Kaneki was actually feeling like he might be successful in finding the Ghoul Restaurant. And then he saw Kuri.
She was tossed in front of him in the Ghoul Restaurant.
"This human is Miko." Gourmet announced. "The one who seals the kagune at Cochlea. Our hated enemy."
"I protect ghouls! I'm the reason the CCG can't murder you without cause! I—"
Kick! She was broken in front of him. Kaneki caught his woman in his arms and whispered, "I'll protect you."
But he had no idea how to do that. He'd practiced fighting with Yomo, but still, without his kagune, he had no chance against the scrapper.
Kuri's hand stretched out. "B-b-binding Feathers…run, Kaneki. I'll hold him."
Kaneki stared at her, straining, broken, yet still fighting, for him. He closed his eyes against the painful sight.
"No. I'm not running." He got into a stance, ready to fight.
The binding shattered, and Taro came at him with a saw.
Kaneki dodged back and forth, and the saw drove into the wall.
He started feeling dizzy and collapsed. Taro cornered him, and he started to black out.
He felt a burst of power as his kakugan activated and knocked Taro into the ground.
"Heavenly barrage!" A torrent of feathers struck the fallen scrapper.
The crowd murmured. What was that? It looked like a kagune, but it was different. Was it a quinque? It was attached to her body, but it was unlike anything they'd seen…the feathers were removable, for one.
Kaneki struggled towards her, just barely catching her. As she lost consciousness, the attack went out of control, targeting the audience, and chaos broke out.
Gourmet came and helped them out. "As you had everything under control, you can now see that this was a rather humorous joke."
Kaneki glared at him. "She's hurt. It's not funny."
Gourmet persisted. "Yes but she was so strong, and so we're you. I'm impressed. And the Ghoul World will never threaten her again, I guarantee it."
"Alright then. If they do…" Kaneki leveled his gaze, causing Gourmet to shiver. "On your head be it."