The CCG's main base of operation was truly a sight to behold.
It was beautiful, in a way.
Employed here were the world's very own deliverers of justice.

Just as it's workers were expected to, the building stood tall and imposing.

The two stopped before it, glancing over at each other.

.

"This is your cue, Takatsuki– you can go home and eat all the rice cakes you want." Kaneki politely waited (for approximately half a millisecond) after he dropped that hint for her to leave.

When she didn't answer, he elaborated. "I mean, follow me if you want, I didn't peg you as someone so dependent, and, I could've sworn that we've already been over the Rc scanners. They'll go off in a second flat… and you'll be making friends with the rats in Cochlea."

Haise smirked and leaned closer to her. "Unless you want to, of course. Trash belongs with trash, does it not?"

Eto, who was facing forward and taking in the stark, white walls of the CCG, cocked her head back towards him. "So soon you call Hina-darling trash," She got on her tiptoes (Haise was much taller than her) and jabbed a finger at his cheek. "And do you really believe those Rc scanners would detect someone as crafty as myself?"


I know.

I ignored your first comment.

But seriously, low blow, Sen-sei. (Sen Takatuski; Takatsuki Sensei)

I may not have won any points for being a good person, in regards to Hinami…

But at least I made a pretty good pun.


Haise immediately turned his face away to hide the obvious amusement and embarrassment on his face. He quickly brushed her finger off. "Yeah," he confirmed. "I do."

.

It had taken him a lot of self-control to ignore her comment about Hinami. She was just another thing on a skyscraper pile of things Haise didn't want to deal with.

.

The city bustled behind them, early-risers beginning to commute to work. In this landscape of life, neither of them belonged. Haise wanted to leave. Hideaway inside his office.

Eto sighed with a small smile. "Very well. I suppose then, that I'll be off." She hopped back onto a lighter patch of pavement. "I had fun talking to you, Sasaki."

Haise messed with the black tie of his uniform, trying to adjust it so that it may be a little more comfortable. "Sasaki?" he questioned, brows furrowing. "Considering your manners, it's usually my first name… any reason for the sudden change?"

"I dunno." she shrugged. "I just felt like it."

Eto pulled the sleeves of her overly-large sweater down even farther. She looked... kind of innocent.

Haise destroyed that thought as soon as it happened. Knowing Eto, she'd probably be able to guess what he had just contemplated.


She has ESP, no one can convince me otherwise.

There are certain things I can't think when I'm around her.

It'll show on my face.

At least I'm not a pervert...

She's someone who'd be dangerous to perverts.

I guess being an author has its perks?

Eto Yoshimura is a master book-reader. I may be closed, but, she's able to read me so easily.

She sees right through me.

How annoying.


"Oh!" she said in a completely un-surprised voice, with slitted eyes. "Guess now's a good time as any to give you a warning, dear Haise: I may be kind to you, compared to others in my life, but don't mistake me for a kind person.
Also, I get what I want. Because I love you, I wanted to tell you."

Haise gave her a confused look. Where did that come from, exactly? He knew very well already what kind of a woman she was.

Eto reminded Haise of Athena, in a way. Beautiful, graceful, sadistic and horrifying and merciless.

Haise responded sarcastically. "Good to know– "

"I mean you didn't even want to talk to me but," she raised her hands giving him a smug look. "We had an entire conversation! I'm pretty damn good, admit it."

Haise moved to give yet another sarcastic retort of, "yeah, for sure," when he noticed a familiar face standing behind Eto.

.

But she didn't see him, so, when Eto stepped back a few feet in her heeled boots, she bumped into a body, hard.
She moved to say something, but he spoke first, quickly backing away.

"Excuse me, ma'am–" He stopped mid-sentence when he caught sight of the man behind her.

"H- Associate Special Investigator Sasaki!"

With a vexatiously stony visage, Haise curtly nodded. "Urie."

The boy (man) who had grown so much in only the past week clenched his teeth and fists. He looked as though he was going to say something, probably something accusatory, but was cut off by the... outlier of the conversation.


Say it, Urie.

Say it.

You want to tell me that I'm wrong.

That "it wasn't my fault... that he died!"

Your wrong (maybe).

Or:

Why haven't you been to the Chateau (home) since before the extermination?

Why did you become so cruel?

Why did you feel nothing when he died?

Why haven't you been there for us?

Why did you leave us when you were so adamant about us being a god damn, fucking family?


Eto's goofy and air-head-of-an-author personality returned. She appeared very close to Haise's side and grabbed his arm. "Oooooh! So this fine young man's name is Urie, huh?"

She then ran over to the other guy, shaking both of his hands like a creepy, overly excited fangirl. "Nice to meet you, I'm Sen. Sen Takatsuki."

Surprisingly, Urie acknowledged her. "Takatsuki. You're that author, right?" his eyes narrowed, as he looked back and forth between Haise and herself. "What're you doing with him? (and why are you so… familiar with him?)"

She grinned and moved even closer to the poor man. "Yep, yep, yep! I'm happy to hear you've heard of me. To be completely honest, you look like a horror novel enthusiast…
And to answer your question, I hope you'll let me ask some in return, I don't know dear Haise all that well… I may seem touchy, but I'm like that with everyone, as you must see. Anyways, what's with those two dots under your eyes? Do they hurt? Are they natural? Do you have any siblings, or family working here too? How do you know Haise?"

.

Haise, who had created some distance between himself and the other two, grimaced.

He felt bad for Urie, having to deal with Takatsuki's overwhelming questions. Urie even seemed a bit flustered. He probably was very much so. Haise wouldn't know though; Urie was a closed book like himself, and he was no good at reading people.

Eto was, though. Nothing Urie said or thought would escape her.

From a safe distance, Haise shouted. "Okay, you two entertain yourselves… I have a meeting to attend. I truly, from the bottom of my heart, hope I don't see any more of you today or for the rest of the year, Ms. Takatsuki."

With that, Haise waved and turned his back on a thoroughly irritated and confused Urie, and a giggly Eto.


As soon as Haise entered the building and ignored the receptionist (as per usual… at least since last week), he made a beeline for the restroom.

Just like everywhere else in the CCG, the bathrooms were white and clean and sterile and uninviting.
Although Haise appreciated the bathrooms being this way, there was once a time in which all other places within the building seemed slightly foreign.

Now that feeling of unbelonging was only strengthened; Haise Sasaki stood out in his all-black attire.

.

With a mirror now before him, Haise realigned his tie. He turned his hand back and forth, inspecting it. He'd gotten a pair of red, extremely durable gloves a day after the extermination. They hid something unsightly; something he didn't want just anyone to see.

He glared at his reflection, irritated by his lifeless eyes and permanently messy hair.

Some people thought that he dyed his hair entirely black but, he didn't. For some reason, it grew back that way. He was glad. White hair didn't suit him anymore.

Haise exhaled, mentally preparing himself for what he had to do.

Just one small thing, and then he could get to work, by his lonesome.


And this thing should be relatively easy…

Considering how tiring my morning has been.


Haise pushed open the ridiculously grand door, with golden handles and intricacies. He straightened his tie and coat for the hundredth time that day and entered the office. Before him was a large, scantily-furnished desk.

The man sitting there was wearing a white coat (unsurprising) decorated with medals and honors. He had his hands folded, waiting as if he had known that Haise would visit him before the fact.

Haise marched forward and nearly dropped a pile of documents, ones he'd gotten from his own desk earlier, onto the surface. He didn't say anything to the "nicest" of the Washuus. He didn't need to.

Yoshitoki was another individual who was pretty good at reading him, even after the extermination. Haise was, after all, a personal project conducted by the man himself. He was the reason why Haise was still alive in the first place.

.

.

He was also alive because of Arima, but the time between Ken Kaneki and Haise Sasaki was painful nonetheless. He remembered well his time as a prisoner of Cochlea, and the sharp pangs of pain he felt when a quinque went through his eyes. Arima's quinque.


Arima…

You spared me that day, I'm well aware now.

I realize what has happened to me.

That the family we had– the Quinx, yourself, Akira, and I.

It was fake. It wasn't real.

(That really fucking hurts).


Yoshitoki scanned the papers slowly, then looked up at Haise. "I must say, I am surprised you've decided that you don't want to be the Quinx squad's mentor. You seemed close to those children."

Haise stood firmly. "I thought," he paused. "it'd be for the best… for us all."

.

Haise looked as dead as a doorknob on the outside. On the inside, however, he felt his stomach cave in.

They were his children, and he was leaving them.

Yoshitoki was expecting an elaboration, but, when he didn't get one, he spoke up. "I suggest that you give them your farewells and goodbyes… since you haven't officially left yet."

From his tone of voice and posture, Yoshitoki gave nothing away. Haise had no idea what he thought about his choice.

Maybe the man knew from the beginning.

.

.

The day after the extermination was a day of silence. Those who were lost were honored, and those who had lost someone mourned. The day after was an honorary day for the soldiers who lived.

All eyes were on Haise. People could see that he was different.

His gait was was hostile, impatient. His face wore a mask of cruelty. Anger.

The white suit of honor he wore contrasted against the new blood-red gloves he wore.
Against his charcoal hair that wouldn't stay in place.

He was promoted– a senior investigator to an associate special investigator.

His fellow investigators congratulated him but for the most part, Haise ignored them. Akira patted his shoulder, but he shrugged it off. His child– The Quinx squad tried to find him, but he avoided them.

He even decided to leave the Chateau; the Quinx didn't think it'd be permanent.

Yeah. Yoshitoki probably expected this.

.

.

Haise nodded. "I'll do that."

He turned his back and walked to the door, whispering under his breath, "but later."

"Before you leave, associate special investigator Sasaki, I have something I must inform you of." Yoshitoki sat farther up. "You'll be getting a new partner, in accordance to your leaving of the Quinx squad."

Haise was ready to protest. He left the Quinx to be alone (in part). No way in hell would he be getting a partner.

Still not facing Yoshitoki, his eyes narrowed in discontent.

Just as his mouth began to open, the door behind him swung open.

A meek, odd-looking man stood in front of him. He was taller, with equally dark hair. It was longer and more controlled. He had a mole under his small, red eyes. On his face was a nervous yet disturbing smile.


He's weird.
I don't like him.

He's off.
Some way or another.
Can't place my finger on it.

But he was Kijima's former partner;
and that man was fucked in the head.

I didn't sign up for this shit.

I don't want to do this.

Honestly.

Now I want to die even more.
That's funny...


The Reaper is a Punny Man.