigator, looking right into his head. Zetsu of course realized this yet he only grinned, "It's an honor to work with the white reaper himself but… don't get in my way and we'll have some fun, yeah?" The man with goatee said.

Arima closed his eyes. Not like he had a choice to disobey. He also understood the importance of Washuu's decision. He knew he was the best candidate to keep Toukage under control.

"Understood." The reaper replied simply.

Marude's creased eyebrows had not left his wrinkled face at peace. His glare was drilling into Toukage's head. Bravely he questioned the chairman's decision, using his freedom of opinions.

"Sir chairman," he said as he put up his hand.

"Yes, Investigator Marude?" Washuu replied indifferently.

"With all due respect sir, may I ask just how safe it will be for us to work alongside this..." Marude hesitated. He didn't like calling out the man's name but he needed to be polite, "...to work alongside him? Toukage Zetsu had killed people from our side just because they 'interrupted' his play time! He should just stay put in our hospital for the criminally insane instead of working with us despite of his outstanding skill. What we want to avoid is exactly losing more men. Having Toukage on board is like having a two bladed sword. He is dangerous, sir."

"I second Marude-san." A special class investigator named Koori Ui added his vote. "I am having doubts about this, sir."

But instead of Washuu, Arima replied in his stead, "I will keep an eye on him, Marude."

Marude gave the white hair a sharp glare. "So you're saying that we do need this psycho?"

Arima chuckled. A gesture that was rare coming from him. "If it's a psycho you are worried of, we already have some of them in this facility."

Everyone's eyes focused the black haired kid who was sitting cross legged with a bubble gum candy chewed in his mouth. Juuzou raised his eyebrows and innocently tilted his head, "What?" he said getting confused by the sudden attention.

Zetsu couldn't hold in his laughter anymore. As his laugh being heard across the room, everyone shifter their attention towards the man with goatee again. Marude was annoyed. He hated the problematic man's arrogance.

"What's so funny, Toukage?" Koori Ui asked with his unamused face. He hated rude people, just like Zetsu.

"Hey, listen to me, yeah?" Zetsu began to talk as his laughter ceased out, "I know you all must be wary of me but I promise you," he paused, "As long as I get my hands on killing Jason, I'll behave myself in missions! We got Arima here as my babysitter so nothin' to worry about. Right, mister chairman?" Zetsu grinned as he rhetorically asked the old wise man beside of him. He could sense the guardians were getting alarmed over his silly gesture.

Akira raised her eyebrow. She just heard something questionable. "Now that I remember, you were being… quite ecstatic, meeting Jason in last raid. I thought it was just another one of your childish reactions, yet now you speak of his name specifically. What's up with Jason?"

Zetsu's dark chocolate eyes shifted towards the woman. With a grin, he answered, "What's up with Jason? You see, I'm a big fan of this ghoul. Before Centipede, he was the greatest ghoul of Ward 13, thus the name 'Jason'. How cool is that, right?" Zetsu's grin dwindled into a smile. A subtly meaningful one which only Akira who could almost see it. "I wanna get a trophy of him. I won't let anyone else killing Jason."

Everyone stayed quite. Zetsu being a fan of an S rated ghoul wasn't something they expected. He was crazy all right. But if the guy wanted nothing but to kill Jason with his own hands and would behave himself just for it, they figured there wouldn't be any problem.

"'Scuse me, Toukage-san" Juuzou suddenly raised his hand and gained everyone's attention, "What if I meet Jason first and kill him? Can't possibly let him go when I see him, right?" He asked with a one hundred percent confidence behind his question. Everyone knew the kid had the proper ability to comprehend Jason, yet the way he said it seemed like provoking Zetsu's reaction.

The goatee only stared back yet his smile didn't disappear. Everyone was curious of what he would answer.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Juuzou Suzuya."

"Okay, Juuzou. If you kill Jason," Zetsu stopped for a heart-thumping pause. His eyes were like daggers pointing towards Juuzou yet his smile was still plastered intimidatingly on his face, "I will kill you when I see you."

"That's it-!" Marude immediately object as he slammed his hands on the table. He had it done with this man.

"Wowiee~ So scary~" Juuzou teasingly chewed his bubble gum candy as he played with the back of his chair. He found the answer to be amusing yet the kid knew, Zetsu wasn't joking.

"Sir chairman, we CANNOT have this selfish prick in our facility-"

"Enough."

Tsuneyoshi Washuu bellowed his command to stop the upcoming heated debate. Marude reluctantly went back to his seat, decided to drink his anger away with the glass of water in front of him.

The chairman continued, "I am sure I am leaving Toukage Zetsu in good hands. Give him what he wants and he shall behave. If Toukage's wish is to only exterminate Jason, then so be it. Is this clear?"

"Clear, sir." Everyone hesitantly said in unison. They didn't have much choice anyway.

"Then starting from now on I assigned Kishou Arima to be responsible of Toukage Zetsu. Toukage, you may leave."

Toukage Zetsu bowed before the chairman then walked away from the room, leaving everyone who didn't find pleasure in his participation for a moment of ease. Akira sighed inaudibly. Amon who had been only watching without a word also wanted to do the same yet he couldn't bring himself to do it. Almost everyone in the CCG was afraid of Zetsu. Everyone was a victim of his insanity. Akira in particular, 5 years ago she saw her own friend killed by Zetsu because she was standing in Zetsu's "killing field". And the reason she was there? She wanted to help him. Ever since the word of him killing his own team mates going out, the higher ups did not hesitate to fire him without honor and also put him in CCG's mental hospital with high security. Yet both Akira and Amon saw him in 21st ward and she wondered since when Zetsu got out.

As her mind wandered off, Tsuneyoshi Washuu began to talk again.

"Zetsu Toukage had been released since a week ago from the hospital. He's been behaving since he got admitted and showed good progress over the years of rehabilitation. I foresaw the testing on him before this. Zetsu Toukage's skill in battle hasn't getting dulled by a wide margin."

"Sir chairman," Amon raised his hand, "Me and Akira saw him in the night of Centipede's raid two days ago, already carrying his quinque suitcase. What was he doing there?"

"I believe he was meeting a colleague that night after he took his quinque from the science facility."

Without further question Amon nodded in understanding.

"Now I would like reports from the last raid attack from the investigators who were responsible in fending off the Centipedes."

"Yes, sir." Akira stood up. She brought the papers she had written with Amon in his apartment for today's meeting. The braided hair woman read her report aloud, basically saying how she had encounter The Binge Eater and Snake, how severe was the damage in 15th ward's base, and about Amon fighting a ghoul who they suspected to be the leader of the organization. With that the woman sat back down for upcoming comments.

"How did he look like up close?" Ui asked for more details.

"He was wearing a long black hoodie coat, boots, and a mask that only shows his left glowing red eye. He didn't show his hair so I don't know what's the color. His kagune is indeed a rinkaku. Very identical with The Binge Eater's." Amon said as he collected the unforgettable memory of his first encounter with the leader himself. "He… He's very strong. Stronger than any ghoul I've ever encountered."

"Did he say anything to you?" Ui asked again, seemingly not satisfied. Of course he would. Not until he saw the Centipede himself.

"...Nothing more than his own introduction. We only exchanged blades. Then he let me go. Though I saw him smirking behind that hood." The man lied. It was a secret agreement he had with Akira. He was keeping it until the time was right.

"Why did the leader decide to appear like this? He's always behind the curtains. Never truly shows up unless his teams were in a pinch." Marude rubbed his chin as he brainstromed, "Yet now he made it clear to us-at least to Amon, that he was the leader of the gang."

"He's going to reveal himself soon." Arima spoke up. His opinion always managed to intrigue everyone's expectation before hand, "Whatever he's planning, it's going to make him throw away whatever disguise he's been wearing."

The chairman stayed quite. Something was going on in his head. Something that anyone would never get until the old man blurted it out. However no matter how long they waited, he didn't say anything but instead only nodded. "Thank you for your reports." He said simply. "Does any of you have any ideas on which ward they are going to attack next?"

"I think it's going to be either 9th or 21st, sir." A special class investigator named Aura Kiyoko suddenly voiced out her opinion.

"What makes you think that way, Kiyoko-san?" Akira asked.

"There are only one base in those two wards. Meanwhile we have two bases in 20th ward. Obviously it is easier to destroy the former two." The woman explained in calm and confident manner. "Sir chairman, I strongly suggest we place some of our special ranks in both wards. I believe we may stand a higher chance against any upcoming surprise attack from the Centipedes."

Marude nodded in agreement along with everyone else. What Aura said was reasonable and highly possible. Since they had less bases to be responsible of, it was getting easier to take control of them. They needed to make the civilians trusted them again no matter what against all of their losses. CCG was the humanity's hope.

"Then it is decided." Washuu gave his decision, "I trust Investigator Aura for arranging the best placements for all special ranks. It would be best for them to be ready to move out by next week."

The woman in charge stood up and saluted her leader, eyes were filled with determination and loyalty. "Roger, sir."

"That is it for today's meeting." The chairman ended the meeting with standing up and leaving his leather-made chair with his two guardians loyally followed behind him. Everyone else immediately stood up and bowed down until Tsuneyoshi Washuu was completely out of the room. After he was gone, they were preparing to leave to their own businesses.

As Akira took her shoulder bag, Aura called out to both of her and Amon from the other side of the table.

"Akira," The called woman looked up, "You and Amon only just recently moved to 21st ward, yes?" She asked to make sure.

"That is right, Kiyoko-san."

"Alright. Please protect it well. I will arrange some other special ranks to support and lead you." Aura's eyes were becoming gentle. The way Akira saw them, she remembered why she looked up to the woman in front of her. Her charm of elegance and strength inspired her.

"I will. Leave it to us." The beige haired girl said with a confident smile. Amon also did the same, looking at Aura with respect.

"Good. Because I…" The eyes that were gentle slowly showing sadness and concern, "I'd hate to lose you either. I promised your mother I would support you, Akira. I don't want her to be disappointed."

Akira widened her eyes. She never knew just how much Aura cared deeply for her. Aura was her mother's best friend. They attended the academy together in the same class and were the few women who showed promising talents. That she knew from both Aura and her mother. Akira knew Aura cared for her, but she didn't know the senior investigator would be worry of her own well being because she was afraid to disappoint her long lost best friend.

"Thank you so much for your concern, Kiyoko-san. I'm sure mother was proud to have a friend like you. My well-being is solely my own responsibility. I shall take very good care of it." Akira replied politely with a kind smile. She was even more determined to do her best.

As everyone was walking out, Amon was looking down at Akira. He suddenly thought about how short she was or maybe it was just him being tall and near gigantic. He heard what the woman and his senior said about Akira's mom. He felt deeply sympathetic, however the man realized that wasn't what Akira wanted. What she needed was his support and somehow, Amon was brave enough to tell it to her.

"Madou-" Amon hung his words in the air. He closed his lips again, only to reopen it for a different word, "Akira."

The woman looked up. She was surprised. She didn't think she would hear her first name called out from her partner, yet she wanted to let it slide. "Yes?"

With onyx eyes were as strong as steel, thick eyebrows that successfully complimented that expression, filled with complete honesty, Amon said to his partner.

"I'm going to protect you."

At that moment Akira didn't know what to say other than a shy 'thank you'. Because she knew what he meant was 'I am responsible of your well-being too'.

--

Tsuneyoshi Washuu was staring off the gigantic window of his main office. He was looking at the city, the humans he protected, the birds flying by, and also a past which he had never succeed to forget. As his solemn eyes were looking beyond the horizon, he heard someone was knocking on his wooden doors. He gave the permission to come in, revealing his guardian was holding a bouquet of flowers.

"What is this?" Washuu asked curiously. He never had a bouquet sent to him before. Not ever since his wedding years ago.

"A flower bouquet was sent here from the lobby, sir. The sender's name isn't written but the message is for you."

"I see. Thank you. You can put them on my desk."

"Understood."

After the guardian did as ordered, she walked out away from the office, leaving her master with utmost confusion and curiosity. The elder was walking towards his desk as his eyes identified the assorted yellow and white flowers, warped in black papers with white ribbon. They were beautiful indeed. Yet somehow the flowers brought him anxiety.

The man's slender fingers took the card and read it. His name was cleanly written in cursive on top of the small envelope. He opened it carefully, reading the card which only contained a sentence.

From the ashes of my brother and sister, I have arisen.

Back then Tsuneyoshi Washuu had finally confirmed to his fear. He had known the man behind the terror of mankind longer than he had wanted.

--

A/N: There will be a change of scene in chapter 17 where Akira and Amon met Zetsu. I realized when I was writing this chapter the back story of Zetsu was just getting solid. Back then I only typed on impulse hahahahah. You don't have to re-read it again, it's to make the new readers not confused later on. So sorry for the lack of fixed ploy planning and maybe awful plot holes in this fanfic guys. First time I wrote this I didn't write the timeline and the background stories at all. That's why it takes long to update cuz I was getting confused on how and what I should write next :')