Yo, how've you guys been? Is it just me, or has everyone been getting sick lately? I know it's gone through my friend group, at least, and it also went around my house. As of yet, I've been spared. Let's hope I'm not jinxing it. If any of you guys are sick, you have my condolences. I wish you all the best of health. But hey, as crappy as you might feel when you're sick, at least you get some down time from life. That's a plus, right? If I did get sick, I'd probably spend all that time either writing or gaming. You might as well try to enjoy yourself when you aren't able to do work.

And here's chapter seven, my gift to you along with my wishes for good health.

After days of mulling it over, I finally decided to come here. The odds of him knowing where she could be feel pretty low, but as little contact as we've had, he actually knows the most about the situation between us. And Hanako had seemed fairly fond of him. Still, what if he doesn't know?

I shake the doubt away. It can't hurt to ask. I mean, although admittedly strange, Uta has struck me as an okay guy. If he knows something, great, and if he doesn't, at least I tried. What have I got to lose? She's been missing for a week and I have no leads.

I watch the taxi I came in pull away, the exhaust visible behind it, before I push open the door to the shop.

"Uta! It's-"

My words catch in my throat as I take in the scene before me. Uta isn't in the back this time. No, he's sitting atop a stool apparently frozen mid conversation with a certain black and white haired dove. Both of their eyes have locked onto me.

I force sound from my mouth. "U-um, I'll come back later." I turn on my heel, but Uta's voice stops me.

"This guy has been here everyday for the past seven days asking about you and your friend," he informs me. "I haven't told him anything, as customer information is confidential, but it would nice if you could convince him to stop coming."

A hand on my shoulder whirls me back to face them. Sasaki grips my shoulder tightly, staring intently into my eyes. "It was you, wasn't it? It occurred to me the next morning that I'd seen you both here."

"I don't know what you mean." My voice betrays me, though, rising in pitch nervously. Why now of all times? I'm usually so good at faking!

"We need to talk," he decides, determined. I glance over his shoulder at Uta, eyes pleading for help. For a second, he just meets my eyes and doesn't move. Just when I'm afraid he won't do anything, he pushes slowly to his feet.

"If there's something you two need to discuss, please do it elsewhere. I prefer to keep my business a peaceful one." He effortlessly shifts the resistant Sasaki away from me, planting himself between us.

"I...came to talk with you, actually, Uta," I confess. "I have something to ask you."

"I'll wait," Sasaki promises. "I just want to talk. Honest."

"If you're waiting, please stand over there while we talk." Uta points to a corner of his shop, staring blankly at the investigator. Clearly unsettled by the shop owner's behavior, the dove flits over to where he's being temporarily kept. When he's far enough away, Uta returns his attention to me. "What was it you wanted? Was the mask unsatisfactory?"

I shake my head. "Not at all, I love it." My memory flickers to the safe at RE:, where my mask now hides away snugly. I haven't worn it once since that day. "I wanted to know if you've heard anything from Hanako. You know, the girl I was with?"

He blinks, his black and red eyes as piercing as ever. "Did something happen?"

"We had a run in with the doves when she took me out for my birthday." I don't dare so much as to glance at the investigator in the room. "Him, and one other. We got away, but she disappeared the next morning. I was hoping that maybe you'd heard something."

"How close are you to Hanako?"

The question startles me, delaying my answer, but the words spill from my mouth the second I comprehend the question. "She's my best friend!"

"How much are you willing to give up for her?" he inquires, hands in his pockets. Somehow, although nothing about him has changed, I feel as if his eyes have begun searching in mine. This...is serious, isn't it? More than I'd thought.

Resolute, I declare, "Whatever I have to."

He keeps searching. Evidently, whatever he finds or doesn't find satisfies him, because he tells me, "Come back tomorrow night, and we'll talk. For now, take care of Kaneki for me."

That name again. I still don't understand what's going on with that dove, but if driving him away from the shop will get Uta to talk, what choice do I have? I nod in agreement. With that, I'm released to approach Kaneki. Or Sasaki. Or whatever his name is.

When he sees me coming, he tries to hide a sigh a relief. I get the feeling he thought I'd try to run for it, and I'll admit, it was tempting. Still, when I reach him he extends his hand.

"I haven't introduced myself yet," he apologizes. "I'm Haise Sasaki."

Slowly, I take his hand to shake it. "Nice to meet you." Not. "You said you wanted to talk. What exactly about?"

He seems displeased that I skipped over my name, but now I've let him see my face. I'm hardly going to make it even easier for him to find me. "I have a lot of questions," he peeks over to Uta, "but nothing we should discuss in front of others."

I smile wryly. He believes Uta, that he's human. "Aren't you trusting."

"So I've been told," he laughs, embarrassed. A bit taken aback by his reaction, I stay silent and let him continue speaking. "I won't take you into the office, as I'm sure you don't want. That would cause an uproar neither of us is prepared for. Is there somewhere public you feel comfortable with? Anywhere where you can be assured I won't arrest you at a moment's notice."

How kind of him to realize how at odds we are. "I'd rather we not talk anywhere."

"I realize, but please indulge me."

Recalling Uta's annoyance with this guy, it's pretty obvious how persistent he'll be if I keep trying to avoid him. "Would you...be willing to tell me how many of your guys know about me?"

It takes him a second to understand. "Ah, of course! It's just the two of us you've met. We agreed to keep this encounter to ourselves. I think Urie was ashamed that he let the two of you slip through his grasp." Seriously? They didn't tell anyone?

"Will you be telling anyone about me?" Why am I even asking? Of course he's going to lie.

"No." Despite my doubt, I find no insincerity in his expression. "This is all for my own curiosity. If we ever meet again while I'm working with my coworkers, it'll go as if we've never met before."

"You're a strange guy." Somehow, despite how hostile she'd been towards him the last time they met, I feel like he's someone Hanako would take an interest in. "In that case, no matter where I pick, you won't...linger? Promise me I won't ever see you at the place I choose. I can relax there, and having you there would really ruin it for me."

"If that's what you want," he swears. I shouldn't believe him. Under all trains of logic, it would be idiotic to believe him, but something in my gut tells me he isn't lying. His face lacks any hint of deception.

Frustrated, I finally consent. "Anywhere, right? There's a cafe I like to visit, but you must absolutely not go back to it if I take you there. Are you sure you can agree to that?"

He nods, a smile spreading on his face. "Let's go!"

With a final, worried glance at Uta, I lead Sasaki, Haise, Kaneki, whatever his name is, outside. The taxi ride is silent after I give the address. It was probably bad for me to have offered the place I hang out in, but...I think I'd be a little more comfortable with someone familiar around. Of course I'd rather not drag Touka into this, but her being there should be plenty enough support. When we arrive at our destination, Haise holds open the door for me.

The bell dings as I enter the building first. I can feel Touka's eyes on me while I sit down at a corner table, Haise sitting across from me. When the purple haired waitress approaches, I tell her, "I'll have the usual."

"Coffee it is, then." She scribbles on her notepad. "And you, sir?"

"I'll have coffee, as well. Black, please."

"I'll bring that right out."

As she shuffles away, he turns to me. "I am admittedly a bit disappointed I made you that promise. I happen to like the coffee here quite a bit," he laughs regretfully.

So he's been here before. "If you're going to interrogate me, get it over with."

"Will do." His smile doesn't fall, but remains sad on his face. "You see, I just have a hard time understanding. You're human, and yet...why do you put yourself in such a situation?"

"You called her Black Cat, didn't you?" I ask. When he nods, I say, "I do it because Black Cat is my best friend. It doesn't matter if she's a ghoul."

"How did that happen?"

"How does anything happen? Coincidence. Luck. Fate. Whatever you want to call it. We found each other when I needed her, and then I was there when she inevitably needed me."

"Okay, but why do you go with her to meals?"

"I don't." Even if she comes back, I'll probably never accompany her again. Not after all this happened as a result. "That was a one-time deal. I felt it was wrong of me to claim to understand her position without ever seeing it."

"Then," he wonders, his tone almost hesitant in his asking, "even after seeing that...you're still with her?"

"Your coffees." Both of us pause the conversation as Touka sets the mugs in front of us. Before she leaves, however, she turns to me and asks, "How did you like the book you borrowed? If you're finished, you're welcome to come choose another while you're here." Her way of telling me she wants to talk in the back. I'm not finished, though, and I hope to be done with this conversation with Haise in one go so he won't come looking again. He shouldn't, if he's been honest with me. I dread if I've mistaken his character.

"Thanks, but I've yet to finish it," I reply truthfully. "I'll be done with it in a few days, though, so if you don't mind I'll return it then."

Left with no choice, she nods. "Then enjoy your drinks."

Alone again, I take a sip of the coffee before I answer the hanging question. "I would be. However, she ran off the morning after and I haven't heard from her since. I have no idea when or if she'll be coming back."

His smile completely vanished, he lowers his head as if embarrassed. "I understand it was my fault, but can you stop glaring at me? It was my job, and it wasn't like I wanted to hurt her or you."

"My apologies for being unable to forgive you. I'm just trying to imagine how many souls you've ruined with that suitcase of yours."

"You were really that close to a ghoul?"

"I'm really that close to her. Even if she's not human, she is a person, and my closest friend. Except that, because of you, I may never see her again. I appreciate your peaceful nature, Haise. If you weren't like you are, I just might have had to disappear like she did and left my family wondering where I was and if I was okay. Despite my thankfulness, though, I'm unable to stand people like you! Not after you killed what little family she had, and not after you drove a stake between our friendship! Now if you're out of questions," I half slam my nearly empty cup on the table and stand, "I'd like to be done with this."

"Wait!" He reaches out to stop me, but I move out of his reach. Still, I stop and wait for him to go on. "Give me your phone number."

"Excuse me?"

"I want to be able to reach you, in case we come across any information about your friend. If I find out anything, I'll tell you. If she get's captured, or….killed, I'll contact you."

I blink. Is he serious? "Isn't information like that classified?"

He avoids the question. "This is the least I can do. It's clear I've done something bad, but I can't just leave the life I have and repent. I still believe that humans need to be protected from ghouls with ill intent, but I wish I hadn't had to cause you trouble like this. Please, accept this as my apology."

I want to refuse, I really do. I want to reject his remorse and let the guilt swallow him, but how could I be so cruel when he's pleading with such an innocent, desperate expression. Sighing, I whip out my phone and open the contacts. When I'm there, I hold my hand out to him. "Give me your phone."

He complies and I enter his number into mine. When I put mine in his, I label it as 'Mockingbird', and leave it at that. I flip shut my ancient phone and hand his back to him.

"I don't want to hear a peep unless it's urgent," I hiss. Hating to linger any longer, I slap down the money for my drink and take my leave.

A little salty there, aren't we Kiyoko? Am I the only one who finds her kinda scary when she's angry? She's just so cold! I didn't even realize how harsh she was until I reread the chapter to edit it. As I was reading, I got chills from her. Anyone else feel that? Maybe it's just 'cause I'm the author... That's a fear I have, you know? As the writer myself, there are bound to be things I get from my writing that you readers don't. If I was a master at writing, I'd be able to get all that across to you, but no one really fully masters writing. There's always more to know. But did I do well this time? Either way, I'll do my best to write the next chapters.

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!