A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I need inspiration! Waiting for the new Re: chapter!
A few days after Lith appeared at the public speech, she decided that she was going to make use of her strength. She wanted to prove that not all ghouls were bad, even if she had to put herself in danger. During this time she hadn't talked to any of her friends. Surprisingly, she felt really busy. When she wasn't working at Uta's workshop, she was prowling the city, looking to see if she could find any way to help. Although she wasn't looking at the news reports, a certain someone was.
Ayato had made it a habit of his to look for any news about Lith. He was getting nervous, as when he went to her apartment, he would never find her. Was she ignoring him? Either way, Eto had assigned him a new member as his subordinate. Apparently, she was a ghoul around his age. He wasn't in the mood to meet her, so he decided to go back to his building in the hideout.
As he walked up the stairs, he began to hear crying. He stopped at the closed door and opened it. "W-who's t-there?" asked a girl with short, brown hair between sobs. Was she supposed to be his new subordinate?
"Will you quit making so much noise? It's annoying." spat Ayato, trying to keep his angry demeanour.
"S-sorry." she squeaked. She stood up and turned to face him. Her eyes were puffy from crying, he noticed and her face was wet with tears. He couldn't help but feel a little pity for the girl. What was he doing? Lith must have made him soft. "T-touka?"
"What?" roared Ayato. What was she saying?
"Y-you look like T-touka nee-chan!"
"That dumbass? scowled Ayato as he kicked a can on the ground. She knew his sister?
"Aren't you her brother?" asked Hinami, more collected now.
"Unfortunately," he growled "but that doesn't make a shitty person like you any more special. Just because you knew her doesn't mean you'll get pampered."
"Lith~" called out Eto. Lith, not expecting to see Eto at the roof of a tall building in the middle of the day almost fell off in surprise.
"Eto?"
"That was quite the crazy stunt you pulled the other day. What were you thinking?" Eto said in amusement as she played with the lose bandage around her finger.
"Honestly, I don't know. I guess I just wanted to try and make ghouls have a better life. I wanted to make them understand that a ghoul's life mattered." responded Lith sympathetically.
"Just like a leader would say…" mumbled Eto in respect.
"What?"
"Do you really plan on doing something with those problems?" asked Eto, her face turning grim as she looked at the young ghoul.
"Of course! And nothing can stop me." said Lith energetically.
"Even if I said you'd have to go through me?" inquired Eto.
"Yes. Whether it be to protect a friend or to help a human, I would."
"Then how about you prove yourself. If you can beat me, Aogiri Tree will be your ally. We will help you if you ever find yourself in a difficult situation." said Eto with a serious look on her face. Lith wasn't sure what Eto meant at first. Aogiri Tree as her ally? Why would she want their help? After all, Eto wasn't very trustworthy. She had already been in the criminal organization long enough to know that it wasn't a very good place. They slaughtered anyone who got in their way, whether it be doves, humans, ghouls or even their own teammates.
Then she remembered that not all members wanted to be there. Some were forced while others had no place to go. Maybe she could change the organization for the better, if she managed to befriend Eto. although she had heard of the existence of the One-Eyed King, nobody had actually seen him. She knew that he was a powerful being who controlled Aogiri Tree and that only Eto and Tatara, the only direct subordinates knew who he was.
Some doubted his existence, and even thought that Eto, the main founder of the organization was the real One-Eyed King. Why they would create his existence in the first place was strange, but Lith thought it might be a way to convince the members into joining. Imagine, a powerful ghoul protecting you would really sound like an amazing offer. But of course, it always felt too good to be true.
"I don't think I would ever be able to defeat you." said Lith thoughtfully, thinking that the chances of her defeating the notorious killing Owl.
"How about we make a deal?" she said suspiciously. Why was she so eager on fighting me? Couldn't she just do it whenever she wanted? She could just attack me right then and there. So why didn't she? Why was she so eager on having me agree? "I'll wait for you. I'll wait until you say you're ready and we will fight to the death."
What? To the death?! What is she thinking!? She's supposed to be the adult here! Aren't they supposed to take care of the children? I know I'm not a kid anymore, but still. I'm young and underage! I was in shock. I opened my mouth to say no, but she was gone.