Reminisce
Chapter 4: Family Reunion
Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul or any of the characters involved except for Guardian D. Death and Defiler H. Hollow.
Author's Note: Apologies for anyone who might've noticed this, but I've been spelling Touka's name wrong. I've corrected it going forward. I'll make sure to go back when I get caught up on my release schedule.
Touka turned to face Mado as the agent laughed manically.
"Switching off with your little friend here? Not very manly of you," he taunted.
Death ignored him before he kicked off, sending himself flying toward Hollow. The younger man spun his scythe to catch Death's attack, but Death used his momentum to swing himself up and over Hollow's head. He kicked again, this time a shockwave rippled through the air from the force as he dove into the ground, creating a large dust cloud and another shockwave that rippled Mado and Touka's clothes.
"Well, it seems they're invested. Perhaps we should get started as well, don't you say girly?" Mado asked as he sent his whip flying towards Touka.
She leaped to her left as the whip crashed into the ground, sliding to a stop she took off towards Mado, but he was ready for her as he brought the shield around to block her attack. Touka was ready for this as she darted back to her right clearing the shield as she dashed toward Mado.
"Quick one aren't you!" He shouted as he brought the whip back.
Touka was forced to retreat as she dodged the attack.
"I can't get close to him like this," She thought to herself as she landed.
Meanwhile, Hollow was pinned to the ground by Death's scythe, and the Guardian was looking down on him.
"Are you done?" He asked calmly.
"Far from it!" Hollow shouted as he tried to lurch to his feet, but Death planted his foot on the younger man's chest and pushed him back down.
"I think you are," Death told him.
"Like hell I am!" Hollow shouted as he continued to struggle vainly.
Death sighed, "Just admit defeat for once won't you? It might make it easier when I take you back home."
"That place isn't my home and you know it!" Hollow shouted back at him.
Death closed his eyes and inhaled deeply before they shot open and another shockwave ripped through the area, cracking the stone of the overpass above. A dark, inky aura began to manifest around Death as he spoke.
"You have done nothing but cause trouble since the day you discovered your powers. I understand Chaos had a hand in that, and I apologize for not being there for you. Had I known that you had those latent abilities things would've been far different, but in case it wasn't known to you, I was dead at the time of your awakening. I've been searching for you to bring you home and show you what you can truly do. If you'd listen to me instead of just assuming I'm trying to kill you, you'd realize that."
Hollow glared up at Death, "were… you really dead?" he asked after a moment.
"Yes, I died fighting Chaos ten years ago during the war," Death said.
Realizing Hollow had calmed down he removed his foot, but was ready in case Hollow tried something.
Hollow loosened the grip on his scythe. "Mom… she-"
"I know."
Hollow began to tear up, "I… I just… I wanted to belong somewhere, you know? Chaos offered me a place by his side, I just… I didn't know… I was so confused."
"I know, and I'm sorry you had to go through that. But I'm here now. If you'll come back with me we can see that you're properly trained and taken care of," Death told him.
Hollow nodded. "I suppose I should stand down now?"
"Not quite," Death nodded towards Touka and Mado.
Hollow looked over to see Mado nearly hit Touka and force her back.
"Oh… right. You said he was going to die?"
Death nodded, "Technically, Touka will find a way, but I don't think she'd mind if we gave her some help,"
He winked at Hollow as he offered a hand. Hollow took it and he was pulled up to his feet.
"So… before we go diving into another fight, can I ask you something?" Death asked.
Hollow nodded.
"Why stand down now?" Death asked.
Hollow opened his mouth to speak but seemed to reconsider as he closed it again and thought for a moment.
"Well, you're my dad, right? Plus, you're the good guys. I knew what I was doing with Chaos was wrong, but I didn't have anywhere else to go. Every time I've fought one of you Guardians they're coming at me trying to kill me… you didn't," Hollow explained.
Death nodded his understanding.
"I could hardly try to kill my son now could I?" He put a hand on Hollow's head and ruffled his hair.
"Now, I believe we have a mission to complete," Death nodded toward Mado again.
Hollow nodded and his manic grin came over his face, "lead the way,"
Death let a smile creep onto his face before readying his scythe.
"You go right and help Touka draw his attention. I'll go left and take him from behind,"
Hollow nodded and the two kicked off in their respective directions.
Mado laughed as he made Touka leap away again.
"This isn't a very engaging battle like this you know?" Mado shouted.
"How about I help with that!" Hollow shouted as he flew towards Mado.
"Nice try boy!" Mado brought the shield around to block the attack.
"Touka! Some help here if you wouldn't mind!" Hollow shouted as he slashed his scythe blade into the shield and held it in place.
"Right!" Touka shouted as she charged at Mado.
"Fine! If you insist on an unfair fight!" Mado shouted as he sent the whip towards Touka, who dodged it while continuing her charge.
Mado stepped to the side as Touka swung at him.
"Not bad! But you'll have to try harder than that!" Mado said as he kicked off Touka and gained some space.
"It seems you're forgetting something," Death told him as Mado slid to a stop.
His eyes widened as he looked over his shoulder just in time for Death to cut him in half at the waist.
Mado let out a strangled cry as he collapsed.
"Not bad you two," Death said as he spun his scythe and planted the handle in the dirt.
"You two couldn't have done that sooner?" Touka asked between pants while she caught her breath.
"Sorry, father-son bonding moment," Hollow said with a grin as he put his hands behind his head, his scythe leaning on his shoulder.
"We should go get Kaneki and get out of here before more arrive," Death told them.
They both looked at him in surprise. "How do you know there'll be more?" Hollow asked.
"Mado likely reported his siting of you before you engaged. More agents are probably already on the way, and we don't have much time left after being wrapped up in that fight," Death explained.
Hollow nodded, "Lead the way,"
Touka stood up straight and turned back the way she'd come.
"He was fighting another agent back this way," she explained leading the way.
The two followed her, and as they exited the underpass they saw Kaneki standing near the river.
"Kaneki!" Touka shouted.
He seemed to snap out of a daze and turned to them.
The trio approached and Kaneki looked at Hollow,
"I take it the situation has changed?" He asked.
Death nodded, "Yes, Hollow turned over to our side, but where's the other agent?"
"He left, I thought I heard something coming from his earpiece, but I couldn't be sure," Kaneki told them.
"He left? That doesn't seem right if more agents are on the way," Hollow said.
Death nodded as he put his hand on his chin, "Yes… that is strange… well, at this point, we're safe to retreat to the cafe. Let's make our way there shall we?"
The others nodded and Death led the way back to the café, summoning his mask once they were back on the streets.
As they left, unbeknownst to the group, they were being watched.
"So, that's that hm? Betrayed by my own apprentice. Such a shame," A man's voice spoke from under a black hood.
"So I take it you're going to help us to get back him?" Another voice, a young man's.
"I am, but not now. We need to prepare our plans, we can't just pick a fight without thinking ahead," the man said.
"Given your name, I thought that'd be your plan," The younger man responded.
The man laughed, "While my name is Chaos, it doesn't mean I revel in it. Come Juuzou, we have to report Mado's death to your command," Chaos turned his back on Death's group.
Juuzou nodded and followed.