First let me say sorry for the long wait I wanted to flesh this out and make sure it was up to snuff before I put this out, and granted it isn't Beta-ed so there probably will be mistakes
A moment more of your time and I promise I'll start the story, first remember that the Kagune are made of RC cells, pretty much a fancy blood cell and finally yay a plot driven chapter!
Tears and sorrow, choking and despair, snapping and hunger. From that dark room there was a hell that only Ken could find. The 'Centipede' mask was on his face as his stomach turned and bone broke and flesh squelched between his blunt teeth. When he started he had put on his mask so that his mind would be blank of this but each bite was remembered and each gulp made everything clearer. When his horrid meal was done he slumped down against the table and let all the pressure that had built up since the day he died to Rize wash over him.
Outside the room they awoke to the sound of the gut wrenching guilt he had suffered. But their attempt to enter nearly left them in pieces. The Ghoul's claws nearly tore into them as his crying intensified.
The door closed they could breath a bit easier until Tsukiyama mused "I wonder what got him all riled up…"
The mask maker who had been staring at his phone looked up "I think it might be this. Anybody who loves chess will be reduced to tears" with a scoff the gourmet took the device.
Within two minutes the man was sobbing and the phone was handed back to Uta who merely smiled.
But aside from the small attempt at humor none of them had any drive. The feeling was sorted out by Koma "We all just got our collective asses kicked, we lost our leader and we can't even properly lick our wounds without getting snuffed out like a candle. What are we supposed to do?"
Yomo leaned back "Traditionally we'd go somewhere far away and heal up before we did anything. But until Ken's done I'm not moving"
Touka was the one who broke the silence hovering over the question "What in the hell is he doing then? He's been crying nonstop for three hours"
The bird mask carrier walked to the kitchen where he brewed a much needed cup of coffee for each of those present "It's-" he suddenly stopped as if trying to hold down the last meal "I-if I was you I would ask him that after he gets out"
Eto, the One-Eyed Owl, the King of Aogiri Tree, rubbed her hand across her face as she thought. he couldn't have survived, his blood was all over Arima…even after taking off that blow to the stomach and Amon's arm… she lifted her head and snapped "Tatara! Find out everything you can about Ken Kaneki. If he's alive I want you to tell me before you do anything else" the foul feeling in her stomach about that boy wouldn't go away, persisting like the stench of a rotting body in an otherwise spotless room.
The dutiful ghoul bowed his head "Of course" before he slid off into the darkness.
Her usually childlike demeanor was gone and every joy she might have portrayed was swallowed up by that overwhelming question.
Itori looked at Enji and Kaya "How did you two survive if Arima was in those sewers?"
Both the ape and the dog looked away from the other before pointing at the other. The ape explained "We both were really wounded so it took a long time to even get into the sewers and Ken found a place close to V14...but by the Renji found us before we got there and told us to come here instead…"
Amon stared at the Reaper "Why did you report Kaneki as dead?"
Arima who had passed the healing investigator in the halls jerked his chin towards a small conference room, once inside he let out a tight smile "Ken Kaneki's heart stopped beating for a full 32 seconds. Now if he were to be resuscitated after I left…then who could blame me, he is a naturally resistant ghoul after all and nobody has fully tested the lengths needed to go to exterminate a half-ghoul"
The taller of the two stared "You knew he was alive?"
"The possibility existed…and I know that particular entity better than he knows himself…" were the last words spoken before Arima left as if he hadn't just told a man he lied to the highest defense authority in the country.
It only took a few hours for the loyal ghoul to gather the information he needed and he returned to speak the words that she needed to hear "Ken is alive…but it seems that he was heavily wounded and will take at least a month to recover"
Eto's mouth dropped in shock, what type of injury would take a Kakuja rinkaku of all things a full month to heal? She gritted her teeth "We'll wait for him to heal. Then I've got questions to ask him…"
Touka opened the door as quietly as she could, the others had moved to the other room to bicker hours ago, she knew they didn't see her leave and she needed answers from Ken.
Slowly the door creaked open yet not one scaled limb attacked her. She saw him. Back against he table everything of him drenched and dripped ungodly amounts of blood. His arms crushing his knees to his chest as his face was buried in his legs. The sobbing, no less quiet then before pierced her ears. There had been a body on the table, that much she could see, but now everything but the clothes were gone. Eaten.
She sat beside him trying her damnedest to figure out what to do, she wasn't good at saying what she meant and for a brief moment she remembered trying to hurt him on the bridge. She did the only thing that she could think of, something she did for Ayato when he had nightmares all those years ago. She put her hand on his head.
His sobs never ceased but slowly he seemed to topple sideways until his body hit the hard cold unfinished floor and she pulled his body so that his head could sit on her thigh.
She didn't know how long she spent there slowly stroking his hair until the choking sounds quietly faded into a dreamless void for the man. Slowly his fingers unwound and a pin fell from his grasp. Her hands trembled as she picked it up. Yet she couldn't leave him. She set it by her side and allowed the darkness to treat her to sleep, the single light that hung over the crimson table flashed harshly against the silver lettering of the black name tag.
Yoshimura
It was a dark roar in his mind. Slowly it grew in volume until it rattled his bones and shook him down to his core before it faded too quietly into nothing. Then a new sound came a gentle rhythm that drained the tension from him. It reminded him of the comfort of his mother's arms. Slowly he realized the truth of the sound. A heartbeat. Opening his eyes the world was turned. Slowly he turned his head towards what he was laying on and the skin trembled when his lips traced it for a moment. Touka. Somehow he had fallen asleep on her lap. Somehow she had gotten in even when he tried to hold them out…
Remembering everything he slowly scooped up the sleeping girl before moving to the living room where everyone was scattered about in the arms of Morpheus. He leaned her against the couch before stepping out and dialing a number "Hori it's amazing to hear your voice. Yeah, I'm alive…we're beaten pretty badly…of course we'll take it easy, I do have a question though…"
Touka was the last one to wake up, but seeing the other sitting around the room drinking coffee was a warmer sight than she expected and soon she joined them in the near silence. As the final cup was washed Ken took a deep breath, his almost healed body still didn't move the way he wanted it to, his left arm was near useless even hours after only picking up the light ghoul "We need to heal…to eat. And since most of our fighters are injured I'll need everyone to help"
Nishiki snorted "I'll admit you're pretty damn powerful but who made you king?"
Kaya gave a deceptively calm smile "Well, he did save us, and the manager…former manager seemed to think he was good enough for it…but don't take my word for it"
Banjou snarled "Hey Ken took care of us when we were still trying to stay off of CCG's radar!"
Ken stepped in before it got out of hand "Alright that's enough…here's the plan. In the 13th ward another 'restaurant' has been set up…I want it gone"
Roma giggled a moment "What do you want me-"
"Pierrot will do nothing." that single sentence stopped the room.
Uta, Itori and Roma tensed for a moment and the old No Face even thought about attacking until Yomo shook his head "Uta, you've been a friend for a long time and I can't let you do something stupid…something that will get you killed"
Itori let out a tight laugh "Are you saying that our precious Eye-patch is stronger than the three of us?"
Again their old friend spoke "At the moment even if all of us in this room attacked it wouldn't do anything. He's drank the blood of the Reaper and eaten the X-Owl." for once Yomo had a blatant smile "It's seems that in killing Rize you've unleashed something you didn't see coming"
Even as she shoved her chair back and let out a growl Roma stopped. Around all three of the clown's necks were three claws. Not having moved an inch until that moment Ken laced his fingers and planted his elbows on the table. He glued emotionless eyes on the three and Uta flinched back "Now, I am thankful to your group. But at the moment if you stand in the way of me helping those I said I'd protect I will have no choice but to eat you"
Uta nodded before the other two sat silently and Ken continued "Now, since Yomo is the only one of our main fighters outside of Pierrot not injured so he and I will take the middle ground, Nishiki and and Touka will take the upper level starting from the opposite of the doors, Banjou, Jiro, Ichimi and Sante will guard the doors as before. Nashiro, Kurona, Shuu, Enji, Kaya and Hinami will wait outside for us. I know ghoul isn't you're preferred food but we have little choice right now."
Itori leaned back in her chair "What do you have planed for us?"
Hinami looked back and forth as the silence dragged on. The new manager grit his teeth for a moment "I trust you…only insofar as I know you, which in light of recent events is a hell of a lot less than I though. So I will find you after we've healed and I'd like to talk to all five of you in depth."
As the two groups stood to go their separate ways Touka had to stop near the three "I-I need a new mask…see you soon" she grumbled looking at the floor. Before she too was out the door.
Uta slumped into his chair again and ran his fingers through his hair "That did not go well…"
The red head let out a forced smirk "Well…Nico's going to be happy to see Ken again…"
All 15 members of the Second Ghoul's Restaurant met a gruesome end. Even with their limited powers the containment was flawless and nobody escaped, but the biggest surprise came when using six Rinkaku legs he had scaled the walls and laid waste to the spectators. With four in reserve.
Ken's plan had ended brilliantly and ended with all his members in a better state. All of them were at a point where they could defend themselves adequately if the need arose but not everything was perfectly taken care of.
Just as they were about to leave Ken's phone rang and he darted off a distance before answering. Leaving them to go to the safe house without him he proceeded to the 23rd ward. Where some answers awaited him.
Sen Takatsuki, Eto, One-eyed Owl, King…she had many names but this was the most surprised she had been in a very long time. Longer than she cared to remember. Before her stood Ken Kaneki, his mask sitting too easily on his face. A month of healing…in only a few days. She leaned forward in the chair sitting at the far end of the room "What are you doing here Mr. Kaneki?"
"I came to barging" he said amicably "But I would like to know what to call you, since you were introduced as Eto but I know you as Sen Takatsuki, so you can see why I'm a bit confused"
"I really don't care what you call me…now what was that about bargaining?"
Ken slid his hands into his pockets "Well Sen, I was hoping to get that journal your father left you"
Her nose twitched but it was imperceptible in the small ruckus another ghoul caused. He stomped forward "Have some respect you little twat!" he growled as he stepped very close to the Centipede.
Slowly tilting his head to the side the young man responded "Don't touch me" the offending ghoul pushed his shoulder only to be met with black.
To those watching in the blink of an eye one tentacle slashed through the target, bifurcating his head leaving no time to react. The white haired monstrosity unzipped his mask and started eating. A grizzly meal even for the members who had taken to cannibalism. Sen herself stopped, most of them had taken to eating others on the rumor of more power, she had taken to it due to lack of prey. He took to it naturally.
And that terrified her deeply. She had heard from her contacts that he had only eaten Ghoul since his escape from Aogiri Tree. In her head she knew that in a fight she could kill him in her stomach she felt a trembling, this was the only ghoul to have ever touched Kishou Arima.
As he snapped and crunched through every bit of the ghoul some others started to prepare an attack, but one outstretched hand stopped that "He's waiting for it." she could feel his blood limbs moving under his skin like the twisting of her own bones.
Noro, the quietest and one of the most lethal ghouls she knew whimpered and took a step behind her, if it wasn't for her own super hearing she would have missed it.
Ken stood and wiped his mouth before zipping his mask "I make it a point not to waste food"
Hiding her emotions she gave a false glare "And what if I thought that killing you would make good on 'not wasting food' what would you do? I don't see any weapons and you are alone"
"For the author who wrote so many horror stories I'm surprised, just because I'm alone doesn't mean I'm not covered. He knows what it is" he remarked pointing to Noro who was now at the very back at the room.
Tensing slightly at the invisible threat, she expanded her senses and found only the tiniest bit of an off putting scent "Well then mister genius, what do you have to keep me from just crushing you?"
From somewhere deep within him Ken gained a source of near suicidal confidence "Now where's the fun in that?" the One-eyed King growled deep within her throat and he conceded "I know you're familiar with the RC suppressant injections, and possibly the gas…now I've managed to put six canisters down my esophagus of the gas, I've also filled them with an aerosolized sulfur compound and a few more things…long story short, if they go off everyone here is doused with the gas, can't smell due to the sulfur, can't hear and possibly can't see."
"But wouldn't that hurt you?" now she was more curious than anything, he had thought this out far more than she had believed.
"An interesting side note actually, RC gas doesn't affect half-ghouls since the mucus membranes of our lungs don't have the specific channels. Only the injections can disable us."
She hid a smirk, he would be a fine asset if she could only convince him to stop fighting them "And what's to stop me from hunting you down?"
"Nothing" came the reply "but the hunt would fail. Think about this, I'll bind your hearing and smell, possibly sight, I can move as fast as you and I can run towards the rising sun limiting you to only two senses, touch and taste. Neither one will do you much good in a long drawn out chase…and I can move almost as fast as you over a city. Faster in a building, all I'd have to do is drop out somewhere and wait."
Tatara hissed in her ear "There's no way his muscles can out power your kagune in a race"
She leaned back in her chair and scratched her head as she whispered back "It's not a muscle anymore. He's using hydraulic pressure to move his kagune." getting back to the original conversation she turned to Ken "What do you have to bargain with?"
"The location of China's strongest Ghoul."
Tatara instantly was in her ear again "The journal has nothing worth knowing. If we could get the 'Ghost Woman' we could sway this entire conflict in our favor"
She had to admit the book had nothing worth knowing. If you didn't know what you were looking at. The fact that he specifically asked for that assured her otherwise…but looking at the folder in her hands the information was good…
She turned the book over in her hands and stared at it for a moment "Answer me this Centipede…how many players are on the field and what are their goals?"
"Six players. I don't know yours, I'm going to protect those around me, the CCG wants to protect the people from Ghouls, V…I cannot fathom theirs as I've never met them, Pierrot…again I don't know, and the free Ghouls are another player, they probably only want to survive…"
She motioned him forward and the entire crowd tensed as the two strongest ghouls they had ever encountered got closer and closer. She held out the book and met his eyes. "Thank you" he mouthed as her hand slipped off the beaten brown cover, where his hand touched hers a slight tinge flowed through her.
Tatara immediately motioned some of their members to find the Ghost Woman, the strongest Ghoul in China but Sen could only wonder if she had allowed the strongest mate she would ever encounter slip through her fingers.
Uta had waited outside, listening on the entire thing "Itori was concerned after she heard that you didn't go back with the others…to think that you would give information-help even to your sworn enemy…"he mused.
Ken turned sharply "There are quite a few things wrong with that. First I never said she would help, I only told them where to find her. And second they aren't my sworn enemy. That was a major mistake of mine"
"What mistake would that be?"
"I confused my goals. Originally it was 'protect those around me' with a second priority of 'find information' after that fuck up and changed into 'Stop Aogiri Tree' I'm staring over with the same goals and this time if they aren't hurting me I won't push back and I'll talk to whoever I have to if they have answers."