Tokyo Ghoul and all its affiliated characters are property of Sui Ishida.

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Chapter 20
Safety

I looked around- the place was huge. Very huge. I had contact Amon regarding his offer and now I was scheduled from three-thirty to six every Tuesday and Thursday and here I was five minutes after three at the front desk with my gym bag on my shoulder.

Itori was against this and Uta already didn't like the idea I only apologized to Renji though since I never wanted it to look bad on all the time and efforts he had been putting in in training me.

Itori on the other hand was against this full stop and very furious but I was stern with her well, more like stubborn- cause I really wanted to go I wanted to do the training and actually learn to defend myself maybe even after this was done I could go to Renji for extra but right now it was main priority that I do go to CCG. Uta made an interesting point stating that doing the training could also make me less suspicious. After being attacked by ghouls twice and being offered the chance to prevent it from occurring again which human would truly refuse that. That was the truth and maybe me being a part of this and taking part would eliminate them getting deep and personal in my life and finding out the truth, I was also doing this for them.

"Hi- It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Oh- the pleasure is mine…" I muttered looking away. Before me stood this well-built thick looking man with an odd haircut but had a very friendly personality. He was indeed friendly since he has been continuously talking but he is my trainer I guess he just wants to build that….bond.

"My name is Shinohara Yukinori and I'm a Special Class Investigator and a Former Academy Instructor"

"Former Academy…as in a school?"

"A school where investigators get trained before they come to the organization, I used to be a combat instructor but instead of training them to come on the field ahhhh- you can say I decided to put my skills to work, but that was many years ago probably before you were born hahaha!"

I blinked. He is very and extremely friendly.

"Well I love my job and I do it with a passion."

"I understand. Umm you and Amon-san seem to have well- the same Special Investigator title, I don't really understand how it works but-"

"Oh- do you not know about our organization levels?"

"A-Actually the only thing I know is that you guys are anti ghouls."

He smiled and began telling me everything from scratch basically what they are and what they do. I was surprised. I saw them on the TV and I even knew a little one and two stories about them but gosh these people were dangerous!

"B-But, what about the ghouls, I mean your aim is to terminate them but aren't they humans as well?"

"They are no longer human the minute they are a ghoul-"

"But they feel pain like we do, they look like we do, they breath air, walk, talk and sleep like we do…isn't that just a bit cruel."

He looked at me and his eyes softened and he smiled. "There are indeed ones like you. But I believe they are as you say but they murder and kill people and that is a crime."

"It is a way of life. That is how they eat. Like I mean I have no place to judge but you guys are acting like Adolf Hitler to the Jews and the Europeans to the Africans what you are doing is no different than Holocaust or Slavery you are oppressing them for their way of life."

"I like you. I really do. You say many interesting stuff." He said smiling.

I blushed and walked closer to him as he held the pads in his hand and against his chest.

"You defend them in the same manner almost as if you know them, yet don't forget you were attacked by their kind and that's why you're here okay?"

I nodded. He did have a point. Some are evil and some are nice but still no regular human being is perfect.

"Now you're going to hit these as hard as you can."

Thirty-minutes later I am so frustrated and so exhausted this man surely lives up to being a Instructor since I basically am on the ground panting like crazy.

"Here have some water." Shinohara said giving me a bottle of refreshing cool water. Water absolutely never tasted so good. I exhaled heavily after drinking some sitting on my rear crossing my legs and looking around the training room. It looks like the typical gym, Shinohara is on his cellular phone and from the glass I can see people walking up and down and I look at the other training equipment. Hey I wanna go on the bicycle thinge!

I go on it and start pedaling looking at the information on the screen.

"Ahh Miss Terresi a smart choice to build the muscle in legs."

"Thank you, aumm…is everything okay on the phone, you seem…bothered."

"Not bothered just concerned. It's my partner he has seemingly gotten in some trouble."

"Is it bad trouble, is he going to get fired?"

"No, but he will be coming here and straight here since he is too much of a handful." Shinohara- san said. He did look bothered and concerned at the same time. His partner seemed like a hassle it made me wonder what type of guy he was.

"I'm here~" A teenage voice said as a white-haired boy ran through the door like a plane and twirled in the center of the room he stopped gesturing an interesting gaze with his finger on his lip looking at me. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" I replied getting off the bicycle machine and towards him. He was short and I was a little just a little taller than him. He had cute white soft-looking hair big wide eyes his skin was a bit pale and he had some stitching all over him from what I could see. He was in a white dress shirt and a three-quarter pants with suspenders.

"I'm Suzaya Juuzou, Rank 3 Investigator." He said smiling brightly. He had such an adorable smile. No….I must fight it- I have to….no I can't he's too damn adorable with his subtle cute looking face and adorable innocent smile. But if I remember correctly Rank 3 meant you were recognized for your skill and you were selectively working underneath a special class maybe as training or as back up. Thank you Shinohara now I have better understanding.

"Kaisa Terresi, I'm a human in training for defense."

He gave me a surprised expression. " If Shinohara is training you you're going to become strong!"

"Really?" I asked looking at Shinohara who was standing beside us smiling.

"Yup. Plus you're really pretty aren't ya. That must be great~" He said smiling kindly.

I leaned over close to his height grinning. "Well you're pretty adorable yourself. Very handsome." I teased. I suddenly realized I was picking up Uta's teasing habits. No Kaisa don't become a teasing demon like him.

Suzaya expression suddenly fell. He tilted and before I realized his lips met mines I pulled away blushing like crazy and surprised as hell- this kid.

"Yaaaay I kissed a pretty girl!" he yelled smiling as he looked at me. "Wait….are you upset." He asked pouting.

"Yes, I am- and because of that I'm not going to give you the chocolate I was planning to share with you."

"Wahhhhhhhhh no I want the chocolate." He said his eyes beaming.

"I'll think about it."

"No fair."

"Hey enough let her think about it. Okay Miss Terresi go to that machine and start pulling the levers while sitting, as for you…come here."

I blinked and walked over to the lever sitting down and began pulling. After about the 20th pull I was feeling some serious ab pain. It hurt like fuck.

"Nope, continue all the way to 60." Shinohara said witnessing my expression.

"Six-Sixty!" I responded in disbelief. He gave me a stern look and I began pulling. When I hit sixty my hands felt like spaghetti.

I rose up and with weak legs walked halfway then fell down flat on my back. I am unfit. I am so unfit. No…I knew I wasn't the size 3 and the slimmest thing out there because I have a little flabby arms not to mention a little case of stomach fast I can't lay my hands off cakes and muffins for God sake they were too damn delicious blame them not me for I am merely the consumer.

I think I lost 30 pounds though. The thought alone gave me the strength to get up and go to the scale as I stood on the computed mass identifier what a classy name. Still a scale at the end of the day but here goes.

It was 143.38 kg and now after my two pounds a day work out it is…

"…143.37…..I burned 0.01 kg…after all that….."

A hand suddenly rested on the scale. I felt the presence but my eyebrow had an uncontrollable fit as I recalled the punching, the push-ups, the bicycle riding, the ab cruncher and the other abdomen stuff.

0.01 kg.

"143.37 kilograms that's a weight that-"

"FALCON PUNCH!" I yelled as I hit the man beside me in the face. "Never look at a woman's weight!" I yelled as I pointed at him with the glaring power to kill. Not only Uta but Itori has been rubbing off on me as well.

The man raises up wiping his nosebleed and once he looks at me I realize it was actually Amon.

"I'm so sorry! I- you came up suddenly- I mean as a female it kind of triggered."

He chuckled wiping his nose with the handkerchief from his back pocket he wasn't in his white coat today. "It's okay I'm surprised you landed a hit I guess I let down my guard around you. At least I know your training isn't going in vain."

"Well that move was something I actually had up the sleeve from before but if it relates to today's training you can say that." I said smiling.

"It seems every time we meet I end up getting hurt." He says looking at the blood smeared handkerchief. I took it from him and wiped it properly this guy was probably around the same hieight as Uta or maybe a bit taller.

"Maybe we should switch the tables."

"No- ouch- I rather be the one receiving the pain."

I smiled and pulled away luckily I never broke his nose. Itori taught me that move but I'm sure if it wasn't for that lever pulling thing that made my arms spaghetti his nose would have been broken which was the aim of that punch.

"You guys seem awfully close." Shinohara-san says coming towards us smiling. "Although it would be good for a man like you Amon to court a woman this early. While in this profession you never know what can happen."

I wasn't really fazed by that but Amon's reaction was rewarding as he blushed.

"N-No way I couldn't I mean Miss Teressi is- well she is, but its strict business!" he looked away and I smiled.

"No Kaisa belongs to me!" Suzaya said running before me. "Don't ya?" he asked looking up at me.

The remaining minutes I spent some stretches packed up and got ready to go home. The minute I messaged Itori she informed me she would be home and I shouldn't let any of the CCG agents inside the house. I was driven home and escorted to my floor. I thanked the two males who were with me and walked to my apartment entering and closing the door locking it safely.

"Gosh I'm so happy you're okay." Itori says hugging me tightly for what seemed like the 5th time but I didn't mind it felt good being comforted by her and I enjoyed her presence, it was…relaxing. "For once I will give those slaughtering assholes the recognition for their existence."

"Because I came home safe?"

"Yes." She said squeezing my hand. Renji rested a cup of coffee on the table before us since we were curled up in the couch I didn't even realize he was here.

"Thank you Renji."

"Your welcome."

He sat down in the couch opposite of us. Itori began scribbling on a paper as I was about to speak but Renji put a finger over his lips signaling for me to say nothing.

Okay….so no talking?

She picked up the paper showing me it said 'play along'.

I immediately put one and one together.

"Well get out of those clothes and go have a warm shower. I'll cook your favorite."

My mouth literally dropped. Did Itori said 'cook' and 'I' in the same sentence. I am in disbelief.

Once I'm done I re-entered the living room to see them sitting and talking. I even went as far as washing my hair. My first work out made me very sweaty- don't judge me.

"So they might have bugged me."

"Maybe. Seeing you as a target they want to know what goes on with and around you."

"Wow….that's kind of invasive."

"Yes. Now according to the name of people you gave us….damn Kaichi chan you had to find the hardest ones didn't you. Baka"

"Eh?"

Renji pulled up a thick folder opening it removing three stapled files dropping them on the glass table.

"The three investigators," Itori began sipping blood from a wine glass I had forgotten that what she was drinking was never outdated and well preserved red wine but blood, human blood. But I think that explained the cloudiness it had. "Amon is a new uprising sharp-edged investigator someone with experience, and by that I mean a ghoul like probably Renji or Uta would probably face and promisingly defeat."

"Are you saying Renji and Uta are weak?"

"No, I said promisingly. Meaning that they would definitely defeat them but with a long drawn out and difficult fight."

I nodded. I knew Renji wasn't weak I felt it in the nature he had but neither was Uta he was mysterious but something about him made him seem sharp almost like he could end you as he pleased but instead curiously watched you.

"Shinohara has been in the game long enough to put up a good fight his combat is not as stong as Renji but he is rumored to withstand the strongest ghoul called One Eye King. Lastly the Suzaya, the fact that he did a horrible number on ghouls ruthlessly attacking shows he is a child with a lot of tricks and mystery."

"So…."

"You have strong investigators around you…"

Renji removed the last staples papers from the folder and handed it to me. I began reading and flipping through.

"Aogiri tree. This organization is a group of ghouls said to be leaded by the One Eyed King we don't know exactly how true that is but," she took another sip from her wine. "Many rumors tread the lines of one main message; you never want to become a target of theirs."

I swallowed. That sent chills up my spine and for the first I felt truly terrified.

"I don't understand what are you saying…why are you telling me this…why are they added to the folder."

Itori looked at Renji then sighed. "I'm tight on information, which means I get to know what's streaming through my side of the world. That's somewhere no human wants their name popping up. And today- yours did. In my bar…and it wasn't me."

I blinked.

What?

Uta, Itori and Renj were the only ghouls I know. How do I know other ghouls, how is it possible that they are even talking about…me?

"A worker from Aogiri Tree apparently was assigned to a team to watch you."

I rose up completely alarmed. I was escorted home today so I wasn't even watching to see who was following me I was in a damn car! What about where I lived does he/she even know where I live?!

"Relax, don't panic." Renji said as he moved to me and rested his hand on my shoulder.

"Kai-chan it's okay. Your not being followed. That mission doesn't exist anymore."

I turned to her. "what you just said-"

"He's already dead." She sipped a sip from her 'wine' as she finished the glass resting it on the table. "What I'm saying is-"

Renji stopped her and I turned to me. I felt water welling up in my eyes I really felt scared right now.

"What she is saying is that right now some very dangerous and notorious people are targeting you. We don't know why, but they have you as a target that possibly needs to be eliminated. You have been attacked twice by ghouls either of them could have been a lead to this organization trying to get to you from before and failed to do so."

I nodded. "W-Well what do I do? Should I allow CCG to take complete custody of me, should I go back to Renji's place and go into hiding…should I disappear? I'm not going to lose you guys right, you guys know you're all I have right?" I turned to Itori tears streaking down my cheeks as I looked at her. "I don't want to lose you I don't want to be alone and I really don't want to die. Y-you can't let them catch me."

She pulled me towards her wrapping her arms around me as I buried my face in her chest I was so scared right now it was just one thing after the other. From the assault, to the amusement park and then to this…I'm on some hit-list.

"For now we will work undercover. We will deal with your protection from the shadows but we need you to play along with CCG. Whatever you do always be careful, always carry a knife, look at anywhere before you go there and anything before you use it and never talk to strangers and…." She ran out of words. She stared at me blankly and I saw it in her eyes the rising tides of sorrow and uneasiness.

There was a knock on the door and Renji got up to go to it.

"Also there is something you should know."

"What?"

"Uta-"

"What's wrong is he okay?!"

"No he is fine. It's just Uta is a strong target of CCG….They have been targeting him for years. Despite donning a different hairstyle & color, clothing, and mask, location and lifestyle… the CCG was still able to identify him …..because of this….you won't be able to be seen with him….not on the road and not going to his studio. It would lead harm for him and harm for you. The crime of a human interacting with a ghoul is death do you understand me?"

I nodded. Almost on cue from around the corners I saw renji enter the living room and then Uta. My heart basically sunk when I saw him and my hand covered my mouth I felt like I was going to cry hysterically. I don't want to lose him just seeing him now knowing I wouldn't be seeing him at all for some good time made this pain in me unbearable. I got out the couch and ran to my room I couldn't even look at him.

Why were these people targeting me what did they want.

Why are they trying to kill me?!

My room door creaked open and I moved the plushy away looking at the door to see him closing it behind him. It had been some time since I came in the room. He maybe heard it all from the beginning down to the very last point about all that happened and is going on. Even though I sent him that text message that I sent renji and Itori as well, I knew he might have been inquisitive about what happened.

The bed sank under his weight and his hand caressed my thighs. His awkward way of concern?

"I don't want to lose you." I muttered sitting on my legs and leaning over against him resting my head on his shoulder my face buried in his neck. "I know it's silly and it might sound corny but I have a serious attraction to you, I don't want to lose you..."

Because I was crying my voice cracked a lot during saying all that but still it took a lot just to put it into words before thinking about the sound.

I inhaled softly taking in the scent of his body that I loved so much. The leather, the blood, the paint, the plastic…it all mixed together with the strong hinge of masculinity to give an earthy addictive scent. The scent of him.

"You're not the only one who feels that way." He replied as I sat up looking at him, staring into his face almost like I was searching for the strength I knew I never had. His fingers laced between mine and gave my hand a firm grip and I looked down, I closed my eyes…I never had the strength within me but maybe, maybe I had it around me. In the people I had by my side to love and support me.

Yet like every blissful dream that has a beginning. There must be an end.

The next morning when I woke up I turned in my empty bed not to find him after we had fallen asleep together with his arms around me. Before I had the time to even reminisce about the past I could only fathom the reality that this was the first step of him being gone. I refused to call it a break up. I refused to.

Instead I accepted the coldness reality gave me just reminding me of the position I was in, telling myself it was for the greater good, to protect me and to protect him. Yet I wanted him here, I wanted to see him looking at me without anything to say, to see his deep alluring eyes staring into mine searching for answers I couldn't provide. To find him lethargically looking at me or our glancing meeting when we felt like looking away from whatever we were doing. Whether it was his teasing or his silence even both in one, I wanted it.

Long awaited Chapter 20. I'm spending my time going over my chapters doing the grammar checks and small edits. I did surgery so im glued to my bed i have the free time and trust me I have no idea how you guys were reading through sooo muchh grammar errors...so embarrassed /. And im sure even this chap has a few. I am searching for a Beta Reader...a dedicated good one. As for me...i am slowly falling into writer's block. Now i shall re-watch tokyo ghoul and re-birth my perverted passion for Uta so I may continue -humbly bows-. Please Follow, Favorite and Review.

P.S (Am I the only person losing interest in the second season of the Tokyo Ghoul manga. it's getting so dran out and im getting confused :( too much fighting!)