Hey, all! I really appreciated those who've vowed and enjoyed my story! We're slowly picking up steam, I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
"I heard the Auction really blew up"
Two ghouls had been muttering about the cursed event, and how the whole thing was cracked wide open by the CCG as they sipped their lattes. One, with caramel brown hair that fell to her mid back, tied into a tail near the end, and hazel eyes, that were warm and welcoming. She reminded Touka of Hinami's mother. The other had bleached hair that reached the ends of her shoulder blades and was stylishly straightened. Her eyes were a cool azure that could heat the blood of any man. The two women were regulars.
"T-Touka-san… are you getting enough rest? You look deathly tired," the caramel-haired ghoul stammered with concern.
Touka only smiled and bowed slightly. "Yes, I've been sleeping fine. Thank you for you concern."
The blonde ghoul piped in. "How about… uh… eating? Have you been eating well?"
She didn't answer, but averted her slit eyes to catch a glance of Yomo, as she straitened her back.
"Oh. No no, Touka-san! You need to eat! How is such a pretty girl like you going to stay elegant if you don't eat!?"
After giving the two girls a sham of a promise that'd she'd maintain her diet, she proceeded to the back to make a few other orders she had taken before hand.
The red lashes no longer marred the flesh on her fingers. Not even the light pink evidence of a scar had remained, but the incident was still fresh in her mind.
The wounds had taken the greater part of the hour to heal. She also lost herself to her senses when she smelt the humans in the front.
While she did miss Kaneki dearly she couldn't give him all the credit for her outburst. She hadn't eaten in over four months, and while she dealt with the hunger well, it was beginning to take toll on her body. Healing was slower, and her senses would dull right down, or sharpen immensely, overpowering her with a bloodlust that would strike fear into the hearts of even the highest ranks of Investigators. She had a shorter attention span, and she couldn't focus. Her mind would wander backwards, to Anteiku, Kaneki, and even as far back as her father. Or, her mind would have the most random or most gruesome of thoughts.
She looked out into the Café's parlor.
'Coffee smells good'
'so do they"
'I wonder how Yomo is doing with this much human contact, never was a talkative guy'
' Why's purple purple?
'Rize sucked. Tsukiyama too'
"Haven't seen him around here though'
"What would that lady look like with her intestines wrapped around her head?'
Boiling water suddenly attacked her hands, causing her to quickly set down the kettle, and snap her back to reality.
"Shit!" she cussed aloud, but thankfully, no heads tuned. Sulking, she brought her abused fingers to her mouth. Scalding water had overflowed from the cup she was pouring in, making a mess of the counter. Sighing, she grabbed a rag for a neighboring rack and cleaned the spill.
"Touka-san! Touka-san!" the regular with the blonde hair called, Touka's head whipped to attention.
"Kyotomo- wants to date you, Touka-san!"
The two girls burst into a fit of giggles as a nearby boy turned beet red and sunk his face into a nest of arms on his table.
Touka smiled softly. The display reminded her of the first time she met Kaneki at Anteiku. The two ghouls boisterous declaration made her feel nostal-
Oh.
She should probably go visit Hide.
The rest of the day proceeded without incident.
"No smashed cups today?" Yomo joked half-heartedly, sensing that Touka was in a good mood. She shrugged on her coat and hummed a light note in response to his poke. She turned around and he tugged at the fabric if the ashen jacket, in doing so, inquiring about her destination.
"To Hide" she responded fastening the buttons. "Not sure when I'll be back, so don't wait up"
Yomo only looked at her, a lazy expression in his eyes. Touka spun on her heels and opened the café's front door, letting a cool breeze if fresh air sweeps past her. Just as she stepped out, Yomo called after her.
"Touka, be careful"
She turned her head to look at him over her shoulder, a gentle smile forming on her lips, pressed together to hum out that light-hearted note once more.
The walk to the hospital was peaceful. The sky was painting with the blood of a dying sun, splashed with orange and reds, with purple and pink-tinged clouds. The air was crisp and relaxing, a light breeze tussling her hair about her pale face. She filled her lungs with the scent of the perishing day, allowing herself to relax. No thoughts muddled her mind, and she seemed to have good self-control right now. The dog-like hunger that gnawed at her seemed to be a distant ailment at the moment, and she was set on taking advantage of it.
Where she wound up was the last place she expected. She didn't really have any side destinations in mind, but she found herself on the bridge where she last saw Kaneki as Kaneki. The last time she saw him, She had beat him and said horrible things, screaming at him to never return. Her head dropped to her hands, as tears welled in her eyes and slipped down her face.
"I didn't mean it…" she whispered brokenly into her palms. A sense of hollow loneliness crept over her.
First her mother and father killed by the cold-hearted investigators.
Then Ayato sinking his teeth into the flesh of revenge and joining Aoigoiri tree.
And then Kaneki left.
Then Yoshimura and the rest of Anteiku fell.
Then Nishki and Hinami.
Not even Tsukiyama came around anymore. Touka furiously rubbed her eyes, as a ray of sunlight illumined her delicate features. No, she still had Yomo and Hide. She didn't care if everyone else left; she had to focus on what she had.
She had to focus on :Re, and she had to do anything to protect it.
She just hoped that what she was doing wouldn't endanger it more.
"Touka-chan! You're as lovely as ever!" The golden-haired boy called from his bed.
"Thank you, Hide, you look well" Touka smiled and bowed ever so slightly in salutation. One thing about Hide she envied was how he could look so up beat when he was hurting so badly.
He was perked right up; basically bouncing up and down on the bed, drool slipping from the corners of his mouth.
"Do you have something for me, Touka-chan?"
Her eyes darkened as she handed him an opaque white bag, and her stomach flipped as he tore it open and devoured the flesh in the bag in three savage gulps.
"I must admit" Touka started, taking the shredded bag and storing it in her coat pocket " You've taken this so much better that Kaneki did"
"If I eat up now, I'll be strong enough to get out of this joint. I'm always nervous, If I'm found out... Well… this place is crawling with investigators as is! Besides…" He laughed skittishly, then averted his eyes to his sheet clad knees, hand running through his sunny hair, smile melting into a sad, understanding one. "If Kaneki-Kun and Touka-chan could live like this for so long, then ghouls cant really be so bad."
Hide's eyes stayed glued to the bed in front of him and Touka's traveled to the window on the opposing corner of the room. The dying sun was sinking below purple clouds, and stars began to litter the sky above. It was Hide who broke the silence, talking about anything and everything, hopping straight into cheerful conversation until way past the sunset.
"Thanks for visiting me Touka-Chan! I really appreciate it!"
Touka hummed " Mm. You still have the address to :Re in case you get discharged, right?"
"You bet I do! If I get released it's the first place I go, no side stops!"
"Then goodnight, Hide, get well. Stay strong"
"You too, Touka-chan"
The night was illuminated by the streetlights, aiding the eyes in detecting what the night could hide. It was cold night, but that wasn't what sent shivers up Touka's spine.
It was a shriek coming from the shadows.
Her ears lead her to a gruesome scene. A young girl, a chunk of flesh was missing from her shoulder, but she was writhing away from her tormentor on the bloody, dirty ground of the alleyway. Without a second thought, the shorthaired ghoul flung herself in front of the girl. A scraggly, grimy-looking ghoul approached fro the darkness. He was disheveled, unshaven, and smelled downright foul.
"What d'we gots here" his ragged voices sounded like it was sawing at his throat to get away from his wretched vocal chords. "Two for one? Hehe… I like this!" His laughter made Touka want to vomit on his shoes.
"Run"
The girl locked up at Touka, her bleached hair stained with blood and fat tears rushing down her terrified face.
"W-wh-"
"Go. NOW"
Touka had snapped, as her own instincts were becoming harder to ignore. The girl needed to go. Thankfully, she had that sense, and was gone, leaving a trail of crimson in her wake.
"Arrrgh!" the male ghoul hissed. "Ya made me lose my dinner!
He charged at her, and she ducked under his arms, bringing her leg around to kick the ghoul backwards. He slid and tumbled, the impact casing his nose to bleed.
"Aye, bitch! First ya let my dinner get away, and then ya batter me? " A rinkaku erupted from his back. Touka thought it would have been cute if it weren't so pathetic. Was he really trying to threaten her with this?
"Yer gunna pay fer this! I'm hungry as hell and I ain't starving no more! You gots any clue how awful it is ta' be this hungry, ya crazy bitch?"
Fear seeped into the air and hung like a heavy fog, as a voice that didn't even sound like Touka's hissed from her throat. Her eyes grew wide as her Kakugan seized them.
"You have No Idea"
Darkness ensued.