After a rather short and to the point phone call on break at work, Akeno had arranged for her parents to meet her out in town over dinner. She'd told her mother, who was also on the line with another business associate, that what they needed to talk about was important and something her parents would like to know and after that her mother had agreed to meet and rushed her off the phone, bying to talk to the other person on the other line. Akeno grabbed her things after work and rushed back to her dorm to change into something a bit more appropriate. Her parents had always had extravagant tastes and their taste in food was no different.

Once at her door Akeno checked her pockets for a key only to realize it wasn't in her pockets. "Shit!" She cursed herself. "Oh, come on, idiot. How did you forget your key?" Akeno banged on the dormitory door trying to get her roommates attention. "Kimi!" Akeno continued to bang on the door "Kimi, I really need in-" The door opened and Akeno almost fell on her face. The short girl in front of her was buttoning her shirt as if it had been undone before. "Nishiki's here, isn't he?" Kimi laughed and nodded, a shy smile creeping across her face. Kimi stepped aside to let Akeno in and the latter dropped her bag to the floor as soon as she crossed the threshold leading into their dorm.

"Are you in a hurry, Akeno?" Kimi asked. She was a sweet girl and was never really loud or boisterous, but she had her cocky boyfriend over way too much for Akeno's liking, but she never said anything. Akeno tried to get by with as little confrontation as possible amongst her peers.

"Y-Yeah, I'm meeting up with my parents tonight." Kimi gasped and closed the door behind Akeno.

"Really? I know you haven't got to see them in a while. That's great Akeno." Akeno smiled and nodded, digging in her closet. Nishiki was lying on Kimi's bed, a smug smirk on his face as Akeno pulled out a little black dress, the collar lined with fake jewels.

"Christ, you always gotta dress like a granny?" Nishiki spoke up and Akeno huffed.

"You always gotta be in my dorm?" Akeno shot back.

"So long as my sexy lady shares it with you, then yes." He was irritating and his constant banter was never really wanted, but sometimes it put Akeno in a better mood. Now, unfortunately was not one of those times. "I feel sorry for whatever date you have to meet tonight. Speaking of which, how'd you even get a date going around with your hair all unkempt like that? You look like shit most of the time-"

"Nishiki! I'm not in the mood for the fucking comments right now!" Nishiki's face dropped at the tone of Akeno's voice. It wasn't often her she said much to Nishiki and it was even more uncommon for her words to be angry and loud. It shut the bespectacled man up.

"Woah, sorry. Didn't know you were having a bad day…" He mumbled. Akeno felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and met eyes with Kimi.

"Are you okay?" Akeno's shoulders dropped and she sighed, regretting calling her parents and second guessing every decision she was about to make. "Tell me what's wrong, Aki. I'm not gonna say anything- and neither will Nishiki." Akeno bit her lip and let the black dress fall from her hands as she plopped down on her bed.

"I-I'm just nervous to talk to my parents is all." She said simply.

"What about this talk is making you so nervous?" Again, she didn't want to say much. What if she told Akeno and Nishiki that she was going to switch her classes and possibly even her major to focus on learning more about ghouls and they decided she was a freak afterall? What if they reported her for suspicious activity? What if Kimi requested a new roommate? "Come on, I'm sure it's not that bad." But Kimi's voice was all too soothing for Akeno not to spill the beans.

"I've decided I want to learn more about ghouls. Maybe pursue something in the… medical field dealing with them. But… I need to tell my parents and I just… they're going to be so upset with me. After all the money they've spent on me they're going to think I'm throwing my life away for a hobby." At first Kimi didn't say anything, but her mouth was open in shock and Nishiki's expression was unreadable. "You guys think I'm a weirdo now, don't you? Fuck… I knew I shouldn't have said-"

"No!" Kimi shouted. "No, we don't think you're a weirdo- I don't think you're a weirdo. I just never… I never expected you'd have any sort of interest in ghouls."

"Yeah, me either. Especially- the way you're makin' it sound- helping them." Akeno winced at the way Nishiki said it; it was as if he were questioning her in every way he could. 'What if I'm imposing on a group of people- a culture- that doesn't want help from my kind? What if even they turn me away... ? Why am I talking like some sort of A-Class traitor? I can be thrown in prison for this!' "Are you serious about helping the… ghouls?"

"Yes!" It came out quicker than Akeno could process it. Nishiki's eyes widened in shock at the amount of conviction in such a small word. "I wouldn't throw away my education if I wasn't serious." The room was silent for a long moment before Nishiki sighed.

"I always knew there was something… different about you. I'm beginning to think it might not be different in a bad way." His words caught the brunette's attention.

"So… you don't think ill of me?" Nishiki snorted.

"What you do with your degree and whomever you choose to help is none of my business, but the fact that you plan on working for the underdog… it's kind of cool." Akeno couldn't help the small smile that crept across her face.

"Yeah, it is pretty cool that you're gonna help the ghouls out. But you can't be caught." Kimi's tone was serious. "You know what'll happen if the CCG find out you're conspiring to help ghouls, right?" Akeno nodded. "Your secrets safe with us, but it may not be so safe with others. Be careful who you tell. Or at least, how much you tell them." It was as if something settled over the room and Akeno was now a part of something much deeper. "Why don't you get ready for tonight? But… I don't think the black dress is the best option. It makes you look kinda old." Kimi laughed. Akeno smiled and nodded before she began digging for something a bit more youthful in her closet. "Ya know, Aki, you have a rrally great figure. I've always been jealous and I know half the girls on this campus are too." Akeno felt a blush creep up on her cheeks. "You shouldn't wear such frumpy clothes. Show off what you got!"

"I-I'm more of a m-modest person, Kimi-" Kimi waved Akeno's words away and began digging through the closet with her. It took only a moment before she found something and wiggled her eyebrows.

"Oh, to hell with your little modesty bit. This dress screams 'Fuck me.'" Akeno gasped at Kimi's words while Nishiki chuckled in the background. Akeno smacked the dress from Kimi's hand and kicked it back into the closet, her cheeks cherry red.

"Kimi! That's yours!" This time it was Kimi's turn to blush. The girl stammered when she opened her mouth to speak as Nishiki burst into laughter.

"Do what?! I've never seen that one!" Nishiki howled. Kimi pressed her hands to her cheeks and shook her head.

"I-I-I don't r-remember t-that dress! I-I… That's not mine!" The girl ran out of the room and Nishiki followed after her still howling with laughter.

"Wear that for me sometime, will ya?" There was the sound of something shattering and Nishiki shouting. "Hey! Come on, I'm sure you'd look mighty fine."

"No!" And then the door slammed and all was silent. Akeno was satisfied when she found a wine colored dress in her closet. It was about mid-thigh length with lace trimming on the bottom. It was low-cut, but not slutty and she paired it with a pair of black heels that she knew would be off by the end of the night (maybe earlier). She looked at herself in the mirror and sighed at her hair. Of course, it was kind of puffy and took away from the bit of beauty she seen in herself, but it wasn't going to stop her from trying to be confident in what she was wearing. Before setting off she put on only a bit of makeup, only to make her eyes pop and maybe take attention away from her hair. It was the cursed humidity that always got to it. Something always went awry.

When Akeno stepped in the restaurant her parents had picked out, she was immediately blinded by big, bright, Hollywood-esque lights. Waiters outfitted in the nicest working attire she'd ever seen greeted her on either side, bowing politely and asking her questions she couldn't focus on. The scene laid out before her was breathtaking- but not in the good way. More like the 'I-can't-believe-they-brought-me-here-why-couldn't-we-go-somewhere-more-obscure' type of way.

"...Ma'am?" When the waiter addressed Akeno she was shaken out of her daze.

"O-Oh, forgive me. I should have a table waiting for me." The waiter raised an eyebrow.

"Miss. Bando?" The formality made Akeno only slightly uncomfortable, but she dealt with it because the waiter was only doing their job.

"Y-Yes." The waiter nodded and grabbed a menu and a crystal clear wine glass before escorting Akeno to her table.

"Please follow me, Miss." She followed in suit without question and made sure to glance at as many tables as she could before reaching her own. Everywhere she looked people were dressed in expensive attire- the kind you seen on televised fashion shows and the kind you'd see the rich lead in your favorite drama wear. Even with one of her nicest dresses on Akeno felt out of place. She was the rag amongst the riches and it made her even more uncomfortable when she noticed, quite naturally, some people were returning her stares. "Here you are, ma'am." Akeno bowed as thanks when the waiter pulled out her chair for her, but when she looked at him she was startled. There was some twinkle in his eyes that was totally unnatural and it sent a shiver down her spine. He set the glass down in front of her and Akeno didn't want to look up, instead getting a glimpse of her mother's delicate hand, a lovely wedding ring around one of her fingers. "Wine?" Akeno shook her head and twiddled with her thumbs.

"N-No thank you, just water will be fine." The waiter nodded and bowed as Akeno heard her mother sigh.

"Still the same old bad habits. I told you we should've gotten her a speech coach when she was little." They were the first words her mother had said to her tonight and it was a cruel reminder of just how little they thought of her. There wasn't really a 'hello' or a 'how are you?' It always began with a flaw and built up to each and every fault Akeno's parents could pick out in their child.

"It's good to see you too, mother. And you, father." The man only grunted and swished the crimson wine in his glass before taking a sip.

"I see you dressed somewhat appropriately… but you still haven't done much with you hair." Her mother continued. "It's so pretty when it lies down. How come you leave it looking like a mess?" Akeno grit her teeth, feeling the pressure in her jaw before taking a breath.

"I don't usually have the time to do much with it." She replied.

"No man is going to marry you looking like that." Her father said bluntly. "If your mother allowed her hair to be wild, I would've never married her." Akeno's mother laughed and picked up her wineglass, all the while their child tried to find a calm place in her mind.

"It's the humidity in the air that makes it so… puffy."

"There are straight pieces and puffy pieces… and I see you still haven't let it grow out much. You should take better care of yourself. Speaking of which, how are you managing being on your own?" Her mother asked.

"Well, I guess. I work at a bookstore near the campus and I take classes most of the day. My roommate keeps up the dorm most of the time since it's usually her and her boyfriend there."

"And where's your boyfriend?" Her father pried.

"... You said we wouldn't do this anymore." Akeno's voice was raspy, already showing the signs of being worn out.

"It was just a question." He chided. "Answer it and I'll leave the subject be."

"I don't have one. I probably won't have one for a long time."

"What a shame. I know so many of our friends boys had crushes on you. They all went to school with you and most of them are out there doing something with their lives. You could've had a wonderful life." Akeno felt her eye twitching.

"I don't need a man to carry me through life. I can work and provide for myself perfectly fine." Her voice was becoming more and more strained.

"I'm just glad we didn't have an ugly child. I remember the Fugaku's daughter was just hideous…" Akeno cleared her throat.

"I need to t-talk with you two." And then she felt as if her voice were gone.

"Then speak." Her father's voice was harsh and he didn't try to hide the fact that he wanted to be done with this dinner.

"I-I plan on switching my classes. Maybe even my major if possible." Her mother blinked and cocked her head to the side.

"To focus on…?"

"Ghouls." And then the color drained from her parent's faces. "Anatomy, and biology and history and culture."

"You want to learn about… ghouls?" Her mother's mouth was hanging wide open as Akeno nodded.

"What the hell for?" Her father questioned. "We send you all of this money to go off to college and you want to blow it to learn about ghouls? Monsters who kill us and eat us? That's what you're telling your mother and I? If it is you should be ashamed of yourself." There it was. All the disappointment and loathing her father lived to cast on her and for a reasons unknown to her.

"Look at your sisters off doing wonderful thing with their lives! Why-" Her mother lowered her voice so that only the others around the table could hear. "Ghouls? Have you no shame? Be more like your sisters!" Akeno shook her head and sighed.

"I'm not Asami and Ai. I don't want to be just like them. I want to follow my own path and this is it." Her father threw his napkin on the table.

"I won't have it. No child of mine is going to go prancing off to play with ghouls. Do you know how much of a disgrace that would be to our family? Do you know what a disgrace you are to us right now?" That was it. Akeno stood from her seat at the table abruptly, knocking over a wineglass in the midst.

"I don't care! Is that what you've been wanting me to say all these years? Or do you want me to say I care? But you've always told me not to lie to you, so here's the truth: I don't care if I'm some huge fuck-up because even if I wasn't, you'd still find some way to drag me down! I'm sick of it! I'm so damn sick and tired of feeling like I'm not enough for you two!"

"Then you can pay for your own college and your own housing! As your parents we're not going to tolerate this kind of disrespect! You can scratch your name off of any record books you may be in dealing with this family. You're no longer a wanted part of it. Fend for yourself." Tears stung Akeno's eyes. Tears of pain and hurt and sadness, but also of relief because damn was it good to feel the set standards go away. A weight was lifted from her- the need to be as good as or better than her siblings was gone; having to kiss her parent's asses was gone. She was going to lay out her own rules now, but it would be only her. She would be alone and that hurt, but that's how it'd always been. Figuring that you're alone and knowing you're alone are two majorly different things each with it's own emotional attachments.

"Gladly if it means I'll be away from you two!" Akeno grabbed the small clutch she'd brought with her and rushed out of the restaurant. Everyone was looking at her as she held back the tears swelling in her eyes and tried to keep her throat from closing up. She sniffled a few times before throwing the door open to exit the diner, throwing her heels off in the process and wiping the makeup from her bleary eyes.

The night was cool and windy and only stung Akeno's eyes more when the air hit the sensitive area. She wiped her eyes, not holding back the tears any longer; they were tears she'd built up from years of frustration and anger from the situations she'd been put in and the things that had been said to her. It felt nicer than she liked to admit to finally be able to let it all out. She didn't pay attention to where she was walking and was bumped and pushed around numerous times by others passing by her.

"Excuse me."

"Please move."

"You're standing in the way."

"Get out of here."

"Fucking move!" She heard it all as everyone passed by but didn't give it a second thought. Not even as she wandered aimlessly into an alley and sat down on the cold pavement. She'd sat in something wet and warm and the sensation was strange as her legs came into contact with the cold ground. Akeno rested her head against the wall behind her, trying to shake the tears from her eyes and control her breathing. Coming down from her high was much more devastating than she'd realized it would be. She was now left all alone in the world- how was she going to pay for college? 'Work two jobs.' Who was she going to go to for advice? 'Nori or Kimi and maybe even Nishiki.' Who's going to make sure you find a job when you graduate? 'Myself. I can't always rely on others.' She could almost fall asleep where she was sitting, but as soon as she closed her eyes she felt a droplet splash on her face. 'It's raining… I guess I should be getting home.' But she didn't make a move to leave, instead she just sat where she was and let the rain soak her. It was refreshing and turned the cool air frigid but it felt so right in the moment.

"Ma'am?" Startled, Akeno looked to at the entrance to the alley. It was that waiter from the restaurant. Akeno's eyes lit up when she seen him, a false hope firing up in her stomach.

"D-Did my parents send for me?" The waiter shook his head and Akeno crumbled once more. Of course they didn't.

"I seen you storm out of the restaurant and started looking for you." The boy seemed shy enough. His voice was low and he kind of twiddled with his fingers the way Akeno did when she got nervous. "I-I wanted to make sure you were okay." She smile knowing at least someone cared enough to come look for her.

"Yes, I'm fine, thank you. You should go back before you catch a cold-"

"Um! Here, take this, Miss. I can't just leave you here in this alley with nothing to cover yourself with." The waiter took off the black coat he was wearing and made his way over to Akeno. She stood from where she was sitting and put her hands up, trying to politely reject the boy's offer.

"Oh, no. I couldn't take your jacket from you. I-I'm going home soon anyways-"

"No, please take it. I can't leave here until you do." The sound of rushed footsteps splashing against the rain soaked pavement filled the silent void between the pair of teenagers. When it became apparent he wasn't going to leave Akeno bit her lip and reached slowly for the jacket.

"I-I guess… But I'm going to feel really bad for taking-" In a flash the boy had dropped the jacket to the ground and grabbed Akeno's arm. The events that followed seemed to go in slow motion- the jacket softly hitting the pavement, the boy's pupils going red and his whites turning dark, his head going down, and his teeth sinking into the soft flesh of Akeno's forearm. From the light of a flashing neon sign she seen that the warm spot she'd sat in was blood and it all seemed to click. 'I think… did I stumble upon his hideout?' She jerked her arm back, pain ripping through the limb as flesh frayed from the bone and blood splattered on her face. Her breaths were labored, but it was as if she was stone. Her legs were lead and her heartbeat was racing a mile a minute. "W-Why did you… bite me?" It was apparent, but it was almost as if the situation needed clarity. 'I've never seen a ghoul. Is this what it's like being a victim?' Akeno grabbed the missing chunk of her forearm, hissing when her wet fingers stung and further irritated the open wound.

"I overheard you speaking with your parents while I was waiting on another table. I couldn't help but think of what a delicious meal you'd make." His voice was no longer quiet. He sounded like a lion after his meal and Akeno was the fucking sheep. She shook her head, taking multiple steps back trying to get away from the boy in front of her. "You sound like you're a sympathizer… if you're so interested in our kind, would you like to see a demonstration of the most important lesson we learn as children?" Akeno's eyes widened as the full realization of the situation hit her. 'He's going to eat me. I'm not going to live past eighteen because this ghoul in front of me is going to kill me and eat me.' "That lesson is how we feed."

"Holy shit…" Akeno looked beside her as the boy continued to talk. Her mind was racing almost as fast as her heart. Her eyes darted from side to side looking for some way to get away, but she was tripped on something large and fleshy when she took another step backwards. The sight of a severed leg made her sick to her stomach and she scrambled to get up. "Shit. Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit. Holy fucking shit." Akeno rose to her feet and ran towards the wall now in front of her and darted down another alleyway.

"Don't run from me!" Something hit the wall above her head and small pieces of brick chipped off and fell in her hair. 'What the fuck am I doing? Trying to outrun a ghoul, that's what. Strategy, strategy… I need something to climb up! I need somewhere to hide! Get out into public, do something! Fucking think!'

"I don't want to die today." It came out as a breathy whisper as she ran and took turns she'd never taken before. She tripped once but quickly regained her footing when another piece of brick flew by her head.

"Come back here!" His voice was further away now. It seemed as though he was getting tired, but Akeno had fight left in here. 'Not today, not today, not today. Just make it through this alley Akeno!' "If you have so much sympathy for our kind, then allow me to indulge myself!" Akeno shook her head, her lungs and legs were on fire, but she kept running. 'Keep running, don't stop. Keep running, don't stop.' It was only when she was jerked down by another force that she stopped to look where she was. A cold hand slid over her mouth and she tried to scream, but the familiar voice shushed her.

"Shh! Be quiet and we'll both make it out of this!" 'I know that voice from somewhere…' It was pitch dark, in the direction Akeno was running was a rather unpleasant part of the 20th Ward, one she'd only heard about, but had never dared to venture there. The sound of ragged breathing came nearer and Akeno squeezed her eyes shut and said a silent prayer. The ghoul ran right past them, cursing the whole time. Akeno and her rescuer waited a few moments silently to ensure the ghoul wasn't coming back. When she was sure she was in the clear and ripped the hand from her mouth and stumbled backwards, falling once more on the ground into a puddle of water.

"W-Who are you?!" She shouted.

"Shhh! Before he comes back or before you draw attention to us." Neon red light dyed the now standing figure a bright shade, but from what Akeno could see she could easily make out the figure.

"K-Kaneki?" He nodded and unzipped the black mask he was wearing to reveal his whole face. "W-What're you doing here? Why did you…?" He rubbed the back of his neck and laughed nervously.

"Uh, it's a long story. If we ever meet again I'll explain, but for now we need to get you somewhere safe and get that wound cleaned." Akeno made to stand and almost toppled over, landing in Kaneki's arms. She grunted and tried to right herself, but it wasn't happening. Kaneki threw one of Akeno's arms around his shoulders before hauling her legs into his arms.

"You don't have to carry me. You don't even know where I live." She complained, her voice becoming miniscule. Kaneki's kind smile made her feel just a bit better about the strange circumstances she was now operating under.

"Just tell me where and I'll get you there." Akeno reluctantly spent roughly the next thirty minutes directing Kaneki to the Kamii University campus and when they reached their destination she heard a small gasp come from the boy's lips.

"Is something wrong? I told you I was heavy-" Kaneki shook his head and cleared his throat.

"N-No, I'm fine… I just…" Akeno raised an eyebrow, testing out her footing as she swung her legs to the ground.

"You went here, didn't you?" She asked. Kaneki gulped and nodded. Akeno tried to give as friendly a smile as she could. It was odd, she trusted Kaneki despite him practically being a stranger as well as a ghoul. It just seemed like he was different. "I won't make you escort me to my dorm. I know that could be… difficult. I'm sure I'll be fine on my own from here. Thanks so much, Kaneki."

"W-Wait! I-I can take you h-home! I-It's no problem-" Akeno giggled and shook her head.

"It's fine. Besides my roommate might think something's up with us- she's super nosy." Kaneki didn't look so sure about leaving Akeno on her own, nor did he feel confident in it. He realized why that other ghoul had been so dead set on her- she smelled impossibly good. Kaneki had never smelled a smell like Akeno's before and it was intoxicating.

"You're sure?" She nodded and stepped closer to Kaneki before wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her soft lips to his cheek.

"Positive. Thank you, Kaneki. Hopefully I'll see you around sometime." That was all Kaneki needed to make his jaw go slack as the girl turned on her heel and made to go home. She was definitely different from other humans. Even as a human Kaneki had never heard of anyone openly showing physical affection towards ghouls. The only person he knew know that showed any physical affections towards ghouls was Kimi and she and Nishiki kept their life private in fear of them both getting in trouble. But Akeno had no second thoughts, no qualms, no objections to hugging and kissing a ghoul- granted it was on the cheek, but in honesty it was more than Kankei had ever gotten being a human or a ghoul. Akeno was oddball, but in a way it suited her. She could've screamed when Kaneki approached her and went to the press sobbing over the ordeal that had overcome her tonight, but instead she took it in obvious stride. She was too prideful and too sympathetic towards ghouls to do something like that. And Kaneki couldn't help but think there was something even a bit more dangerous underlying all of her magnificent qualities- she could take care of herself and that was no question.