"A collision of Black and White!"
Centipede's long, arcing blade swept past Kaneki for the 3rd time and he flips in the air, kicking the Quinque away. Kuzo tuts, drawing it back and striking again, only for the One Eye to swiftly move away and kick again. "Why can't I hit this guy? Before, I was about to kill him, now he's gotten stronger…" Kaneki disappears, and Kuzo's eyes dart around, searching, only for the ghoul to reappear directly in front of him, a finger raised to his masks gaping lips.
"Be quiet… Do not speak to the enemy, that's what Arima always told me". Kuzo glares at him and feels a pulse through the Quinque. He grins. This weapon wanted to change for him a second time. A light radiates out from the weapon, splitting the Quinque into two extendable blades, joined by a cord at the hilts. He twirls around, both weapons swinging in deadly arcs to pincer Kaneki. "I don't know who you really are, or how you know about the CCG's dead, but you're about to be dead yourself!"
Kaneki sighs, shaking his head softly. "This just isn't good enough, Investigator…" He raises both gloved arms and catches the two Quinque mid-air, air rushing around them in the force of the blow. He doesn't even bleed. Kuzo's eyes widen. "You sure aren't a normal ghoul…. One Eyed King". Kaneki's fists close around the blades, crushing them into powder. Kuzo drops the Centipedes and rolls to the side in order to avoid Kaneki's palm strike to his chest, but he gets hit in the side. The force of the attack is enough to send him flying into the stone gate behind them, cracking the engraved doorway.
Kaneki rolls his neck while cracking his finger as he walks towards the fallen Investigator, staring at him through the single eyehole in his mask. "You're finished. Submit now". Kuzo shakes his head before picking up one of his fleeing squad mates discarded Quinque's and whispers to it. "Please help me, Lucas!" The plain Koukaku type Quinque explodes in light and an armour covers his whole body, the blade itself grown to three times its original size.
He takes a breath, then initiates a determined flurry of swift attacks, slashes, thrusts and strikes upon his opponent. He was truly deserving of the title of Quinque Master. Kaneki dodges the attacks, but he notices that they're coming a lot closer to hitting him. He flips, grabbing two plain blades that were lying next to Noro's body. He crosses them, and catches Kuzo's huge sword before the more powerful weapon slices right through the twin blades. Kaneki discards them, continuing to dodge and parry with discarded Quinque until only one weapon remains.
Kaneki is beginning to think that his opponent was competent, when Kuzo deactivates the armour and turns the Quinque into a roiling ball of fire, throwing the essence of the Quinque directly at Kaneki. This kid can really bring out the life of a Quinque…. The investigator slides along the ground past Noro, scooping up the Owl Quinque and facing Kaneki as the latter slices apart the ball of energy with his hand.
Kuzo stares at Owl. "I'm gonna need to borrow some of your real power Owl. This guy's a lot stronger than you are, Kuzen!" The SSS rated Ukkaku Quinque suddenly blazes in red light, its shape changing, moulding to its primordial characteristics. Kuzo is left standing with two spinning rings in each hand, dozens of small Owl blades swinging around it. He smiles in appreciation, then swings the Quinque at Kaneki, blades spiralling towards him. Kaneki raises his arm to deflect the attack, but the transformed Owl cleaves the appendage right off, tearing a huge gash in his shoulder.
Kuzo returns the weapon into his hand, strength and confidence flowing through him. He could do this! Despite his earlier increase in strength, he was still stronger than this ghoul. Kaneki suddenly tuts, sighing as Kuzo's mouth drops slightly. His arm was mending itself, Kagune-like flesh coiling out from the stump of his dismembered arm to form a new limb. He balls his hand into a fist, testing it. Seemingly satisfied as his shoulder wound also quickly heals, Kaneki looks up at Kuzo. "I underestimated you… You're good, for a human".
Suddenly, he unleashes his black Kagune, 15 limbs spiralling around in interwoven circles around him as Kuzo takes a step back. "That's a hell of a lot of Kakahou you've got there… I need to deal with you fas-" He's cut off as Kaneki's Kagune bursts out of the ground beneath him, causing him to leap into the air, but another three Kagune race towards him, with another 8 coming from other angles. He couldn't escape! Kaneki had formed a deadly cage around him. The young Investigator is pierced from all sides, the Kagune mercilessly brutalising and laying waste to his body. His vision begins to go dark.
No way… is this… possible. He's impossible! So fast, couldn't dodge it… I can't die here. No fucking way! He is dropped to the ground, gasping. Kuzo's face twists with pain and rage, energy once again racing through him as he gets shakily to his feet, Kakugan staring at Kaneki with hatred. The white haired ghoul raises an eyebrow. "You're a Ghoul are you? You were so weak I thought for sure you were a human… No matter, let's see what you can really do, investigator…"
He lashes out again with his Kagune, aiming to slice off both Kuzo's arms but Kuzo's White Kagune bursts from his back, Rinkaku tentacles locking each of Kaneki's in a hold mid-air. He roars then sprints forward, Kagune continuing to burst from his body until over 30 limbs coiled around Kaneki, circling inwards and binding the One Eye in a Kagune prison. Kuzo stands before his trapped opponent, panting. He looks up at Kaneki with rage filled eyes. As his heartrate slows, he takes a breath of air. He had won. This SSS rated ghoul was his to capture.
Kaneki suddenly sighs loudly, causing Kuzo to look at him sharply. The One Eye raises his arm and a red light emanates from it as his hand forms into a Kagune blade, carving through the Kagune binding him and landing lightly before a trembling Kuzo. As his opponent walks towards him, the young ghoul fears for the first time in his life. He was going to die here… Kaneki suddenly thrusts an arm through Kuzo's chest, the pain causing the remains of his Kagune to evaporate.
"Your Rc factor is about ten thousand… Excellent for an average ghoul but your Kagune manipulation is just like any other ghoul… basic. Is this it?" Kuzo finds that words are lost to him, so Kaneki tuts. "And to think I actually got worked up for this. You're a disappointment, Kuzo. Yes I know who you are… as if I could not recognize someone of my own flesh and blood. Now…" He withdraws his hand, letting Kuzo drop to the ground. His Kagune evaporates as he picks up his robe from the ground near Noro's body and begins to walk further into Sanctuary.
"Don't you dare to face me again until you're worth talking to… and don't try to get any further into the city either… Now despair, Kuzo Kaneki…" and so Kuzo despaired. He lay there on the cold stone next to Noro's unmoving form, his bitterness, self-loathing, pity and fear whirling through his soul. Something touches his arm, breaking him out of his nightmare. It was the stump of an arm. Noro was alive. "Hey Kuzo… Glad you could make it…. My.. my arms are gone. Think you could give me a hand?"
Kuzo helps Noro to his feet and he bandages the Special Class's wounds. Then the two of them walk through the once again open gate. The scene on the other side was like something from a horror movie. The headless body of Ayato Kirishima was on its feet, Kakuja armour cladding its upper body and Kagune, fleshy tissue had replaced his head. "I'm not going to die until Touka is avenged! ARHGGHGGGG!" His demonic and insane voice is cut off as Kuzo raises Owl and expertly rolls under an attack from the Kakuja ghoul. He thrusts Owl into his chest, then heaves it up and splits the ghoul right down the middle. As the two halves of Ayato's body drop to the ground, this ghoul was gone forever.
This entire encounter had been silent on Kuzo's behalf, and Noro stares at him in amazement as his junior helps him forward again. "Kuzo that was amazing… You just took on a SSS rated ghoul and survived… and then outright eliminated a dangerous SS rated Kakuja…." Kuzo stares ahead through blank eyes. "That ghoul… The One Eyed King… You used to know him right? I've heard the stories about Ken Kaneki, the best Investigator the CCG ever had and its worst enemy… He died before I was born you know, but now he' back and just wiped the floor with me without skipping a beat… What is that man?..."
Noro looks away. "Kaneki was…. A good man, but he changed… He's never been entirely human nor ghoul…" Kuzo tuts. "He didn't even use his Kakuja… To him, I'm nothing more than above average fodder, either side of the fence…" Noro could never assume that he was talking about his own nature as a Ghoul, so the two Investigators flee the Sanctuary of Ghouls. Reports came in on Noro's handset. All the other raiding squads had been either killed or routed. The operation was a failure…
Uta leans back as the livestream of the fight between Kaneki and Kuzo suddenly terminates. "Well then… I wonder who set that up then. What do you guys think of this?" Itori folds her arms and leans back on the couch. "This certainly is unprecedented. Ken Kaneki is back in play it seems… What will we do?" Uta links his fingers. "Now that he's alive again, that means that he's conquered death… He's become very strong… He's got nothing tying him down anymore…"
Roma raises an eyebrow. "You're going to try and get him to join us? What for?" Nico pats her on the shoulder affectionately. "Because Kaneki-kun… I can't even call him kun anymore huh… Well, Kaneki is probably the most powerful ghoul out there. We could use him to find the boss!" Itori's eyes widen. "You really think he's capable of doing something of that calibre? This is the boss we're talking about here". Uta nods. "I know, but I trust that if anyone can do this, it's Kaneki. That is… unless he has his own agenda. What would someone who had been half dead for 25 years want to do? You know what? I think I know. Kaneki's going to try and find us!"
It's Roma's turn to nod in understanding. "We're the ultimate enigma as far as he's concerned. The ones who sit at the top of the world. Oh how wrong he is though… Imagine that.. Ken Kaneki bringing down the boss. That would be amazing alright". Uta smiles. "I'm glad you all agree. The boss is a very powerful individual. I propose we wait and see what he does once Kaneki here begins finally uncovering things that nobody is meant to know…
Erashi stepped into the conference room with Takashi following behind. This was a Division 1 meeting, with the S1, S2, S3 squads present to attend this promotion ceremony. As she settles into her seat, her partner wringing his hands nervously as the senior investigators file inside. Kuzo slips from the line by Noro's side and sits next to Erashi. She glances at him, concerned. Ever since he came back from the Sanctuary Raid with severe wounds, he had seemed… cold.
"Kuzo, how have you been?" He looks at his good friend with dead eyes, his mental barriers going up as she watched. She shrugs, turning again to face the stage. "Very well. Handle it yourself". She was irritated at the lack of attention Kuzo was giving her. She'd admitted to herself that she loved Kuzo in the moment she thought she was going to die during their confrontation with Shinohara, all denial gone, but now unable to talk to him about it.
Urie walks out onto the stage and welcomes the investigators. First, he calls out the names of several Rank 2's. "… and Rank 2 Takashi, come forward". Takashi rises stiffly to stand and bow towards the director. After presenting each investigator with a promotion to Rank 1, he stops in front of Takashi, the last in line. "Rank 2 Takashi took part in the ongoing Owl Investigation and was also one of the investigators to take down the ghoulified Shinohara, deemed to be an SS rate".
"This is an exemplary achievement for a junior investigator, and will be promoted to Rank 1 and awarded the Double White Wing Medal". The crowd cheers as Takashi receives both his rank slides and White Wing. He salutes Urie and is about to leave when the Director raises a hand. "Rank One Takashi will also be given the opportunity to join the S3 Squad, partnering with Special Class Suzuya. Will you take up this offer?" Takashi hesitates, and the whole room goes silent, waiting. Suddenly he shakes his head determinedly. "Sir, it's truly an honour, but I would rather stay as partner to First Class Erashi, If it doesn't offend you of course sir". The crowd claps in acceptance and Urie smiles. "Of course, if you still wanted to join the S3, it's not impossible that First Class Erashi could join the squad too. God knows she deserves it".
Erashi nods, smiling as Takashi re-joins her, shaking with excitement. Throughout this event however, Kuzo had remained silent and unmoved. Erashi frowns, but looks up as Urie begins to call forth the Rank One investigators to receive awards or promotions…
Kuzo joins his fellow investigators, somehow towering over them in every way other than height. Erashi finds herself gulping. It's because he's so much more powerful than any of us… Urie promotes most of them to First Class, some only getting a White Wing Medal, when he finally comes to Kuzo, also at the end of the line. "Once again we have before us a young man of incredible talent. Rank One Alexander participated in the Sanctuary Raid as a part of the S3 Squad, saving Special Class Noro and battling a SSS rated Ghoul, the One Eyed King…"
This causes a ripple to flow through the crowd. Few investigators had known that the One Eyed Ghoul had "returned from the dead", Erashi included. Urie pats Kuzo on the shoulder, discreetly slipping his new rank slides on and letting him step forward. "Kuzo is receiving a special two rank promotion to Associate Special Class Investigator. He will gain leadership of the S0 Squad and be in charge of any future One Eyed King Investigations. Also, he will receive the Double White Wing Award for singlehandedly eliminating the SS+ rated ghoul Black Rabbit".
After the applause dies down and Kuzo returns to his seat, Erashi glances at him again to see if there was any reaction from his incredible promotion. Nothing. His face remained stone cold and blank. The ceremony finishes with Ito being awarded the Double White Wing and promoted to Special Class as the leader of the 1st Ward Brach Office. Urie keeps Noro, Kuzo, Erashi, Takashi and Ito behind as the rest leave the chamber. He invites them all up to his office for a private meeting.
An hour later, Erashi steps out of the antechamber into Urie's office and she with her partner sit down at one of the seats surrounding a large wooden table. Urie looks around, seeing that all his guests have arrived. "Good, we can begin. As you know, the One Eyed King has returned, in fact, he was never truly dead, only living a half-life as the assassin "Zero"."
He looks over to Noro, whose left arm was nothing but a stump and his prosthetic right arm missing also, leaving him limbless. "Yes… The One Eyed King… Ken Kaneki attacked my squad as we entered the courtyard and wiped out my whole force before wounding me repeatedly… Kuzo steeped in and engaged him, beating him down with an upgraded Centipede until Kaneki became much more powerful, overpowering Kuzo. However, he spared us and left, Kuzo assisting me and taking out the Black Rabbit as we retreated".
Urie strokes his chin. "Associate Special Class is this accurate?" Kuzo looks up at him. "Yes sir. It is". The Director nods. "Very well… I need you getting onto that problem right away. It's been 25 years since he was active so we have no idea what his current motives are". "With pleasure sir…" Irked, Urie turns to Erashi and Ito. "You three are all in S3 now, so you'll be working with Suzuya in order to respond to a somewhat alarming piece of new bloodshed".
The investigators lean in, curious as to what the Director had been keeping from them. "Cochlea has been retaken by ghouls claiming to be affiliated with the Aogiri Tree… The 23rd Ward is under their complete control…" Erashi and Ito gasp, Takashi's mouth gaping slightly. "That's insane! What are their intentions?" Urie shrugs. "I haven't made any moves yet because they haven't touched our forces or our territory. It seems like this group is founded by an ex-Aogiri member and is attempting to take dominance over the "Rif Raff" ghoul gangs and independent ghouls that are plaguing the city".
While Ito and Takashi frown and lean forward in concern, Erashi notices that Kuzo actually seems more relaxed. He puts on his glasses and runs his fingers through his hair. "If you order it, I can take the S3 to investigate… There's an unclaimed industrial estate on the southwestern area of the 23rd Ward. From there we should be able to get into Cochlea silently…" Urie quirks an eyebrow, folding his arms. "Are you proposing that we send you in to scout out the situation before taking any mobilised action?"
Kuzo nods. "Yes sir". Urie shakes his head in exasperation. "You need to lighten up kid. I know those eyes… They're eyes filled with self-hatred and vengeance… You want to get back at Ken Kaneki don't you?" The room is completely silent as the Associate Special Class rises and bows towards the Director. "Indeed. That is my only purpose director Urie". The senior investigator sighs. "You need to know this… Kaneki was…. Different. He's both human and ghoul, and detests taking human lives. He's only become this cols hearted twice before… When he was angry at what he saw as his own weakness… He has nothing left to loose so what do I think he's up to now? I think… that he's hunting for answers. The unasked, hidden questions about the world we live in".
Kuzo blinks. "You… believe this, Sir? Because the way I see it is that the One Eyed King is a ghoul who spared me because he thought me weak. And I was… but not any longer… Now, if I may be excused? I would like to start preparing for my mission right away". Urie nods, dismissing him and sits down at his desk as the others rise to leave. Noro sighs and stares out the large curved window at the grey, foggy Tokyo Bay.
"He's become strong. You know that and I already knew that. But this path will only lead him to ruin… He may want to hunt down Kaneki but he's no match for him!" Urie opens the minibar beneath the great oak desk and pours both himself and Noro a drink, taking a sip. "Noro… I understand your concern for Kuzo, but he's shown that he's a prodigy. Just like Arima. Just like Kaneki. We need someone strong like Kuzo to carve out our name into this modern age. Another thing… I know what's happening to you, Noro".
The Special Class glances at him sharply, confirming Urie's fears. "I read your medical report. Your RC Factor has risen to 700 since the Sanctuary Raid… Kaneki ripped your Quinque Frame to pieces… You're becoming a ghoul…"
Noro nods slowly. "I've been feeling these urges… But I think… I think I can control it! I won't let myself be consumed". Urie tuts. "So you consider Kaneki as someone who failed to contain his ghoul nature? Come on, I'll place trust in you but you must have come to the same conclusion by now…" Noro nods, draining the rest of his glass. "Akhira Kanou created all those One Eyed Ghouls for a reason… Kaneki was his masterpiece, but why? Kaneki will have come to the same conclusion also. He's looking for the Doctor…"
Kaneki stood in the eerie darkness of Cochlea, waiting. It had only taken him half a week to travel from Sanctuary City to Tokyo, and he had spent the last 3 days doing his own investigation. Now, as he turns toward an entrance to the subterranean tunnels beneath the prison, he walks until a single light comes into view. It was a cell, and inside sat the leader of V, Kaiko…
Kaiko looks up at Kaneki, his cold eyes suddenly lighting up in curiosity. "You're the last person I ever expected to visit me down here… How are you still alive?... Kaneki cracks his finger and leans forward so his face is caught in the light of the cell.
"Why the same way you are of course. Because of the Doctor…"
"At long last, the bands that cloak the birdcage begin to unravel!"
End Tokyo Ghoul: Crimson 06
Next time: The Good Doctor