A/N Thank you to everyone who decided to take a little looksie at my Fanfic and comment! Lots of people on AO3 have been wondering what Washuu! Hide is going to be like and I said I would deliver this chapter! Also, I would like to thank everyone who is following this for being so patient, it takes a while to write this out :') so get ready for the feels!
"As of now the fate of Rank One Haise Sasaki will be decided," Yoshitoki said as the meeting began on Kaneki's behalf. Hide knew that Kaneki would be offed after this screw-up. He was sure of it. Hide really didn't understand why he had to be there other than the fact he had been the one who had momentarily put Kaneki down-especially if he was going to be killed. The turnout for the meeting was small enough, Akira and Arima, both whom had mentored 'Sasaki', Yonebayashi and Shirazu had shown up and Hide had to admit; he applauded Yonebayashi's exemplary healing abilities, considering how horrible her injury had been. Only half listening, Hide's thoughts slowly drifted off to the conversation he'd had with his father earlier that morning.
Hide entered his father's office quietly, closing the door slowly behind him. He took a deep breath and spoke with a stern voice.
"Rank 1 Hideyoshi Washuu reporting. I heard you wanted to speak with me sir." Yoshtoki looked behind him, and gave Hide a soft smile.
"You don't have to be so formal with me," He said. "I am your father after all." Yoshtoki sat down at his desk and motioned for Hide to sit down in one of the chairs near his desk. Hide approached his desk but remained standing, apathy shining in his mocha eyes.
"Fine, suit yourself," Yoshtoki sighed. "The reason why I requested you here is to speak to you about the fate of Rank 1 Sasaki." Hide stiffened slightly. He figured that was the reason but it still chilled his blood.
"There will be a conference later this morning, but I have already made my decision and I am confident of it," Yoshtoki continued. Hide winced ever so slightly. So his fate was already decided then.
"And the verdict is?" Hide asked his father, not even a tremor in his voice giving away the utter fear in he felt-which had been replaced by bitterness over the years for several reasons.
"He will be monitored to ensure that nobody else is harmed," Yoshtoki answered. Hide's apathetic mask broke for about 0.2 seconds showing utter shock, but was quickly replaced back again. Well, Hide could never say that his father wasn't a merciless man.
"And who will that assignment go to?" Hide asked, his apathetic stare not faltering for even a second. Yoshtoki gave one of his incredibly rare smirks and Hide knew something was up. Probably.
"That," Yoshtoki replied. "Would be you." Hide fought back the urge to yell at his father, mostly out of bitterness, and mostly out of white hot rage. He should just Kill him now and be over with it. Hide barely managed to keep his composure.
"And why don't you kill him now?" Hide said once he trusted himself to speak. "Rank one Sasaki is dangerous, after all." Yoshtoki looked at Hide with shock, which was replaced by his usual seriousness.
"For one, Hideyoshi, Sasaki Haise hadn't claimed any lives while he was out of control, and in everyone's accounts of the incident-even yours-he had some of his humanity intact," Yoshtoki said. "And second of all, no matter how much you deny it today, you care deeply for him." Hide gave his best look of anger at his father and turned to leave. Just as he was about to close the door behind him, he turned back and said:
"I've learned not to care about him anymore. Now all I am is thoroughly pissed at that idiot, and nothing can change that."
Hide was dragged from his thoughts by Shirazu exclaiming something about not killing Sasaki. Someone (probably Arima or Akira) probably suggested to kill him. They were probably correct on that statement, not that Hide was going to voice that opinion out loud. Actually, as Hide listened more into the conversation, he began to respect his respect they held for their mentor.
"You can't just kill him! I understand that most of the investigators were injured, but no one was killed! You can't kill him for that!" Shirazu exclaimed. Hide bit back a comeback pointing out that it probably mean that people would be safer if he was gone. Or at least a bit more, anyways.
"Actually, if, in the possibility we do kill Rank 1 Sasaki, it would be for the better, we would be getting rid of a highly dangerous ghoul." Akira said, looking around at the investigators present. For the first time since the conference started, Yonebayashi spoke.
"'For the better?!'" She said. "Is all you people care about is killing ghouls?! I mean, I'm an investigator too, but have you given one thought about him?! He is probably the most caring person you could meet! He wouldn't hurt anyone in this room intentionally, and not for one moment would he ever consider it! He lost control! He didn't even know what he was doing because by the time anyone got there, he had lost half of his mind! Please, would you just consider-" Hide cut her off, harshly at that.
"Of course, Yonebayashi, you have a very fair point. Rank one Sasaki was not aware of his actions at the time, but what if this happens again. What if, say, he was aware of what he was doing and didn't even flinch? Then what would you do?" What are you doing Hide? Why are you saying these things? A little voice said in the back of his mind. "We are investigators for a reason." Hide continued. "We can't just turn a blind eye to potentially dangerous ghouls. Honestly, if it were me and he had killed someone, I would have him dead on the spot." Hide finished. He could feel the strange looks from Akira at the other end of the table. He looked over at Shirazu who looked like he was ready to leap over the table and smash his face in.
"Right," Yoshtoki broke in. "Now the only reason I asked all of you here was to consider your ideas and propose my final actions. I have decided to keep Rank 1 Sasaki monitored and for him to continue mentoring the quinx. Rank 1 Washuu will monitor him." Yoshtoki said with finality. Yonebayashi and Shirazu looked gratefully at Yoshtoki, while Akira and Arima just looked at him in surprise-of course they had both been very supportive of killing Sasaki.
Kaneki slowly began to drift into consciousness. His mind was foggy and his eyes could barely stay open. He was faintly aware of where he was at. What with looking at the drab gray-white walls and the faint beeping of a heart monitor, it kind of gave everything away. As the fog cleared from his mind he began to remember some of the events during the auction.
He was faintly aware of the restraints on his arms, legs, and torso attaching him to the bed. Kaneki didn't even bother struggling. He knew he was going to die today. Getting a feel for his surroundings some more, Kaneki could see that if he was going to die here, it would be rather boring. Well, the first time he'd died it had been very exciting.
A soft click of the door opening brought him out of his thoughts. Kaneki craned his neck as best he could to look at the intruder, not that he really cared who it was, honestly.
"I would've thought it would be a more tearful reunion but I guess you might be better than that, hm, Kaneki?" A cold voice said. Kaneki craned his neck again further in hopes to get a better look at whoever it was. Kaneki's heart stopped as he took in the tan skin, freckles, and hair that he knew so well. The person could've passed as Hide any day, but Kaneki wasn't fooled. That voice was too bitter, too cruel, and those eyes were too dark, too cold.
"Well, then you must've seen the irony of that statement," He said, smiling sardonically, then a somber expression came across his eyes. "So what's the verdict?" Kaneki asked staring back at the ceiling again. He could feel Hide's mock confusion roll off him in waves. Kaneki could hear Hide's shoes clack softly across the linoleum hospital floor, and none too quickly the brunette was staring into his eyes. Gray on brown.
"Well, I hope you're not too keen on dying again," Hide said finally, giving up on the fake cluelessness. Damn, Kaneki thought sarcastically, I wanted to be dead the first time!
"I've been put up with the task of monitoring you to make sure another… incident doesn't happen again." Hide continued. "If you do so happen to fuck up again, I'll be forced to kill you. I hope you understand that."
"Of course I do," I'm not stupid. "Hide, about-" Kaneki began. Hide shook his head and discreetly pointed to the cameras positioned to watch him. The look in Hide's eyes gave off his message loud and clear: We'll talk about that somewhere more private. Kaneki gave a small nod. Hide began to take off his restraints.
"The quinx want to talk to you after I'm finished, you are being released today anyhow, and they're going to ask alot of questions they shouldn't be asking." He said.
"I won't answer if I don't deem it necessary." Kaneki replied, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking the IV out of his arm. Standing up, Kaneki made his way to the door. Before he could open it, he was stopped by Hide.
"One more thing," Hide asked tentatively. "Do you remember? Or are you still Haise? What I said earlier was a test. I wanted to see- I wanted to know if you remembered." I wanted to see if you were still my best friend in there. The message was loud and clear.
"If I wasn't Kaneki, then wouldn't I be confused to as why you're calling me by that name?" He said, opening the door. Hide's face took on a sarcastic smile.
"Also, Urie? Yeah, can you yell at him for me? He barely made it out alive, nonetheless with Mutsuki alive as well. You know what to do." Hide said. Kaneki nodded and headed out to go back home, to see the quinx, and a new seething anger boiling within him. Oh was he pissed.
A/N: I really am not satisfied with how this chapter turned out, but I hope you like the Kaneki/Hide interaction. I figured that Hide would have a more serious demeanor because of all that had happened in the past, with Kaneki and the fact he excepted that he was a Washuu. Anyone could see that Hide would be angry and bitter, but also overjoyed and relieved, too. Welp, I'm not going to be merciful to Urie next chapter, so get ready for the Urie verbal abuse (Lol not really but whatevah). Thank you for reading, and don't be shy about commenting/reviewing! Constructive criticism is appreciated! (But please don't be mean about it! :') I worked hard on this)