Tokyo ghoul and all it's affiliated characters are property of Sui Ishida

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Chapter 27
Acceptation or Consumption of the Darkness

"Too tight?"

"It's- umm…okay."

I blushed looking at the dress in the mirror. It felt tight especially around my waist-however I could feel her grinning with excitement. Who was she to fool me I knew she was still angry.

"You look ravishing, tasty enough to eat."

"I'm not surprised; I bet you're dying to sink your teeth into me."

She pouted. "kaiii chaaaan no ghoul teasing- you know I won't eat you."

I sighed looking away as she fawned her body over mine.

"Why do we have to dress so lavishly for the auction? Isn't it just a regular auction?"

"No, it is a regular auction however it's an auction…you have never seen before. I think it's time I give you the talk- something you should know."

An auction you've never seen before? Well I guess she has a point- these are the craftsmanship of my beloved's work which I'm sure are more than rare and unique for the common market.

I nodded as I moved to sit on the stool looking around the room it was decorated like circus inside; from the wallpaper to the furniture everything was themed: Circus. I felt her touch my hair as very lightly she began brushing.

"Ghouls belong nowhere. We have a choice to make in society we basically have two choices of lifestyle: living as hermits; isolated and avoiding society's eyes, or attempt to assimilate with the humans. Living amongst humans is seen as "walking on a thread of rope" because of our biology and social records. If we are caught in ghoul activities or suspected of being a ghoul, investigators have the right to apprehend or kill us as they see fit. We are identified as such can be hunted down like criminals. As such, we will act discreetly or try to hide their faces when engaging in ghoul activities. In Tokyo, we have developed a trend of wearing masks to hide our faces, making the mask the identifying feature instead of our face, some of us form gangs based around our masked identity. Since we are only identifiable by our masks, we are safe so long as our face is not exposed. Some of us rely on our deception and charm to win over our prey. Others have successfully lived in the human world to become higher class citizens. These high-class ghouls often meet in ghoul restaurants where we dine on humans. Higher class ghouls have also been known to keep a human slave, that's how established we are now..."

I was left speechless. They were more profound and civilized that I thought they were. Three things stood out to me though: the mask, the two way street and ghouls having human slaves.

"Your prince bears all three."

"All three what?"

"Kaisa…your my best friend…you're a keen listener and your very, very easy to read. The mask, the slaves and the lifestyle- you're thinking about all three aren't you."

I was halved surprised and embarrassed. Was I that easy to read?

"He makes the mask for all these ghouls, all the hundred-thousands of ghouls that reside in Japan, he sells in Tokyo and has shipments to other capitals. That's a lot. "

"So many masks?"

"A ghoul needs to stay hidden, and I can say he does it silently loud."

I turned around to look at her. "I could say the same about you."

"And you too, let's not forget you're now a ghoul, every police offer, detective and FBI probably knows of your very 'unlucky' case."

"That's being infamous."

"Same difference- you're known."

I turned back around. She was right. Hard to admit it but the red-head had a point. I turned back around to look at her taking in what she wore. She was indeed beautiful tonight. She was beautiful every night but tonight she looked even more beautiful than she usually does. Was tonight a special occasion? What was so special about tonight?

I sighed thinking about Uta as I recalled last night.

"I think I might be….hurting Uta."

"Hurting?" She asked me tilting her head to the side.

"I think me being….mixed- its stiffening his appetite. And even when biologically he tries to be a part from me… emotionally and sexually he wants to be next to me."

Her eyes widened as she looked away and I felt that maybe, she wasn't expecting me to say that. I wasn't expecting me to say that.

"Have you guys….done i-"

"No!" I said getting so embarrassed as my face got blazing red.

For me- it felt worse saying it out loud than thinking through it. I was really hurting him.

"Do you think he'll be able to hold back for long- cause if you don't I think he is more than able to? Uta was very violent in his past and he was wild and murderous killing all he could just for fun. He has mastered self-control to a level that is almost godly. That's how horrible he was."

My lips curled into a small smile, he was far from anything godly much less religious. If he was placed into religion he would be the rank above a true-blood demon. From what I have heard and have been taught, he was that dangerous.

"He-"I paused remembering what he said this morning to me when I was in bed with him. "He told me something…"

"What?"

"He said I was the only one to make him lose control."

"Lies. He is more composed than anything in this world."

I swallowed looking down to my laps. Maybe…he was over-exaggerating?

Renji came in pulling the curtain walking through them as he walked up to us. "I'm heading back home."

"You're not staying?"

"I'm going to Uta's; I'll be there when you come home."

Almost on cue Uta came in as he looked around in his crazy colored tuxedo and mask- I had to admit- he looked handsome even though his face was hidden.

"Oh I just forgot- Uta I have something to show you!" She said in an outburst immediately as she pulled Uta out the room walking away with him as she left me and Renji standing there puzzled.

I wonder why she would do that it's almost like that moment when your best friend ditches you with your crush. Exceeeept Renji is not my cr-

I blinked looking at him. He was looking dead at me. No.

Hell no.

Hell HELL no.

Big adorable soft Renji I cannot have my heart skipping a beat this all became awkward because of what Uta had said!

"Do you wish you had fallen in love with Renji instead?"

"It won't work." He mumbled softly as he walked to me slowly. I froze looking at him hesitant at first to speak but then my words escaped me when his gaze changed to a stern one. "Kaisa you're stupid."

…wait what?

I blinked. Okay…did he just call me stupid?

"This isn't what you want, this isn't what you deserve. He isn't what you need."

"But…I love Uta."

"Do you love him or do you love the idea of being in love with him. Because if you both loved each other, why would you both be tearing each other apart like this?"

Wait. Itori left me so we could have this sort of conversation- but why is he saying this to me all of a sudden. Why now?

"Renji- you're…you're not making sense." I said stepping back. This wasn't the Renji I was used to; the way he spoke, the look in his eyes- it made me feel like he was scaring me into something. My stomach turned and my skin ran cold as I hugged myself. I have a bad feeling.

What was coming out of his mouth I knew what he meant but part of me- part of me didn't want to hear it.

"I can take you from this; I can take you far away where you will have the time to grow apart from him, time to help you fight your addiction."

I paused.

"Addiction? I'm not addicted to him!"

"You are addicted to him- just as he is to you. He doesn't know how to love someone and you are just someone who wants to be loved."

I had to laugh at this. He said it with such a serious face as I just couldn't BELIEVE this was really Renji.

"Let me guess, you can do it properly." I said in a tone full of attitude. He paused looking at me. What now? The cat's got your tongue. "Don't you dare tell me who I am able to love. I can love whoever I want and please."

"Anyone you want- just not him."

"More like not you. And I'm not just someone who wants to be loved I could say the same about you- Who loves you?" I said walking out on a tantrum- how dare he even speak to me like that he was a completely different person, not the warm gentle and loving Renji that I knew him to be. I'm just someone who wants to be loved? You make me so sound desperate and pitiful not to mention cheap and clingy. What if I want to experience that with someone at least I step away from my loneliness to engage in something that makes me happier and not sit in the sadness and loneliness like you.

I paused realizing how offensive that was.

That was very, very offensive.

Why would I say that? Why would I say something so mean to someone who was my friend?

The level of shame that suddenly hit me was as heavy and deep as an ocean. Ungrateful, I'm being ungrateful to someone who cares about me. Cruel- I am being cruel by saying such unkind things and disrespectful, why would I look down on someone who has done nothing but care, protect and help me? I wanted to lock myself away for being so mean and selfish.

I turned around running back in to see him still standing there.

"Ren-Renji- I…that came out so rude, I was upset and said something mean and I never- I never really meant that."

I felt so disgusted in myself, how could I be so mean to say something like that to him?

He turned around walking pass me without a single word as I felt my stomach sank.

I was going to lose a friend because I got upset and said mean things.

"Renji." I walked after him tripping over the dress and falling to my legs. I looked up to see nothing. He was gone.

Did he walk out just like that? It was my fault. I had to go ahead and become this disgusting person by saying something so cruel. I deserve this.

"What the hell are you doing on the floor?" I heard Itori as she came behind me in her mask helping me up.

"I-I fell, aumm-"How would I explain this to her. How do I tell her what I said to Renji.

"Kaisa come here."

"Why."

I turned around to him looking at him.

Everyone, everyone wanted me to end it.

Everyone keeps warning me about you…why won't I listen?

Everyone says we should stop.

"It's a perfect fit"

He said as I looked around his office. Why does he have his own office? I'm guessing he owns the auctioning show. That would explain his clothes, the fact that we came here in a tinted Jeep which made me feel high classed and rich, or more over we entered backstage and obviously the show wouldn't start until we were out there. So he was the host.

We came to his office where he sat me down and was trying on a mask he had made for me.

"Do you favor it?" He asked getting a small mirror showing me my reflection as I nodded slowly.

I wasn't interested in this; I didn't want to do this right now. I was more interested in finding Renji and apologizing to him directly. The image of his lonely shoulders when I came back in the room haunted my sub consciousness. I didn't even get to see his face, but the aerating sadness I had sensed so strongly still lingered through me. I had hurt him, what I said had really hurt him.

"Your mind is elsewhere."

I looked up to see him staring at me as he removing his mask. Unlike mine his was a full mask and mine was halved only covering the top half of my face.

He looked at me in dead silence for a while and I felt the air unmoving and heavy. He wanted me to say something but honestly I had nothing to say. I don't know where to put my anger. Was I upset at me or was I upset at him; maybe I was upset at us.

"I'll liste-"

"I have nothing to say. I don't know…what to say."

I looked at him with wet eyes. Was I really going to be okay, how would I sleep tonight?

"Who? Who bothers your conscience so much that you've become absent of your surroundings?"

"How do you even know it's someone?"

"Because-" He stepped closer making himself comfortable resting his cane across my lap as he lightly touch his own hair fixing it- "if it was something or a situation you would have already started talking"

Let me guess, I'm easily read by you as well?

I swallowed the lump in my throat looking away. "I don't want to do this right now, let's just go to the auction."

He looked at me and I could feel him staring. "What happened when I left you with Renji?"

"I said things I'm regretting." I confessed softly as I got off the table fixing my dress. "It's okay. When we go home I'll apologize and I will be able to get it over with."

That's right. He's at Uta's. I can apologize to him properly and take back all I said.

He stepped aside allowing me to walk off as I found Itori laughing with a friend- wait….this is-

"Nico!"

I smiled ecstatically running to him hugging him as he hugged me back.

"Oh~ my wild golden rose in a bristle of thorns you are as beautiful and even more since the last day I saw you~!" I giggled feeling him pull gently at my cheeks as he hugged me again and I watched him pull away to take me in. "Oh how enticing you are my little kai-chan you seem to however have a few lines on your face?"

I pouted. Too many details. You're seeing too much now.

"Who is the one that dares to stress you?"

"Itori chan!" I blamed smiling innocently.

"Bitch I will serve you a thousand deaths if you ever make him touch me." Itori said emitting a deep deadly aura. I grinned even more I forgot that she didn't like Nico touching her unless he wore gloves. Cleaned- sanitized gloves. I never understood why but that was the least of my problems Nico was my boss and friend.

"Oh when do you end this disgusting vacation you claim to be on? It has been almost three blood sucking months that has been wearing my eyes. I'm beginning to lose grasp on what true beauty looks like- I mean- I can always re-discover it by looking at my own reflection buuut I do miss my favorites."

"Has it been so long?" I asked smiling as we all walked out to where the auctioning was being kept. We sat at the Grand Tier in this huge theater that was designed like an opera house it was absolutely beautiful everyone wore masks. And everyone was ghouls.

I sat beside Nico who began ranting.

"This is my treat. I will buy anything you want today all in favor for you to return by next week, the orders are piling up and business is getting hard without you- and Itori."

"Aww, his star girls are making him poor." Itori teased as Nico sneered at her it was fun to watch they were so similar to each other yet hated each other.

The curtains pulled as there was a roar of clap and from the darkness gracefully walked my boyfriend. With a swift movement of the hand the place went deadly silent.

What the hell is this?!

I felt small, so very small.

"Do you smell that?" He began as he looked around but never once did he look in our direction.

The crowd was silent looking around as they began smelling. Smiles appeared on their faces as I could hear them hooting gloriously.

"That is the smell of delight, the smell of what will fill our appetites. The smell of a rare being."

I swallowed. I turned to Itori who had an excited expression on her face. She was enjoying this- a lot.

"They are talking about you- my beloved hi-breed"

I panted a little. Why would Uta- I mean, wasn't this dangerous.

He spoke a little and I tried to pay attention but the only thing I could think about was my safety.

Suddenly I heard the sounds of wheels as they were carried in covered cages. Were these the art pieces?

"Chose a box, any box. You'd be surprise what we have in stored this time."

I smiled looking at them, okay- so I get to pick a box and whatever piece in there is mine?

"I chose the middle one." I whispered softly to myself.

Uta began auctioning the middle one first as he stepped forward and opened his mouth to speak. "Starting at 4 million."

"What!"

I gasped. I could go university seven and a half times with that money and yes- I did the math that quick! That's 10 years and 3 month worth of rent! That's my entire art collection including my singles net worth x 7.3. I am very serious about money. My arithmetic skills ran on my greed.

Without even realizing, my loud outburst drew the entire crowd to me as they looked at me. Including Uta. I blushed instantly as I looked around growing redder with everyone staring.

I-Itorrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

"Double or nothing!" Nico said loudly jumping ecstatically as the crowd cheered.

"9 million!"

"9.2"

"10 million!"

They began bidding and I was creped out instantly. These art pieces have to have gold in them!

More and more they bid as the figures were too high for me.

"What's wrong?" Itori asked nudging me.

"I mean…their so expensive. I think I'll bid at another round-"

"Oh don't be stupid." Nico said as he stood up batting his lashes as he fanned himself boastfully. "12 million standing and unmoving. Dare to challenge my price and this will be the last time you step foot here."

The crowd went silent.

Deadly silent.

There wasn't a squeak, whisper, mutter or even the quietest form of sound as everyone looked at Nico who grinned fanning himself. His ego stared deadly in the face of all the bidders, his power locking their jaws tightly shut and his ferocious yet graceful aura commanded those who didn't dare in the name of life and sustenance to protest. He finalized it.

He won them.

No one wanted to go higher.

Uta clapped going to the cage as he pulled off the sheet. The sound of his hands seemed to release the oxygen in the room as it felt like my heart had stopped beating in the awkward silence that seemed like it had prolonged forever.

"Sold."

I looked as I stared helplessly at the woman in the cage crying. What was…..what was happening?

"The Daughter of Sunwoo Group in Japan who has a rich scent, lovely contour if you ask me and worthy of a decent bite. We had to start at 2 million if you understand. She is no rare human. Net worth of the total of 348 million- Miss Namiko Sunwoo-"He said as he turned to the timid girl who screamed when he came close to her. "Don't you just feel… disgustingly-cheap?"

"What do you mean you don't want her, I bought her for you?" Nico argued as my cheeks were damp with tears.

"T-that's the point, you 'bought' her!" I looked at the naked girl trembling like hell in the cage I was scared as well what was this what was all of this was this what Uta calls auctioning his art because this was fucking twisted and cruel- this woman isn't art.

"I want to go home, please don't kill me, just please don't kill me." She begged repeating like a scratched tune as it was obvious her mental state was deteriorated.

"Kaisa, you need to understand- why do you think we took you here today?" Nico purred.

"You're a ghoul now, and I told you- there are only two ways to live to be as a hermit or to live like humans." Itori said softly.

"This isn't even being human!" I yelled at Itori as everyone was packing up to leave but up to now I haven't seen a sign of Uta. He was the one I really wanted to pick a bone with.

"This- she isn't even a woman she looks like 18!" I said at the poor thing curled up in the corner. She had bruises and scars and dried blood over her body.

"If you're thinking of saving her you're only doing yourself a favor."

I turned around to the voice seeing Uta standing there as he came in with bouquets of flowers putting the large bundle aside. "She's probably been raped…6 times before she came here. Manhandled, beaten, chained, tortured. I doubt she has any common reasoning left. She might scream if you even put too much sunlight on her."

She scurried to the other side of the cage when Nico moved too close waving at her. This was a human yet she looked like a terrified animal.

"Kaisa, you either end up like her, or us- no in between, not out of it. Now….you should know why we brought you here" He continued as he took off his mask.

"Uta. I am very- very upset right now I don't think you s-"

"You do know why we brought you here right."

I looked at him; did he even hear when I was talking a while ago?

"I-ni-ti-ation~." Nico purred softly as I felt his hand slide down my spine.

"Nico stop." I growled getting freaked out.

"This is going to be your first meal. A ghoul needs to eat or else you won't be able to protect yourself."

I looked at him. Was he serious? I was not going to eat this girl.

"No."

He tilted his head to the side.

"Uta. She's not ready." Itori said as the room was so silent. I just told him no.

"She is."

"Uta." Itori said more sternly as she stepped before me.

He began walking towards us both as he halted and struck the cane in the ground and it literally stood. I looked down to see it penetrating the concrete as I swallowed. He was angry- but so was I. I do not want to eat a person and I don't want to kill anyone.

"Kaisa. You are not a human anymore."

"I don't need to eat."

He looked at me and sighed rubbing his forehead.

"She is already bought. Because of your stubbornness, you will watch how it is done."

I blinked.

"You're going to kill her…just like that…"

"Yes."

I argued, I argued like crazy both leaving and on our way home. Why did we have to kill her, why did I have to buy her- even if I never brought that cage there was the other with a young child….what would happen to that little boy.

Oh my god.

Uta was a human trafficker. He was a criminal. He was a slave master. He was a murderer- and he was my boyfriend.

This man…was my boyfriend.

When we reached home both he and Itori went upstairs. Judging from how calmly she conversed with him it was easy to read that she had given up already and just wanted it to be done.

"I'm hungry." She mumbled under her breath as she began removing her jewels and shoes. Renji walked pass me and into the room with the girl in a body bag as he opened the door. Ice freezing cold air escaped the heavy door as inside was as white as snow judging from the glimpse I got. That was the room in his house I have never been to.

"Would you like something to eat?"

He asked me looking down at me as I sat in the chair upset with everyone including myself. I didn't answer him.

You don't deserve to hear my voice, you don't deserve to get a response- as a matter of fact you don't deserve my attention.

He walked away after a long moment of silence as he returned with a bowl of- OH MY GOD.

I ran to the bathroom slamming the door shut as I didn't even have much to bring up, those weren't fake. Those weren't plastic. Those were real eyes and fingers. My legs gave out under me as I collapsed onto the floor as tears began falling.

"I can't do it- I can't do this." I cried as I felt my cheeks getting wet. I can't be in their world I'm not meant to be there and it isn't meant for me. Over and over again they kill and murder and feed. What was I going to do if I got completely tied up in this- I could be charged with pre-meditated murder, murder of the second degree, kidnapping of the first degree, intervening prosecution, manipulation of evidence and because I was the one who brought her: human trafficking. Life in prison was too soft I would face the highest punishment which would be…death penalty. I cried more as I couldn't do it my mind felt hazy and I felt lost and confused at the same time. I knew they did it-I knew it was a practice, a habit, a lifestyle- their way of feeding, but I never expected it to be so….real.

"Kaisa! Open the door!"

I looked at it closing my eyes as the tears ran down.

You murder.

You kill.

And you do it with a smile on your face.

The door opened and it was Renji. He entered it closing it behind him as he stooped down to my level.

"I'm sorry." I confessed to him suddenly hugging him as I cried softly. "It's like their completely different persons. I love both of them but they are going to kill her and eat her."

"We have been telling you, from day one. Saying it from you found out. We are ghouls. We feed on humans. We see them as food and sometimes nothing more…it's merely who we are."

I hugged him tighter.

"But she-"

"Food."

I looked up at him.

"Kaisa we don't expect you to fall in line immediately but we do want you to know it as the truth. To show you this side of the world. You- are in this position because of us, we will do all we can to protect you."

I looked up at him as I nodded. I felt a thousand things except ready.

"I don't want to watch them eat her."

"You will."

I paused as I thought back to at the auction.

"You knew this would happen…you were trying to warn me." I mumbled softly as I looked back up to him in sudden realization. "You were trying to take me away so this, this wouldn't happen."

I got up slowly as he rested his hands on my shoulders. I didn't want to this. I didn't want to be a part of this. But- I walked into this. I was warned, I was being stopped but instead I carried on and I was stubborn and here I was regrettably.

After stepping out the bathroom Itori came to me hugging me telling me it was for my own good. I didn't respond. I just took the clothes she gave me and changed out of what I had. I hugged myself walking to the room as the door closed behind me shut.

I looked at the woman strapped to the table her skin scrubbed clean as she wore a thin white linen dress that exposed her body underneath free of any undergarments. Itori was dressed down with a content smile on her face as Uta on the other hand was staring intently at me.

"We're going to begin now." He said as the girl began crying and instantly I felt weak to my knees. I turned around heading for the door to feel Renji's hand stop me.

"I'm sorry Kaisa. But you can't leave until we're done".

This Chapter had me going through four different emotions at once. I am soooo happy to be here right now cause this really means a lot for the two's relationship also for Kaisa's progression and acceptance. I am very excited for the reviews to see what you guys think and I hope you're as thrilled for the next chapter as I am!

ps. This chapter is over 5000 words! wooahh, well in my other fics i have an 8000 word chap lol but talk about getting passionate! Review please!

~Universal