Sorry about the long wait, I had to re work the entire plot line because I felt like the story was heading in a different direction. The very end will still be the same though. :)
Chapter 9: The Stage Is Set, Um Wie Ein Jäger Entführen
The roughly hewn stone halls were quite aside from a single pair of footsteps that echoed steadily through it. Just farther ahead the mad doctor was tinkering with another twisted experiment for God knows what. That was where Beta was headed. Debrief the psychopath. Fucking great. Why did we have to bring this guy with us! Alpha, you crazy bastard if you try anything I swear...
"Ah, Beta-kun! It's been awhile since I saw you last." Alpha elated, brandishing a bonesaw, when Beta had reached the archway. The lab was clean, well lit, and state of the art. You would never had guessed if you had only met Alpha. His only love was his work.
"Not long enough for my taste." Creepy old loon. Beta looked down from a raised walkway. The flooring transitioned from stone to tile before a door that was Alpha's private quarters and a couple of stairs to the lab floor. The doc was working on something, looked like a prosthetic arm. Wait that's not metal..."What is that?" That was a mistake.
"I'm so glad you asked!" Alpha picked up his prototype to show it off better. "It's a new arm for that odd friend of ours. Built it myself and it's quite a lovely little number if I do say so! You see I was thinking 'What if I could isolate a ghoul's healing ability? The medical applications could be limitless!' So I got to work using kagune as the base material."
"Wouldn't that turn any human that uses it into a half ghoul though?"
"Oh, no, no," he chimed, gently replacing the limb on its stand, "the mechanical portions function like the CCG's anti-ghoul armor. It wouldn't be any different from using a quinque. With the added bonus of encouraging cellular regeneration at a steady pace."
"That's...actually kinda brilliant, Doc."
"Yes, well," Alpha was too calm, something very ... unpleasant was about to happen, "I do actually need your help to finish it. I need an ukaku type's unique crystallization pattern. Luckily you're just in time to make a donation." Beta took a step back when Alpha picked up his bonesaw again.
Shit.
*POV
"GHAAAAAAA"
Omega and Gamma both looked in the direction of Beta's scream. "Hmph, Alpha's at it again," the latter rasped.
"Poor guy." Omega responded somewhat coldly.
They were in a circular room with a surprising amount of natural light. Each one seated in a chair a few paces from a large mahogany desk. The walls were painted to look like a panorama of the Tokyo skyline. At night the background would look darker and lights on the buildings would come on. Perched atop the desk and studying the wall art was a small boy in a solid black tailored suit with dark hair and eyes. There was a black, featureless, full face masked in his lap that was much too big for him. He swung his legs back and forth. "Alpha-san is scary, isn't he?"
"Not really, Hiderou-kun. You just have to get to know him first." Omega responded gently.
Hmm. I see. "Anyway, Domino-sama wanted to talk to you two so..." Hiderou picked up the mask so that his face was covered before clearing his throat. His job was a simple one, listen to what Domino told him and then repeat it to others. Of course he added a bit of theatrical twist to the whole thing to make the words his. "We called you here to discuss something that has been troubling us."
"What is it Milord?" Omega seemed a little too happy that Domino had called on her.
"If you called both of us then it must be a matter close to home'" Gamma nodded crossing his massive arms.
"It's Sigma. His behavior has grown erratic as of late. Have you noticed anything pressing?" Gamma gave a deep sigh and Omega twirled her hair nervously. Hiderou heard Domino give an irritated moan into the mic "That's a no, then."
Gamma finally broke the silence. "Sigma has not returned for some time, now. I speak for all of us when I say the generals are worried for our comrade."
"We are also aware of the CCG identifying and beginning the hunt for 'Lover' as they call him," Domino lamented.
"Oh, yes, that would definitely give you pause wouldn't it." Omega chuckled.
"How many clues do we have to give them!" Hiderou did his best to mimic Domino's exasperation.
Gamma shifted forward in his seat, angling towards the desk's hidden microphone. "Do you want them to solve the puzzle that quickly?"
"It is not the CCG's pace that bothers us, but rather their goal and Aogiri coming close to forcing our hand."
"I see. Then it is finally time to start playing the game seriously?" the she-ghoul hummed.
"Yes."
Omega and Gamma exchanged a look of equal terror and excitement. Hiderou listen very carefully as Domino instructed him on the next few stages of his plan. He dropped the mask back onto the desk and hopped off revealing a chessboard set up behind him. After moving a piece he turned back to the generals and smiled. "Domino-sama, had a cruel sense of humor."
*POV
Sasaki found Urie passed out in his apartment bathroom and while not entirely surprising it still worried him deeply. For the past week the young man had been getting worse. Mado had noticed but refrained from asking, for which he was thankful. She had seen them three days ago having coffee and going over some different coping methods.
He lightly tapped Urie's face in an attempt to rouse him. The sleeping investigator moaned and tried to sit up. He seemed paler than normal, except his cheeks, ears, and neck were flushed. Sasaki supported him with one arm and ues his other hand to check Urie's temperature. Sure enough he was burning up.
With a short grunt he hoisted Urie over his shoulder. "Sorry, I know you'd rather not, but we need to get you to a doctor."
*POV
A white haired half ghoul was making his way to the CCG's medical center with a very ill looking officer slung over his shoulder. Kanae's rinkaku coiled and twitched behind him. Every nerve in his body shrieked at him to destroy the abomination yet he could not. Tsukiyama-sama had made such a piteously remarkable recovery, he seemed so happy. "Oh rose," the young ghoul bemoaned, "what should I do? What can be done? But is it not far crueler to let master to suffer his continued life?" He caressed the fragile bloom pinned over his left breast before running a hand through his indigo locks. "Why do such lowly creatures attract him so?" He took a breath to clear the rising feeling of disgust. "What must be done…"
He returned his gaze to the two officers. There was no doubt in his mind about Sassaki Hiase's identity. Kanae's grip on the cement tightened. The rooftop on which he was perched was the perfect launching point for interception. He could kill them before they had a chance to react. As if the universe had played some great practical joke on him, Tsukiyama Shuu had just leapt up next to him. "That seems fortunate doesn't it Kanae-kun. Although fighting that Sassaki man like this might be a bit disappointing, capturing him should be easy enough."
Kanae fixed his eye's on Tsukiyama's face, of what little of it could be seen.
"Now, remember, yo-"
"I'm not to get involved unless you are in serious danger, and even then I should only fight with the intent of escape." he completed the droll instructions. Yukio, that Schwien, still had the audacity to keep him from Tsukiyama's side, even if his life was being risked. It just wasn't right!
Shuu gave him a half smile.
*POV
Arima stood, taking in the afternoon atmosphere of the city. He was waiting for someone. They had met before and she had intrigued him. The scent of coffee drifted lazily in the air and the sun was warm on his shoulders. He was engrossed in his novel when a slight touch on his arm alerted him to her presence. With one fluid motion, he marked his page and stood, turning to face his associate. "I'm glad you could make it Wakahisa-san."
She gave a soft giggle that was undeniably cute. "Arima-san, please, call me Emi, it's just so strange to be called by my surname. I hope I haven't kept you waiting."
"Not at all," He pulled a chair out for her, "please, have a seat."
"Thank you."
Arima was always a stickler for details, for observation, and was in such a habit of like things that he found it impossible not to notice the slightly sweet aroma that always clung to her. Or the way her hair was brushed over her left shoulder, leaving the back of her neck exposed. She had beautifully pale skin and gentle facial features. Slightly timid hazel eyes accented her raven wing hair. When she was fully seated he pushed the chair in and noted that she was very light despite being just slightly round. Arima wasn't looking for love, nor was he sure he had found it, but Emi lived up to her name. Her every move and gesture seemed innocent, yet somehow, lustful. "How have you been adjusting to Tokyo, Emi-san?"
"Ma~ It's a bit more intimidating than I thought…" she gave an airy laugh and scratched the back of her head. Arima could feel himself smiling.
"I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of ordering us some coffee and sandwiches."
"Ah~," she sounded excited, "I hope they're tasty." The childish smile plastered over her face lifted Arima's heart. Even though he still had his suspicions for the first time Arima wished he was wrong about her.
Move two: Knight to F3
(One last thing *POV indicates a change in point of view, however since part of the fun in my writing is for my reader to figure out whose pov they are in, I won't outright tell you who is whom.)