Chapter 2: Slenderman & Torchwood 4
While waiting for Kaneki to ask Touka to come with us. Honestly, I didn't want Touka to get involve with my messes but the way how things are now it doesn't matter what I say. I don't think it ever did even when I was the Doctor. When I tell people I don't want them to get involve because they'll get hurt they'll come with me anyway. I hate having the type of face that no one listens to. No doubt Touka would want to come with us anyway.
Tsukiyama waited here in the console with me. He was marveled about how big the inside of my TARDIS is. He asked me, "How on earth does all of this fit into a small police box?"
"TimeLord technology that's too complicated for you to understand," I said.
Even though I tried many times explaining it to humans, but even they couldn't understand. I sat down on the chair as I ruffled my blood red hair. It's weird that the red hair I've always wanted didn't happen in regeneration, but when I accepted my TimeGhoul side. Now that I have it, for some reason, it's hard to get use to. Probably because it's another reminder that I'm not the Doctor anymore.
"So why do you sound like you're from the north of the UK?"
"Oi, lot's of planets are from the north!"
Well, that and I've spent a lot of time in the UK. It kind of makes me wonder if I regret my decision for trying to find a companion in Japan. Wow, I had no idea Earth had this problem with Ghouls. If they always had this problem I must have been really busy traveling through space and time to not notice it even once. Some Doctor I was.
"So why choose to be called the Doctor?" asked Tsukiyama
"You know what how about you stop calling me the Doctor all together? I'm not that man anymore alright so quit calling me that."
"You know Blood Jester is not much of a friendly name right? How about I call you Jester for short?"
"Fine, just stop calling me Doctor."
"...So why Blood Jester?"
"YOU ASK WAY TOO MANY QUESTIONS YOU KNOW THAT?!"
"Alright, alright fine. I'm just curious is all. You know you're not as fun as Touka advertised you to be."
"I think it's my turn to ask you questions, Tsukiyama. How are you and Kaneki friends?"
"Well, I've first met him at the coffee shop of Anteiku. Before he had white hair of course. I fell in love with him instantly when I took in his scent."
"You're in love with him?"
"In a way, but I know his interest lies with Touka."
That's for sure. I knew how worried Kaneki was when he heard that Touka gotten hurt by Albus.
"You've hadn't gotten a bite out of him have you?" asked Tsukiyama.
"No, I would never do that."
"Good, because I have yet to get a taste myself."
Oh, now it's coming together in my head. I said, "You said earlier you collect rare taste from both Ghouls and Humans. What's stopping you from getting a bite out of Kaneki?"
"His friends of Anteiku protect him from me in the past. But ever since his little change, he can hold up a fight on his own."
"I'm telling you right now, Tsukiyama. Try getting a bite out of him inside my TARDIS, while I'm around, and I swear I'll throw you into a black hole."
"... Huh, I expected you to say you'll be the one to eat me alive, but I don't think I want to know what it feels like being toss into a black hole."
"Oh believe me you don't."
"We're back!" said Kaneki as he and Touka entered the TARDIS with a couple of suitcases.
"Go ahead and show Touka her room, Kaneki. Then come back here. I'll show Tsukiyama his room."
"Okay, Doctor."
"Um, he prefers to be called Jester for short, Kaneki." said Tsukiyama, "He doesn't like to be called Doctor anymore."
Kaneki and Touka look at both of us in confusion. I said to them to just make everything clear, "Just call me Blood Jester from now on Kaneki, Touka. If you like just call me Jester for short."
"But you're the-," said Kaneki until I interrupted him.
"Not anymore Kaneki, so let's drop it. Follow me Tsukiyama."
I stand up from the chair as I lead Tsukiyama to his room. "Kaneki doesn't seem too happy about this little change of yours."
"And you're not doing too well getting on my good side."
I'm not sure if changing into a Time Ghoul has affected my emotions. Lately, I've been getting angry more often than before. I need to fix that, I don't want to start letting my anger get out of control around Kaneki and Touka. Tsukiyama isn't helping my situation. You can say it's probably because his personality reminds me of Jux, also known as Laughing Blood.
Once I open the door to his room by pressing a few numbers on the keypad on the wall. I let him inside as I said, "Here you go." I like the reaction I got when he look around the empty white room. He looked at it in disappointment and disgust as he turn to me and said, "You hate me don't you?"
"Well yes, but I'm not that cruel. This room links to your mind so you can decorate it whatever you want. Go ahead try it. Think of a bed or a wardrobe."
He look over at the back of the wall and imagine a red and purple bed with a dark brown wooden headboard. "That's magnificent! How on earth-?"
"Like I said before it's a little complicated to explain," Well it's that but I don't feel like explaining either, "While you're decorating your new room, I'll reset the password so you can type in your own code. Once you're done come back to the console room. You remember the way back right?"
"Of course, I made sure I memorize the directions."
"Good,"
I left him alone after that as I walk back to the console room. I let out a sigh of relief as I tell myself, "Relax he hasn't done anything yet. Until he does something that crosses the line, then I'll kill him."
... (Kaneki's Narrative)
"Okay this is your room," I said when I showed her the blank white room. She glared at me as she said, "Are you playing with me?"
I shook my head as I said, "I wouldn't do that unless I want to be killed by you. The room connects with your mind letting you imagine whatever you want in here. No joke, you can really imagine anything go ahead and try it."
Touka looks at the far right corner of the room and created a dresser. She was amazed by it as she said, "That is way too cool! How is this even possible?"
"The science and alien technology were a little hard to understand, but the basic explanation of it is that the TARDIS connects to your mind and lets you imagine whatever you want in this room."
"Is it the same with the other rooms?"
"No the section you're in right now are the sleeping quarters. These are the only rooms I know you can turn into whatever you want."
"Exactly how huge is this place again?"
"I really don't know. So far the last time I've gone exploring I've checked out 50 rooms before I got lost."
"You got lost in here?"
"Yup, the Doctor-, I mean Jester had to rescue me from one of his eating alien plants one time."
Touka was silent for a moment when I had to correct myself from calling him Doctor. She said, "Is he really serious about changing his name to Blood Jester?"
"I think he is, Touka. I know when he was forced into this changed he's been telling me to stop calling him Doctor, but he seemed fine with me calling him that after the past few weeks."
"Maybe it's because he just doesn't feel like himself anymore, Kaneki. Maybe calling him Blood Jester is only temporarily."
"I hope so, I never let the name Eyepatch take over my identity. Maybe if I sneak the name Doctor to him a couple of times he'll change his mind again."
"Right, well let me unpack real quick. I'll meet you back at the console room."
"You know the way back right?"
"Yes, I do."
"Alright, I'll leave you to your unpacking then."
I walked out of her room and headed back to the console room. The Doctor was looking at the screen reading about something. I asked him, "What are you looking up, Doctor?"
"Trying to see how accurate the folklore of Slenderman is," He answered, "Oh and I really do mean it, this time, Kaneki. Just call me Jester."
"... Right, I'm sorry."
"It's fine. How well do you know the folklore, Kaneki?" He finally turns his head from the screen to look at me.
"Well, the urban legend of Slenderman is a 6 ft tall man who wears a black business suit. How he came to be was that he was beaten with a log, stabbed with a 2-foot stick, and hung from a tree with his arms, hands, legs, and feet all pulled out of their sockets. During the day time, he shows up in open areas with trees, an empty road, or in the wood. At least anywhere that has trees. People who have claimed that they saw him are in a place like open windows, dark open rooms, black TV screens, and in large crowds of people. Strangely enough, he only kills kids younger than 16. They say there are ways to outsmart him but it's very risky. His arms, legs, fingers, and toes will stretch so that he is up to 34 feet tall with a bone breaking sound. If you look at him it gives him the power to control your body. When you wake up, you will be tied up laying down in the woods where he was killed. A 547-pound log will be hanging over your head. He will ask you a question. If you get the answer right, he will break both your arms and legs. If you get it wrong he will slowly stick his fingers down your neck and pulls out your heart."
"Well partially right but I was talking about the one dating back to medieval times in germanic folklore. He would roam around the black forest and snatch away children who disobey their parents. Of course, the story of the Slendermen is so mixed up in old and new folklore it's hard to tell which one is real. Some say he was a child molester who was strung about the trees as punishment for his crimes. Although like I said there are so many different versions of the Slenderman that it's hard to tell which one is close to the truth. I suppose we'll find out once we go to the Black Forest."
"What kind of Kagune you think the Slenderman has?" I asked him.
"They keep on drawing pictures of him with black branches or tentacles growing our of his back. It could be a Rinkaku, but I don't think he's an ordinary Ghoul, Kaneki. He might be a full-fledged Kakuja."
"Why do you think that?"
"He might have more than one Kagune."
"Well, we don't know for sure if he's a Kakuja. He might be like Hinami, she was born with two Kagunes, a Koukaku and Rinkaku."
"Is that so? Well, let's hope you're right, Kaneki."
Once Tsukiyama and Touka came back into the console room the Doctor asked him, "Do you know the coordinates where they are in the Black Forest?"
"Of course, I do," said Tsukiyama.
"Good, go on and tell me and once I pilot the TARDIS. Make sure everyone grabs the rail."
Oh boy, I swear I don't know how the Doctor hasn't died flying the TARDIS yet. He knows he's still rusty after who knows how many years.
... (Doctor's Narrative)
When I landed the TARDIS deep inside the Black Forest already the old girl was feeling upset about this place. "Are we here?" asked Touka trying to stand up with the help of Kaneki.
Tsukiyama said as he tried to climb back over the rail, "Where in the entire universe did you learn how to drive?!"
Ignoring his question I answered Touka's, "Yes we are here, but there's something wrong. The TARDIS is picking up something that's quite upsetting." I take a look at the screen to see what's going on outside and read the energy time levels.
"What is it?" said Kaneki.
"We're inside a Time Barrier. Why on earth does Torchwood 4 need a Time Barrier?"
"Mind explaining what a Time Barrier is?" said Touka.
"Time Barriers are like quarantined areas that lock down time. It makes time not run anymore, like a dimension where time can't even exist. It's upsetting my old girl because there's no Artron Energy. It's not too bad to the point where it pains her, but enough to upset her stomach."
"Is it safe for us to go outside?"
"Oh, it's safe the only thing the Time Barrier will do to you is stop your aging process. Have you been here before, Tsukiyama?"
Tsukiyama said, "No, my friend who works for Torchwood 4 always meet me outside of the barrier."
"How old is your friend?"
"He's 24, he's the one who put up the barrier."
"... You're telling me a Ghoul can put up a Time Barrier?"
"Why so surprised?"
"Because I've one time seen a human tried and he needed my help to do it. Time Barriers were invented by TimeLords, the science and knowledge to even understand how to build a Time Barrier is advanced and dangerous. Because if you don't do it right your life force is drained from your very being."
"Well maybe Slenderman will explain everything once we met him." said Kaneki, "Right now this place is already freaking me out and we're not even outside the TARDIS yet."
"Right, sorry for keeping us waiting." I said, "Let's get going then."
We all went outside and when I close the TARDIS doors the old girl told me to be careful. I said to her, "Don't worry, we'll be fine." The three of us had to follow Tsukiyama since he's the only one that knows the way. Whatever TimeLord is left inside my DNA it's making me shudder because there's no time in this area. Not to mention the smell in the air. It's so stale and there're traces of death around these woods.
I'm beginning to wonder if Torchwood 4 are a good bunch. I remember the earlier times when I've met the old Torchwood. Their job was to take me down until Jack convinces them otherwise... Jack, I will rescue you from the Chernabogs soon. Just wait a little longer.
Suddenly I've felt someone watching us from a distance. My eyes shifted real quick when I've felt the slight change in the air. I quickly unleash my Rinkaku and block four thin branch-like tentacles that were solid black. Since the attack came from behind us I saw a 6 ft tall man wearing a black suit, and a fully head covered white mask. His Kagune is a black Rinkaku but the shape looks so different from my own and Kaneki's.
"Slenderman!" called out Tsukiyama, "It's okay! They're with me!"
"I know." said Slenderman, "Just wanted to test your friend's reflexes."
"What the hell is up with everybody attacking me the first time I've met them?" I said, mostly to myself, though. Slenderman let his Rinkaku disappear and I did the same.
Slenderman walks towards us and once he stops right in front of me he said, "It's faint but you still have traces of TimeLord left in you. I've been dying to meet you, Doctor." He took off his mask to reveal his real face. His skin is deathly pale, black short hair, his left eye is a Ghoul, and his right eye is human. His human eye color is ice gray.
"He doesn't call himself the Doctor anymore, Slenderman," said Tsukiyama, "He likes to go by Blood Jester now."
"Really? That name doesn't sound like you."
"It's the new name I've chosen and I'm going to stick to it." I said, "So you're half human?"
"Correct, One-Eyed Ghouls are particularly rare nowadays. Although I've heard that Kaneki Ken is a One-Eyed Ghoul right?"
When he look at him, Kaneki shuddered and took a step back. "He's got the scent of a female Ghoul. So do you apparently, Blood Jester."
"In case if you forgot," I said, "We're here to ask for your help to take back Torchwood 3."
"I didn't forget. Follow me then, we'll talk about this with the rest of my crew."
Once he starts leading the way Kaneki walk by my side as he asked me, "Are you, okay Doctor? I mean, Jester?"
"I'm fine. His attack was more of a friendly tap than anything else."
Slenderman didn't even tried putting strength into his Rinkaku. It was almost like he was joshing me. His body, though it's half human and half Ghoul, but there's something way off about his time. It almost feels just as old as mine but possibly younger. It makes me wonder if the rest of Torchwood 4 is like that?