A/N: Once again, feel free to review, and I do not own Tokyo Ghoul. Thank you!

P.S. I'm from Texas, so please forgive slang such as ya'll.

Chapter 4 –Bloody Hell

Aelin's hands curled into fists as she was once more denied entry to Kaneki's hospital room. Her temper running short, Aelin resolved to simply wait outside his room. He was finally going to be released and the moron wouldn't let her see him? She gritted her teeth in annoyance, but restrained herself from breaking in. It would draw far too much attention if she did something as reckless as break down Kaneki's door.

At that thought, a small smirk worked its way onto her face. Maybe smashing a door would be a bit much, but what was stopping her from slipping in the window? Pushing herself off the wall, Aelin prepared to put her plan in action when Kaneki's door opened, and her friend stepped out, ready to head home. Aelin gave him a deadpanned glare at his timing, and Kaneki's eyes widened as he noticed the girl impatiently awaiting him. Kaneki sheepishly waved, only to be tackled by Alli-chan. He cringed, but awkwardly pat her back, his fingers reflexively moving to his face as he assured Alli-chan that he was alright. With a weary sigh, Aelin shook her head but backed off, walking Kaneki home while informing him of the work and notes he missed in class. Aelin snickered as the teen freaked out over all he had missed, only to send him a soft smile as she pulled out copies of all the notes and assignments from her bag. Kaneki gaped at his friend, unable to comprehend that she had truly copied everything for him, but grateful that he wouldn't have to use Hide's illegible chicken scratch instead. The two friends parted ways, Aelin giving Kaneki on last sorrowful glance before she was out of sight.

Aelin let out a groan at the sunlight coming through her window. After cussing out the sun in every language she knew, she forced herself to emerge from the warmth of the blankets and prepare for the day. Tossing on black leather pants, a black tank-top, and a red leather jacket (despite Hide's protests she insisted her outfit was the incarnation of badass) and checked her phone. After a few texts sent to both Hide and Kaneki, scheduling a meeting at Anteiku after classes, Aelin drove to Kamii and sprinted over to her boys, sending herself barreling into Kaneki and Hide, the poor saps knocked to the ground. Snorting at their misfortune, Aelin ruffled her friends' hair before once more running away, eager to get to class.

Aelin sighed with relief as the final bell rang, and drove to Anteiku. Taking a seat at a table, Aelin pulled out her vibrating phone, reading Hide's message about he and 'Neki being a bit late. She huffed in annoyance, but returned his text, letting Hide know that she would wait for them. However, as minutes turned into an hour, Aelin began pacing the coffee shop, anxiously staring out the window for any glimpse of her friends. Aelin idly noticed that she was the only customer still in the café, but promptly ignored this fact upon seeing the waitress Hide had flirted with previously lugging both the boys into Anteiku. Aelin raced outside and grabbed ahold of Hide, aiding the other girl in her endeavor. Hide and Kaneki were finally dragged upstairs, and situated in spare beds until they awoke. The purple haired girl, Kirishima-san, was eyeing Aelin warily, uneasy of the human. But before she could speak up, a groan was heard from Kaneki's room, and Aelin noticeably relaxed, returning downstairs to the coffee shop.

Kaneki's POV

Kaneki headed downstairs, and after stumbling over his words to Hide, was informed that for all intents and purposes, he and Hide were harmed in a car crash. Sitting down with a cup of coffee, Kaneki was quietly thinking until his thoughts were interrupted with a sharp smack on the head. From the indignant cry let out by Hide, he assumed his friend as privy to similar abuse. Turning his head, Kaneki's eyes widened comically in fear at the sight of a furious Alli-chan. Kaneki opened his mouth to explain himself, but froze as Alli-chan got in his personal space and began looking him over, taking in the sight of any and all injuries, and even going so far as to lift his pant legs and shirt. Kaneki let out an undignified squawk at the intrusion, but stilled at the glare directed at him. Hide spoke up with a tense grin.

"Heeeey! Alli-chan! Why are you feeling him up? I'm the one with the muscles!"

Aelin let off an amused snort but replied.

"Don't worry Hide, you're next."

Finally satisfied with Kaneki, Aelin turned and repeated the process on Hide. Afterwards, she took a step back and began her interrogation.

"Who did this to ya'll?"

Kaneki stuttered out a responding, "N-No! You've got it all wrong Alli-chan! It was a- uh, car crash! It's no one's fault, so-"

Aelin covered his mouth, rolling her eyes at his unconvincing lie.

"Look morons, I'm not asking what happened, I'm asking who did this. It's obvious this wasn't an accident, seeing as Hide has layered bruises in the shape of a shoe on his face, so someone was stomping on him repeatedly, not to mention the roundhouse kick that someone sent to his abdomen. Unless someone was swinging a baseball bat, I'm pretty sure a kick is the only thing to explain the bruised ribs and shape of the bruises. Now, give me a name."

Kaneki caved, muttering out, "N-Nishino Nishiki"

Aelin grunted out a thank you and shoved Hide out the door with instructions to ice his wounds, but paused on her own way out the door, giving a few more words.

"Kaneki, you're gonna have to re-break your ankle, it wasn't set right and your ankle will be jacked up until you fix it. See ya."

Carelessly waving, Aelin strode out of Anteiku, leaving Kaneki and Touka at a loss for words.