Chapter 19: Woven
{Section Office: December 9th, 2020, 9:45am}
"The last thing that you will need to do is have an agreement signed by all participating soldiers of the specialized unit," stated a young officer with brown hair and eyes who handed a few documents to Guren.
It had been a long morning, consistent of fourteen teenagers being dragged into the Section Office still dressed in their street clothes, and looking not quite awake enough. That had been this morning, at nine-fifteen, some thirty minutes ago; however, at this point, all of them were tired of listening to the requirements to fill out the forums that they had to for the unit to be formed, consent papers, protocol forums, right to withdraw forums, and forums for medical treatment, usage of Cursed Gear in foreign lands, restrictions and rights within foreign countries as members of the Moon Demon Company and all its international branches, and the most current one which they were being handed to sign before giving it back to Guren who looked at the Section Officer.
"Anything else?" Guren inquired.
"This is on your hands, but they will have to be given a skill assessment before being sent on any missions. However, if these kids are the same as the ones who helped your unit clear Tokyo, then I'm not sure it's necessary." The Lieutenant Colonel smirked.
"They'll be getting one all the same, are there anymore papers to fill out Sargent Kannoue?" Guren asked.
"Not any here. You do need to have them bring in the foreign access forums if their first official mission is not on Japanese soil though." The Sargent handed him the papers and he nodded.
"Good, alright, I'll have them fill these out during their wait at the tailors' offices. Thanks for the help Jun!" the man called as he gathered the children up and the Sargent waved to them as they returned it with small smiles before leaving. Kannoue Jun slumped in his seat, sighing in relief now that his biggest workload was out of the way and the most he would be doing when it came to these fourteen kids, would be filing the paperwork away with copies of their files. The twenty-four-year-old sighed as he began his process of filing the papers into the records of the fourteen people, but paused as he came to middle of the stack where two records were.
"Hyakuya Yuuichiro… and Hiragi Shinoa… well… this should be fun…"
Down the hall, Guren whistled a familiar tune as he walked with the fourteen youths trailing behind him, all looking a bit tired after having to fill out some twenty odd papers apiece, and also feeling apprehensive due to them getting their uniforms today. For most of the original seven members of Shinoa's squadron, it wasn't a big deal facing the eccentric woman who tailored the uniforms of the Japanese Imperial Demon Army; however, the seven humans and Ghouls from Anteiku, had only faced her once, and it had been for their measurements only. All of them were well aware that the tailor was a stickler for being on time, and the moment Mika eyed the clock on the wall, he knew they would be late and would be on the receiving end of a long-winded rant about being punctual.
"Unless we use another route…" he thought.
Mika glanced to his brother who nodded, looking to the others in their group as he used a few basic hand gestures to identify that they would be late at the pace they were going. The Ghouls watched the seven Moon Demon Company members in questioning while Touka could hear the demon within the bracelet on her left hand begin to chuckle at the notion of what was happening. Kaneki rose an eyebrow while Hide grinned as Shinoa looked to them, tilting her head as she raised her arms above her head in a manner to stretch and use that moment to drop her hands back down and point towards the hallway coming up.
In a matter of five seconds, the fourteen of them detoured off the path that Guren had them going down, a few of them smirking as they dashed down the hall and a series of different corridors. The group from Anteiku could admit that it was a bit comical how Guren hadn't seemed to notice them; however, they also got the distinct feeling that once he did catch up with them: they would be in trouble. For the time being though, getting a bit of laughter and wit into their lives, in exchange for a bit of yelling, seemed to be a strangely small price to pay.
"Did he really not notice us?" asked Hide as the group slowed to a walk.
"Nope, Yuu and I have been doing that since we got used to being here…" Kimizuki gave the blonde a long look.
"Despite the fact that you're the more well behaved one, you're a bit of a rebel, aren't you?" he inquired as they kept moving towards the seamstress's room.
"Mika? A rebel? No! absolutely not! That's Yuu's job…" the black-haired teenager sent Shinoa a glare.
"Har-har, that's really funny Shinoa," he stated.
"I got a question… what's with that seamstress?" all eyes went to Ayato who received a shrug from the others.
"She's been here since Yuu and I were brought in," Mika mentioned as they started moving closer to the tailor's office.
"Okay… that doesn't answer my question though…" Shinoa smiled as she looked at the Ghouls.
"The seamstress is very eccentric and used to be a designer of some kind. Now she creates the uniforms for the Army, and she's also the one who created the fabric our uniforms are made of," she pointed out.
"What are they made of?" Yuu sighed.
"I think it's cotton, and it has titanium threads in it so it's durable but light-weight and breathable. Which is a good thing for anyone in our group who uses warm elemental spells," he said.
"I guess your right…"
The group came to a stop as they arrived at the tailor shop and entered to see the others present. Mito smiled to the group as did Goshi and Shigure; however, as soon as they all entered, Shinya noticed that there was a missing person from their group. The blonde quickly picked up that Guren was not present with the teenagers, but that was soon remedied by the sound of the seamstress calling the first of the teenagers in, having Kimi depart, before shutting the door behind her. Everyone remained silent after that until Guren burst into the room, looking a little frazzled as he eyed all of the teenagers around him in frustration. It had happened hundreds of times before, and he was accustomed to Yuuichiro and Mikaela vanishing without a trace on him: he just never expected fourteen people to do it at once. Sighing, he stepped in line and looked at the group, a miffed expression clear upon his face as he leaned against a wall just as Kimi left the room, wearing her new uniform.
It was the same as the others uniforms in almost every way, save for the fact that she had shorter boots on to accommodate her weapon. The girl looked to Nishiki who went to get his uniform next and the others stood in place, waiting their turns as Guren lit a cigarette that was instantly snuffed out by an extendable arm-like contraption that seemed like it belonged in a cartoon rather than real life as the seamstress looked to the man, scolding him about smoking in the sewing room before she went to work on ushering Nishiki out only for Hinami to be dragged in next, the hairpin that became her Cursed Gear gleaming in the bright sunlight that filtered in through the window.
"Can someone please tell me how fourteen teenagers slipped past me?" Guren questioned.
"Uh… we were instealth mode?"Hide offered this to the man who gave him an unimpressed look.
"Well, can all fourteen of you can stealth mode your way down to the assessment hall in two days: I have an assignment for you troublemakers," he stated as Yuu gave him a long look.
"Should I even ask what kind of insane idea that brain of yours has concocted?" the Lieutenant Colonel smirked.
"Only if you desire to be court martialed," he mentioned as the black-haired boy crossed his arms over his chest and began to tap his foot a bit.
"Compared to what you have planned…. It would be a nice vacation…" Shinya laughed.
"Oh, come now, I'm sure it's not that bad," he stated.
"I sure hope your right… and you aren't planning on doing anything crazy, again are you? Like Tokyo or Shinjuku?" Guren shook his head.
"Io era riflessione qualcosa piu estero… vermente," he mentioned, causing Yuu and Mika to shoot him long looks.
"You aren't serious… are you?" the man smirked.
"Davvero io sono," Guren stated as Mika glared.
"If you keep chatting in Italian, I'm going to make you eat your cigarette." Guren sighed at the statement.
"Just keep your wits about you. We've got a very important mission coming up, and your new family members were the commissioners," he told them.
Yuu and Mika glanced down at the words that left him. It was a stressful thing to know that people who were members of their makeshift family, had other members of their own family that had somehow escaped the pandemic that had spread across Japan, by fleeing to Europe where it had already spread. It was a strange thing to consider, as they stood there, preparing to get their new uniforms, that before they knew it, the fourteen of them would be heading to Italy, that much they knew from Guren's conversation with them in the native language. Emerald eyes glanced towards the others present, and then to the window, sunlight casting rays into the building for a just a brief moment before the clouds blocked it out. Yuuichiro looked towards Guren, and took in an almost soundless breath.
"There's something going to happen… once we leave here… and go to Italy…" Mika looked towards his brother, noticing a strangely vacant look in his eyes.
"Yuu?" Guren and the others glanced their way once they noticed the concern in the blonde's tone.
"Hey! Yuu!" the Lieutenant Colonel came towards his youngest and looked at him, seeing the blank stare he had in his eyes before huffing as he grabbed the boy by his shoulders and steered him towards the door, the others letting him by as Mika started to follow.
"Where are you – "Guren glanced to him.
"Don't follow me, do you hear me Mikaela?" dark burgundy eyes looked to him before Mika took a steady step back, knowing that he needed to do as told.
"I… yes sir…" Sayuri smiled in a small manner as Guren moved Yuuichiro out of the room and Kaneki looked towards her.
"What was the meaning of that?" he asked.
"Yuuichiro's naturopathic traits are a bit odd… if I think about it… we've always believed that Yuu and Mika's third gift was elemental, but it's entirely possible that their traits are a bit different than that…." Nishiki rose an eyebrow.
"Different how?" he inquired.
"Like with what you saw… at times, Yuuichiro seems to go into those trances… it's kind of strange I suppose, but we can't really be certain." Mika shook his head at the answer.
"No, that's the seraphim inside him… Yuu's the darker side of the seraphic bloodlines we carry. There's something he's sensing, the darkness that's there waiting for us… knowing that, we better prepare for one hell of a battle," he told them.
{Office of Lieutenant Colonel Ichinose: 11:00am}
Guren put the boy down into a seat, ignoring his distant stare, something that he had become accustomed to over the years. Mika had been kept away from these situations for quite some time, but it wouldn't be like that anymore. Taking in a deep breath, he reached forward and grabbed a glass from the desk before reaching into the cabinet behind his desk as he reached in and grabbed a bottle that he quickly pulled out as he sat down behind his desk, and looked towards the boy.
"Every time this happens, I have to drug you, why is that?" he asked.
"Don't know…" Guren sighed.
"Fine, you know…" he popped the cork on the bottle, and pulled the glass forward, pouring the dark amber-toned liquid into it.
"The others can't be kept in the dark about the subjugation serum… after all… the two of you have been taking it since you both arrived here," he stated as he pushed the glass forward, setting the bottle down.
"Tell them then, see if I care…" the Lieutenant Colonel laughed.
"Same as always. You've never changed Yuu… but taking that serum isn't going to suppress either of your powers as Seraphim much longer. As you know, it's been working less and less since Shinjuku," he mentioned as Yuuichiro shot him a faint glare before he grabbed the glass and tipped it up, downing it at once.
"Then tell me why you decided to let us in on the secret about that drink you've been giving us since the first time my powers acted out? You didn't even start telling Mika about it until we turned thirteen." Guren shrugged.
"For some reason, he's always been the tolerant one ever since you were kids unless it involved you. The moment someone threatens his little brother, he loses all sense of reason. Growing up, the two of you have endured a lot of physical punishment, training, enduring the life you lead in Sanguneim, and the kind of inflictions that your Gifts have given you to name a few… but your Seraphim blood has always been the most arduous trait the two of you possess. That's why I created this serum for the two of you…" the black-haired boy shot him a long look.
"Mika knows the serum isn't going to work for much longer… actually it's more impressive that you think he's not aware of that fact," Yuuichiro stated.
"Believe me, I'm aware that the two of you know how short the time is before you'll have to choose how to best handle your Seraphic side." The emerald-eyed boy took in a deep breath.
"It's not gonna be easy… you know we're still learning," he told him, looking to the side.
"Easy or not, you both have got to learn how to best handle the powers given to you. That power is meant for humanity, not for self-purpose, remember that Yuu." Emerald eyes looked to him with a sharp glare.
"I know that! I'm trying to become stronger for those I love, not just for my own sake! Don't spout that bullshit to me!" Guren sighed.
"Take it easy kid… just remember, you're the one who's got to keep a level head…" Yuuichiro looked down, his hands fisting his pants legs.
"..." he said nothing as Guren corked the bottle again.
"After all, you're nothing but a half-human now…" the black-haired boy bared his teeth at him, eyes gleaming with a faint silver hue.
"I'm not just a half-human! I'm a Seraph of the End, one of the two that have to help humanity win this damn war… but no matter how little human blood is in my veins… I'm always going to be myself, so don't try and make me think otherwise, got it?!" Guren smirked.
"That's what I wanted to hear from my youngest brat…" he stated.
"Figures you'd do something like that…"
Guren stood up from behind his desk, and came around to the side, putting a hand atop the boy's midnight hair as he ruffled it, causing the sixteen-year-old to glower at him as he stood, trying to get free before Guren merely sighed, and pulled the boy into a one-armed hug, smiling just a fraction as he felt the boy struggle a fraction before stilling as Guren placed a hand atop his head.
"I'm proud of the two of you… even though I don't say it often… I am," he muttered as he started to walk away, causing Yuu to look after him.
"Huh? Wait… Guren what did you – "the Lieutenant Colonel glanced his way, smiling.
"Just keep it up, okay? Cherry boy!" he stated, waving as he walked out.
"Y-You just… GUREN! YOU JACKASS!" the door shut, Guren sighing as he looked up at the ceiling.
"Keep fighting you two… we're counting on you to keep us all from disappearing."
"They'll always fight, that's how you raised them, Guren…" Mahiru's voice spoke to him, and he took in a deep breath, nodding his head just a fraction.
"Right you are…"
{Tailor's Office: 1:00pm}
The fourteen members of the newly established Anteiku Unit slumped against the walls, settled as the last of their group finished up, having gathered their uniforms, and now they were waiting to leave in order to go and get lunch at the cafeteria. At current, the only person left to get their uniform had been Touka who had been a tad unsure of wearing a uniform seeing as she hadn't worn one since her days at Anteiku. Sighing, she fidgeted, looking at the basic black jacket with its green lining, held about the waits with a white belt, black shorts instead of a skirt, thigh-high tights, and black boots with white trim. Her gloves were the traditional white, her bracelet gleaming in the sunlight as she stood in front of the mirror in the changing room.
"You look lovely darling, those Vampires won't know how to respond with such a lovely girl coming to get them," the seamstress teased.
"Then they'll be sad to hear I have a boyfriend." She laughed.
"It's fine darling. Now, go, go! I'm sure your friends are waiting," she ushered her out, Touka taking in a deep breath as she looked at the others who greeted her.
"Finally out are ya?" questioned Hide.
"Shut up wolf-boy before I sick the pound on you…" the blonde flinched.
"H-Hey, I was just teasing ya," Hide defended as Ayato shook his head, Akane laughing just a bit.
"Well, is that everyone?" Shinoa stepped forward, and the group nodded, Guren looking at them as the seamstress looked them over.
"Oh! And one more thing for all of you!" everyone looked towards the tiny black-haired woman.
"What is it now?" she smiled.
"That uniform is machine washable darling, that's a new feature…" with that she shut her door.
"Uh… okay then," Mika stated.
"Was that seriously the only reason she wanted to stall us?" Yuuichiro sighed.
"She's not changed one bit, that's for sure…" he muttered.
"Hey, does that mean the uniforms used to not be machine washable?" Kimizuki looked to Hide.
"That's seriously your problem? This woman's a crazy son of a – "the door opened.
"Crazy is a form of GENIEUS! REMEMBER THAT ALWAYS!" the door shut again.
"Can we go before something else happens?" asked Mitsuba.
"I second that!" the group of fourteen bolted from the room, Guren smiling a bit, Shinya laughing a fraction.
"She most certainly knows how to get them moving, huh?" he inquired.
"Oh, definitely…"
The group of fourteen teenagers walked slowly, speaking with one another as they stuck together, heading towards the cafeteria with Guren and the others behind them. It was a good thing to see them forming a friendship, for it would further aid them as time went on with their lives present on the battlefield. Taking in a deep breath, Guren considered his prior conversation with Yuuichiro, and began to wonder how much longer the boys would elect to say nothing about it to the others.
Originally, the subjugation serum was designed for Yuuichiro only, and it was meant to suppress his Seraphic half until he was older; however, when it came to his attention that both the boys possessed the same bloodlines, he began to weave the serum into both their regimens bi-weekly, suppressing the fullest extent of their powers for as long as he possibly could. Ultimately though, the abilities that they possessed would result in the serum failing to control how strong they both were. Guren sighed, wondering how much time was left as the end of the year approached, and spring arrived.
"Do the kids know about the spring yet?" asked Mito.
"No, right now I want them to focus in Italy, that's their first legitimate mission together, so distracting them with something like the spring… isn't the right move at this moment. Just focus, stay calm ourselves, and we'll do it as well." The others nodded.
"So, not a word until after the mission is over?" Goshi inquired.
"Right, just do as I say, got it?" another nod came from the group as the teenagers ahead of them kept up their own conversations.
"Besides, letting them stay in high spirits is good for morale, okay?" Shinya mentioned, Shigure sighing.
"Remind me how I could have possibly fallen in love with such a psychopathic man?" he grinned, putting an arm around her shoulder.
"Because of my dashing good looks, and my compassionate heart, in addition to my incredible marksman skills," he stated.
"We'll go with that…"
Kaneki glanced over his shoulder briefly, noting the conversation going on behind them, and recognizing the conversation about the spring. It was something all of them had been theorizing about recently, the murmurs about the events taking place in the spring, and how everyone seemed to be carrying an air of trepidation about them as time went on. As a Ghoul, Kaneki could smell the faint traces of fear on everyone, he could hear the pounding of their hearts whenever the spring was brought up in a hushed conversation tucked away in a corner somewhere.
The feeling that came off of these people in waves, told Kaneki and the others that something dangerous, and terrifying was around the corner, and it would be far worse than anything they had endured thus far. Hazel eyes glanced forward, focusing on the situation at hand, choosing not to fret or fear for the time being. Panicking about an unforeseen future, would do nothing but cause greater strife and worry in their current situation, and that most certainly would lead to their downfall.
{….}
Can you tell me how to feel? Cause I don't feel anything…
{….}
Author's Note: I am so sorry! Life has been really stressful lately, and I don't mean just basic every day stress. I've been having some major health complications that are slightly fixed, but not entirely. And atop that my roommate and I recently moved into an apartment, and then atop that I had my aunt and uncle pass away a month apart, and to wrap things off, my dog passed away right in front of me on 02/09/18.
So, as you can see, life has been chaotic, and I've been having a hard time with writing because of my dog passing, he was a service animal, so I'm having to search for another dog to be trained as one again. I'm still updating, and I apologize for the delay. Don't worry, I'll get more out soon enough. Tell me what you guys think, and I'll look for your reviews! Let's get this story to 100 reviews like the first one!
Sincerely,
ShadowDragon94.