Note: This is Tokyo Ghoul manga-verse, so it will have a few differences to Tokyo Ghoul √A. Though the two do coincide in some instances, I warn you that there may be spoilers for both manga and √A ahead.

Part III

but in blood.

"Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself"

-Leo Tolstoy

He throws me his smug, triumphant smile. "I appreciate your co-operation."

Not like I had a choice. Again.

He closes the door and we begin on our way once more. We're left in a still silence, but I have plenty of questions to ask.

"What happens now?" My voice gruff. He has the audacity to do this to me in another fucking time- place- whatever the fuck this place is. I glance up at him, not recognising to be anything like the man I once knew. Even his brows are fucking trimmed, what a farce.

"You will recover first, then you will be trained- if we're lucky your memory will return during the training, and we can get back to business." Crossing his arms again, he glares off into the distance.

This… is important to him. That look in his eyes tell all-'I will make this happen, no matter the cost'- I'd mistake him for the real Erwin if I wasn't careful.

"…What am I training in?"

"Ghoul combat, detection, theory, everything you need. It won't be easy." It won't be easy; in other words, he'll put me through hell twice if it means that I become the person I apparently was before. Fucking great. Clenching my fists and unclenching them again, I feel strength beneath my fingers; for someone passed out in some cot for God knows how long, I'm not in bad shape.

"It will take a while, but we need all the help we can get- we can't lose another one."

Another one?

He gives me a knowing look, as if he already knew what I was thinking.

"We lost a first-rate investigator- Kureo Mado, to a ghoul attack a month ago. You were his replacement sent straight from the 13th Ward."

His stone cold expression tells me the survival rate for this job looks just as good as the Scouting Regiment's. I feel a sense of familiarity sink in, looking at my situation. There's nothing redeeming about this situation, out of the frying pan and into the hellfire. I'm caught between playing along and telling him he has the wrong guy- but he won't believe me. And if he does, its even more reason for me to not leave his sight.

"Since your attack shortly after, another investigator took your position. You'll be back in the 13th ward for your training after recovering."

He gives me a hard look. "That ward is dangerous; be careful."

That bad huh? If that's the case, why send me there? I have a feeling he isn't sending me back for some jobs around a field. Something sinister but I have nothing to go on.

"On the brighter side, your previous partner will be glad to have you back." He says with a light smile. "I was told that they were glowing with the news of your return."

"Can I get a name?"

"You will soon enough."

Always on a need to know basis with you. I resist the urge to roll my eyes, as I lean towards the window. My breath fogging the glass, obscuring the grey 'buildings' behind it. It's hard not to look like an idiot when I look at everything- but to think. These streets, buildings, everything would've been possible if it weren't for those fucking titans. These people don't live in walls, but their threat makes me think walls were a good idea.

"…The ghouls that attacked me." I start and I see him visibly stiffen and tense. "What happened?"

"I can't tell you that."

Can't or won't? I narrow my eyes at him, waiting for some kind of explanation. He simply looks away.

"Why did they want me dead?"

I'm met with a silence.

He won't be giving me anymore answers, not that I mind for now. I'm fucking hungry.

"Where are we headed?" There are clearly many places which serve food, but we drive by each one of them. Is starving a part of my 'training'? Wouldn't surprise me at this rate.

"A coffee shop- I've been recommended it by a friend." He says, glancing out of his own. "There it is." He says, pointing to an approaching shop with a sign next to the door.

'Anteiku'

Antique?

"Sounds like a charm." I scoff. Leave it to Erwin to feed me coffee of all things. "They better be clean."

Erwin chuckles as we pull up into a clear area, where many other vehicles are left. Stopping in a space, Erwin places a hand on the door and turns to me.

"Shall we?"

-x-

"They fucking better be clean up there." Walking up a small flight of stairs, approaching a door. Its dusty as fuck and I hate it- there's so much I don't want to touch it- do they even have a cleaner? I could choke on how much there is here. Disgusting.

"I'm sure they will, we'll have to find out."

"Hm. We'll see."

He takes the lead, turning the door handle, he pushes open the door and light floods through. A small bell rings, and a voice rings out. "Welcome! Please have a seat."

Clean enough. The air is cleaner here, and the place looks well kept.

We're led by a girl with dark blue hair (what the fuck) to a nearby table by the wide windows. Its small, but just enough to accommodate the two of us. She nods to us both lightly, her visible eye narrowing at me before showing a light smile before she walks to the counter.

Odd.

The air here is pungent of coffee and its various blends, and the light chatter in the background gives an almost warm and welcome feeling. You almost forget that impending death might be sat at the table right next to you.

I feel eyes on me as I glance past the menu, deciding on black coffee before I look up.

Three heads all turned away at once. Given, they were all stood relatively far away from each other, but one look doesn't turn.

Somehow, that old man feels familiar.

A waiter comes by and takes Erwin's order, but the old man just keeps staring. What are you trying to say-

"Levi." Erwin's voice calls, and I drop the menu onto the table.

"What would your order be Rivalle-san?" A different waiter asks, this time he has orange hair (seriously what the fuck is up with their hair) and rectangular glasses. He says my name with an accent, its odd, but it feels homely. It feels weird but a part of me feels so comforted by such a simple thing that I wonder how sentimental the previous me must have been.

"Black coffee." He simply nods.

"The usual then." He scribbles down my order, before he turns to leave. "…It's good to see you again, Rivalle-san."

Oh? So they do know me here. I glance at Erwin, wondering if he knew. I narrow my eyes- of course he knew, this is probably his way of trying to jog my memory, the sneaky little-

"You did say the coffee here had 'something decent' about it." He says, meeting my gaze. "I should pay attention to your recommendations more often."

I figured as much.

"Yeah? Good for me. It doesn't change the fact that I'm starving." I almost growl. As amazing as coffee is, it won't fill my stomach.

"We can't have you eating a feast after a month on liquids- food has to be slowly reintroduced to your system."

"So what? I get to go on a coffee diet?"

"Not necessarily. You will be on a… special food programme. As procured by Doctor Kanou."

You've got to be shitting me.

"Programme? What are you getting at?"

"A month asleep can dull the body Levi, you need to be at peak condition when you face them."

Resisting the urge to break something, I lean back into my chair, suddenly tired again.

Fucking wonderful. Get coerced into another military group, get given coffee to fill my months' worth of hunger and get placed on some special diet by some white coated old man. Just throw in a few titans and it would be like I never left.

"One black coffee and one red eye." The waiter returns, laying a tray on the table. Two drinks sit side by side, one in a plain porcelain cup, the other paper.

I pick mine up around the rim, and take a sip.

Ohoho. So this is decent coffee. I drop a few sugar cubes into the warm drink.

Taking a larger gulp, I notice something off about the taste. It somehow tasted better when I added the sugar cubes.

I steal a look at the old man at the counter, innocently brewing more coffee.

Did he do something…?

"Levi." Erwin's voice calls, and I turn to look at him.

Cup in hand, he stands.

"I just got a message from HQ, you'll need to stay here. I'll have Shinohara pick you up somewhere nearby." I nod, not really in the mood to argue.

He hands me some small device before he leaves, the sound of a bell chiming as he leaves.

I look up across the table, and there he stands.

"So, finally had the guts to come up and talk, huh?"

"I felt that we may need the privacy. Please, follow me to my office. There's something I believe they haven't told you." The old man faces to leave, expecting me to follow him.

Yeah right.

"No, I don't think I wi-"

He stops and turns, and I see something I cannot believe.

Red and black eyes.

He blinks and the red and black disappear, I look around me to see if anyone else had noticed.

He isn't human.

No one seemed to have noticed, and I stand abruptly. Dazed I knock into the table and spill the coffee over my shirt.

Is he… a ghoul?

"Oh, my. We need to get you cleaned up." He says in a flat tone. He passes me a handkerchief, and the girl from earlier rushes over to clean up the mess.

"You should come with me. We have some towels that you can use."

It sounds more like an order than it does a suggestion.

Silently, I follow him. Keeping my eyes locked on his figure.

I look to the baristas as I pass by. There's a possibility that they are ghouls also, but I can't focus on that right now.

Walking into another hallway, the door clicks and closes behind me. He continues walking, passing many doors and soon we reach what looks like an office.

He holds the door open, allowing me entry first.

I hesitate.

Would he kill me if my back was turned?

If I turn tail and retreat, I can make it out into the main café before he could kill me.

But, if I stay, I may learn something.

I take a deep breath. I need to make a choice.

…

Hesitantly, I step in.

-x-

"So, how did he seem?"

"Like his usual self, he didn't react badly to any of the coffee."

"Good, he may still be one of us."

"What made you so sure that he would change, sir?"

"Just a feeling."

"I didn't realise that you also had Mado's gift."

"I don't. That man had a sixth sense. If he were still here, I'd have him all over Ackerman."

"Oh? What for?"

"For if it had turned out that he had changed… Mado would've handled the situation accordingly."

"…Of course, sir."

"Just to make sure, we need to keep watch of him. Make sure he does not leave our gaze. Understood?"

The man stops.

"Am I understood?"

"Perfectly, Arima-san."

So, we may be moving a bit slowly for now, so I apologise to anyone looking for a battle scene. Personally, I can't wait for Levi to be handed a quinque, but the training process should be fun.

As always, feel free to leave a comment, criticism, compliment- anything.

Also, thank you to those who reviewed last chapter (They are very good motivators- just sayin').

Nerrevarrine – I'm glad I've held some kind of originality and interest; it's been a while since I've written anything. ;P

Guest FTG – Thank you! Hopefully this chapter met your expectations :)

StgMc98 – I believe we've had a nice chat about the ships here, and sadly Ereri will not be making an appearance. I'm glad you like it though, I didn't expect this story to be doing as well as it is.

timothy . nguyen .73 - I appreciate your comment, and I'm glad you liked the parts with Petra and levi; sadly they do not appear in this chapter, but may do soon ;) Also, thank you for your rating, its something that I'm not accustomed to, but I'm glad to have scored fairly decently.