Picking back up where we left off...

I back away not only from fear but common sense. I stood no chance against on of the strongest ghouls in Tokyo. We stared each other in the eyes as her Kagune tentacles crept around from her back and all of them pointed at me. "Let's have some fun, pretty boy" she said before dashing at me, her Kagune aimed at my gut.

Chapter 2

Akimoto Jinto, December 12th

As she dashed at me I quickly jumped to the side and brought up my Ukaku wing to shield myself. I felt the impact even through my Kagune and was sent sliding into a brick wall within the alley. I shook off my fallen debris and took up a fighting stance. I took in a deep breath and analyzed the current situation. As of now she had the advantage, she'd just fed so her abilities would be at peak performance and she was an experienced killer.

Her Kagune was a Rinkaku and against my Ukaku I had the advantage as long as I stayed at a distance. But she'd only bull-rush through, I thought. Rinkaku users typically had regenerative abilities and with her being S rated I'm assuming she does have them. Any further thoughts were cut off by her attacking me. She wildly lashed out with her tentacles and I could only dodge and block some of them. After dodging one of her swings I felt my back hit a wall.

She laughed and shot all of the tentacle at the spot I was at. I kicked off the wall and glided slightly to the side avoiding her tentacles. I fired off 3 shards which all connected with her right shoulder. She leaped back, her tentacles pulling out the wall and following. Without hesitation, I hopped from side to side in a zigzagging pattern towards her while firing shards. She used half of her tentacles to block the shards while the other half reared by as she charged me.

He unexpected charge caught me off guard and she slashed the lower chest. She followed through to behind me with the slash and turned around trying to follow up by impaling me. I twisted around hard and let loose a burst of shards mid-spin. Rize had little time to react and two of her tentacles were impaled to the ground. Taking this chance, I ran up and roundhouse kicked her, landing the blow directly into her gut. She swore as she skidded back a few feet.

As she looked up she had a look of pure insanity that frightened me. She grinned psychotically and said, "You're a tough little boy, aren't you". She started laughing even crazier and I took a step back, unsure of what was about to happen. She retracted her Kagune back into her back and turned around. "My hunger has already been satisfied. Fighting you was just for fun and if you did die... Well I'd finally get to try a One-Eyed Ghoul" she joked cruelly and then vanished into the city. Lost in the busy night life.

As she left, I finally let my exhaustion show. I haven't fought anyone that made me try in awhile. I over-exerted myself and it almost cost me my life. My vision was starting to swim with black dots and I started to sway. I put my hand on the brick wall beside me in an attempt to steady myself but it failed and I slid to the cold ground. As I started to drift out of consciousness, I could've sworn I saw the waitress from Anteiku and Yomo running down the alley towards me. Nah, it must be my imagination, I thought to myself as I finally lost consciousness.

Akimoto Jinto, December 13th

I jolted awake and wiped the sweat from my face. As I recalled the events of last night, I felt bandages across my lower chest area where I'd been slashed. I had a few bandages across other areas but they were minor scratches that didn't matter. I felt the wounded on my chest and instantly regretted it. I tapped the wound too hard and an aching pain shot through my body. I laid back on the soft bed and looked around the room.

It reminded me faintly of something but I couldn't think of it at the moment. I reached into my pocket but realized I'd left my phone in my apartment. I groaned aloud and laid still for a minute or two before getting up and out the bed. As I went to open the door the waitress from Anteiku, Touka opened the door and was accompanied by Yomo, my former combat trainer. I stopped and gave them both a quizical look.

"Sit down on the bed Jinto. I need to discuss something with you" Yomo ordered with authority in his voice. I nodded once and sat right back on the bed. The two of them walked into the room, closed the door behind themselves and pulled two chairs closer to the bed. They both took a seat, side by side.

"Do you still live alone" Yomo asked.

"Yeah" I responded.

"Alright then it's settled, after-school you need to come back here for work"

"Work" I asked skeptically.

He nodded, "Little do you realize that the innocent Cafe you went to yesterday with your pal was run and managed by ghouls. Anteiku is like a safe haven for ghouls in need of help. And Jinto, you are in need of help".

"How do you figure that I need help" I retorted, getting slightly pissed off.

"Last night", with that he got up and walked out the room before I could say another word. I crossed my arms, now thoroughly pissed off and glanced back at Touka. She had yet so say anything or even do anything besides stare off into space. I snapped my fingers loudly and she jumped alittle in her seat. I chuckled to myself as she glared at me. Before she could say anything else I quickly asked something that had been on my mind, "How much did you see last night".

She abruptly cut off whatever she was about to say and just looked at me for a moment. "I saw when you first landed and saw the whole thing... You're not bad ya know" She complimented. "Thanks" I replied laying back on the bed. "So how'd you end up here" I asked her.

"That's my business" she shot back. I held up my hands in a mocking surrender. "Whoa there now. I just asked a simple question" I said, putting my hands back down. She glared at me dirtily, then got up and walked out the room. Before she shut the door she said something that I barely caught. "And as for your friends crap yesterday, neither you or him are really my type" she said and then closed the door. I could only stare at the spot she'd been in just moments ago and think to myself, how is it psychically possible to screw up with a girl that quick. I rubbed my face with my hand and threw on the fresh pair of clothes beside the bed.

I walked out of Anteiku with some things on my mind. I had business that needed to be handled in order for me to become stronger. And to be strong, I got to look the part too, I thought as I walked to Uta's mask shop.