Eto was more than thrilled to see Kaneki.
She hadn't seen him since their "fight" on the rooftop;
(Eto had thrown that battle, she was still undoubtedly stronger than him).
She hadn't seen him since he had abandoned the "nice guy" act (dream), and that pretend family of his.
She pitied those children, truly.
She understood how they must have felt, considering her own experiences. Father, Kuzen, had forsaken her... when she was but an infant, yes;
But abandonment is abandonment.
All that to say, Eto was nearly dizzy with excitement.
How Kaneki would act absolutely fascinated her.
It was almost 5 AM, so obviously, Eto Yoshimura was up and perusing the streets of Tokyo.
She passed by :re, a quaint coffee shop she knew well. After all, the manager was the surrogate daughter of her father, whom she hated. Eto would be lying (and she never did lie) if she said that she didn't resent the girl for that.
Though, admittedly, the coffee there was superb.
Not far from :re was an equally adorable bookstore. From the outside, it looked like a typical "aesthetically pleasing" venue. It was lush with greenery and fresh with its white walls and glossy woods. She noticed a wooden sign on one of the many windows that advertised the store's "24-hour service".
How odd...
Who the fuck owns a 24-hour bookstore...
Do they live there?
The store had piqued her interest (from the 24-hour claim alone), and Eto clapped her hands in excitement. She did enjoy discovering new, promising places. All Eto hoped for was that the store, which was called "Hon-Bon Books," met her expectations.
She had entered the bookstore, taking in the scenery.
It was a peaceful little establishment. The small space's walls were lined with oak shelves. Each row was packed with books and novels of every size and color. They were separated by genre; mangas and comics were off to the left. Children's books up ahead. YA novels were in the front. Horrors and thrillers were to the far right.
That was the section she belonged in, Eto thought. She took her time wandering over there, browsing other novels on her way.
When she finally did reach the overhanging "thrillers and horrors" sign, a small and secluded reading area caught her eye. It looked comfortable, with dark grey, cushiony chairs next to a small wooden coffee table.
But what really caught her eye was the only person sitting there. He looked alone; not just physically, but mentally. He looked as if he had been in perpetual loneliness. He looked sad.
The all-black attire did nothing to help the man, either.
She saw red-gloved hands turning the pages of a novel. He was completely absorbed in what he was reading.
Normally, Eto didn't condone interrupting a reader. However, today had to be an exception. Containing her overwhelming amounts of glee, Eto gently stepped over to him. The brown-heeled ankle boots she wore caused a soft padding against the carpeted floor.
Props to the architect...
Most people don't have the common sense to put carpeting in a bookstore.
They don't realize how annoying clacking shoes on tile can be.
Especially to someone who's just trying to read their book.
Eto reached him, and, instead of saying anything initially, She leaned over him.
He had looked up at the source of the shadow, for a moment. He was returning his gaze back towards the book but did a double-take.
He must have been too shaken to process what he had seen at first glance.
That was amusing to Eto, and it made her chuckle.
Kaneki stayed like that, looking at her. He didn't have to slightest clue as to how he should've responded.
She couldn't read his face, either. His mouth was a bit agape, and eyes wider than usual. However, he gave nothing away other than the obvious shock.
Are you angry?
Confused?
Curious?
Eto decided to break the awkward silence.
"So, Kaneki what book is that... the one you're reading," she leaned over a bit further and lower so that her face was close to his.
At his ear, she whispered, "I'm curious."
A gentle hand reaching over to pat his shoulder. "How odd it is, for us to meet up like this. I'll be honest, it was never apart of my plan to reach out to you. After that little scuffle, I mean."
Haise had had enough time to collect himself. His eyes lowered, his face darkened. "The book... it's Encapsulating Nightmare... I'm sure you know it."
He paused and placed his gloved hand atop her own, and if Eto was surprised or happy, she didn't show it.
"Indeed, it is odd that we meet up like this." he agreed. "But I am glad. I'll be honest with you, as you were with me I think. You intrigue me, Ms. Takatsuki."
Haise firmly removed her hand from his shoulder and lifted himself up from the chair.
He looked at her, adjusting his glasses. "It's Haise, by the way."
Eto giggled, clasping her hands. "Whatever you say, Haise Sasaki,"
You interest me as well,
As I am sure you already know.
What a twist of fate this is...
Haise harshly strode out of the bookstore, moments after their chat. Eto followed him, walking a few paces behind him.
In his stance, though extremely well hidden, she could see the confusion (she was an author, it was her duty to see through the facades of others). He longed for an inkling of information about her.
She couldn't blame the man.
Eto was an enigma, she knew that.
Her existence was weird, for starters. The only natural half-ghoul in the world, at the moment. Conceived by a human, raised by no one.
She came to despise the world and all the people in it.
She loathed her father for leaving her. For living a relatively normal life in that Anteiku of his, without her.
Not to mention, she led multiple lives. As a mysterious child that worked for Aogiri. As the feared One-Eyed Owl, who wreaked havoc on everything she touched. Or as a young woman who had a gift with a pen; writing and writing and writing.
She'd be willing to bet money on the fact that Haise was wondering which identity was her "real" one.
The two had been walking along the side for about a minute or so. The streets were quiet, surprisingly. All that could be heard was the rustling of leaves in the wind.
Haise spoke without stopping or looking back. "What do you want?"
What a vague question, dear Haise.
There's a lot of things I want...
I suppose you mean to ask "what do you want with me?"
Eto gave him an equally vague reply. "Answers."
She swept her green hair up and re-wrapped her blush scarf around her neck.
"What I want from you, Haise, are answers." she fluffed her hair and stuffed her hands back into the pockets of her coat. "You understand the want for answers, yes?"
Haise looked to the side.
There were multiple buildings and small stores in this area. Some were boutiques, others were small restaurants.
Every so often there were bike stalls and weathered benches. The streets and sidewalks and building ledges were littered with golden and brown leaves. The chilly yet inviting scent of autumn became more potent and stronger every day.
Haise returned his gaze to directly ahead of him, muttered under his breath, "I should be the one who gets answers from you."
"Well," Eto playfully skipped ahead of him on the vacant sidewalk, her hands held behind her back, "How about we both get answers."
She hopped directly in front of him, blocking his path. Haise could've gone around her, but he chose not to.
She was pleased with that... he was acknowledging her, which was progress.
Instead, Haise glared at her with those dead eyes of his.
"I think when both parties ask questions and receive answers," Eto smiled and continued. "The act they're partaking in is called a 'conversation."'
Haise exhaled, her sarcasm was beginning to irritate him.
"You may have not considered this, but," Haise stepped closer to her, leaning down so that his eyes were aligned with her own. "I do not want to talk to you."
Eto quickly removed herself from his path.
They kept walking, though this time, Eto walked by his side.
"Clearly," she stated with confidence, "You don't want to arrest me. Not at the moment, anyway. So if we don't talk, whatever will we do?"
Eto dove further. "You don't want to throw me in prison, fight me, kill me... Not that you could." she licked her lips, they were flushed and cracked from the cold air.
"You thirst for knowledge, as a true book-lover should. I just adore that about you, Haise!"
Haise almost rolled his eyes, this time.
"I'm on my way to work… the CCG." He glanced back at her, with a hint of something akin to passion in his eyes. "I could arrest you as soon as I enter the building. Why do you have that much faith in me..."
"Ah..." Eto chewed on it for a bit. She then answered his question, honestly.
"I'm 110% sure that you won't arrest me today. You won't even begin an investigation on me any time soon" she stopped walking. "I trust myself, Haise."
He didn't reply, and the two were left in silence for a moment. Eto spoke up, an attempt to break the tension in the air.
"Anyways, how about I accompany you to work? That isn't against CCG protocol or anything, is it?"
Haise suddenly stopped, dead in his tracks. Eto bumped into his back muttering something unintelligible under her breath. She stepped back as Haise whirled around, his eyebrows creased.
Are you worried?
Angry?
Annoyed?
I want to know what you're thinking...
Dear Haise.
"W-what? No… No!" Haise yelled, his eyes squinting. "No you're not coming with me... why are you even still here? Leave. Go."
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. His already messy hair had become even wilder. "Fuck! Do you have any regard for your life? Do you want to rot in Cochlea?"
Eto's face grew serious, for the first time that morning. "Of course I've regard for my life… Do you?"
Eto could see, from the misery in his eyes and the anger in his chest. Haise Sasaki was wearing one helluva mask.
One that painted him as strong, merciless, cruel; he seemed like a man able to bear even the worst of pains.
She could see right through him, of course.
She knew exactly what he wanted to do. Therefore, she knew he would not answer her question.
Eto decided to spare him this once and returned to a playful demeanor.
"Did you curse at me? How rude, Haise. I don't appreciate it." Eto smirked a bit, as the two continued to walk. "My feelings are hurt, and I feel so disrespected by you… you're a bit of a bitch, you know that Haise Sasaki?"
Haise jaw snapped and he gritted his teeth.
She could tell that he refused to give her the satisfaction... it was an obvious attempt to get a rise out of him.
Funnily enough, Haise went out of his way to try and step on fallen leaves, probably pretending the leaves were her bones.
It worked well enough, although she did hear him mutter something under his breath. It sounded like, "It takes a bitch to know a bitch... bitch."
The author is an antagonizing woman.
