The Quinx of Change

Summary: As the Rose family is being investigated, as well as the Quinx's involvement in the case, Hide's enthusiasm becomes more mundane, but after a visit from a confused Kaneki, his hope his brought back up, telling him to wait longer, his friend is coming back. But through it all lies some sad truths. Even Hide, the optimistic guy he is, knew that the truth was often sad and depressing. What could you expect? This wasn't supposed to be their fight at all. This wasn't supposed to happen to them.

CCG Headquarter's (With Hide)

It was something Hide was sure he could do. A couple months after the events, and life returned to normal for almost everyone in the CCG.

The Quinx Squad had resumed its missions, with a particular family in Germany being the main topic of discussion here. In all truth, Hide did not care in the slightest. He was losing interest in this.

As months past with Hide working in the CCG, he had gotten rather bored with the life. Looking at documents and stuff to look for specific ghouls who were deemed a threat to humanity. Hide just didn't have the same enthusiasm as before. Maybe it was the fact that looking for Kaneki was what drove him into looking forwards, Hide wasn't completely sure.

All he knew was that he had another round of sparring to do with Touka and Yomo. It was moments like these that helped Hide get through his relatively repetitive day, as the daily fighting made his brain work and his mind focus outside of mundane topics.

Hide had continued to give them information about Kaneki and Hinami, alongside other information, like what the CCG was planning. He had told them about the Rose Family Investigation, and the Quinx Squad's involvement. He had done his own work, in hopes that he would be accepted further.

However, he knew that it was ultimately in vein.

He had participated in what the feast to celebrate his comrade's promotion. While Hide hadn't risen the ranks as quickly due to his late entry and his past and skepticism within the CCG, he was at least looked at as a respectable investigator, and thus was allowed to participate alongside the rest of the Quinx Squad.

That is, until he voluntarily left, feeling the stares of some top-class investigators, who clearly were still holding onto his actions from those years ago. He had already paid the price, and made a deal with the CCG reaper, the highest of the highest, therefore they should not voice opposition. And indeed, they don't vocally, but indirectly through their body language. Hide had just decided not to be within their vision anymore, and despite the pleas and confusion of the rest of the Quinx Squad, he left.

This was the common theme whenever Hide was with the Quinx Squad. He would always participate within their ranks, but due to outside pressure, he would leave to his own devices, and while he was usually allowed without too much complaint from anyone, he did feel bad for the others alongside him who probably were berated for his presence.

But Hide wasn't a sensitive person, he was open, and understood their concerns, even if the time is being stretched too much.

As Hide took a sigh of relief outside, he looked outside to see the world around him. Once covered in a thin blanket of white snow, was now rather cleaned up, the spring flowers on the brink of its apex, with the clouds showing a desire to let loose some rain. They don't call it April showers for a reason.

He heard the sound of footsteps, which mildly surprised him. He had not expected anyone to follow him outside, unless they were leaving. But these footsteps were getting a bit louder, clearly telling the boy that someone was approaching him.

Hide put his head up, and to his surprise was met with the face of Arima.

"A-Arima..." Hide started, acknowledging his presence, the stoic reaper of the CCG remaining true to his nature.

Arima merely looked at Hide, "Hideyoshi, it's about Haise."

Hide flinched, clearly getting a bit sensitive around him whenever that name was brought up.

Hide stuttered, "W-what's wrong with him?"

Arima continued with his stoic tone, which made Hide wish he was talking with more expression, "He's been having some flashbacks, and I should ask if you are responsible for this."

Hide already knew what he was getting at. He had already had these occasional conversations, whenever Kaneki got those flashbacks with his memories. Hide knew whenever that happened, Arima and him would have a talk.

"No, I have no responsibility for that. I had held my part of the deal." Hide replied with an equally serious tone to Arima's.

Arima responded afterwards, "I know how much you want your best friend back, so there is a lot of benefits to that."

Hide sighed, it was kind of a repeat of what they had already discussed. "I told you this before, and I'll tell you this again. Regardless of him being my friend, I'll let him get his memories back through his own. I do not want to cause him any shock, so when he wants to learn, he'll do it by his own."

Arima looked at Hide in skepticism, but sighed, ultimately knowing he had been keeping his part of the deal they had made.

Hide then continued, "What exactly is he having flashbacks about?" It was true, that he was curious, hoping that in any way possible, he could help Kaneki with his own problems. After all, this was why he got himself involved in the first place.

Arima looked away, his face turning towards the building before he walked back there, leaving a confused Hide in his wake.

Hide merely sighed, before deciding to go towards :re, as he had a meeting scheduled with Touka and Yomo, another sparring match, which made Hide more excited than he had been in a while.

Hide made his way over towards the coffee shop, where he would be going over for a fight, ironically rather than a coffee. He definitely was not the usual customer, which made scheduling a bit tight, but he didn't mind. He liked making time with them.

Ever since he had found Touka and the others again, he had felt more comfortable at the cafeteria, rather than the actual CCG area, and the Chateau. Perhaps it was because of his previous ties to ghouls, that he was being ostracized for, he didn't really want to think too much of it.

Of course, with the obvious updates to Kaneki and Hinami, they clearly valued Hide's presence for other reasons than just the fact that he was Kaneki's friend.

Another sparring match was finished, and this time Hide had managed to get some better strikes onto Yomo and Touka. While he didn't see himself beating them anytime soon, he was at least glad he was standing out as his own fighter, his ability to use his kagune more ineptly well, as he continued learning new things.

During his fight with Takizawa, he had learned that he could use his rc cells to crystallize an armor-like limb to help in the defense for close range combat. It was a nice tactic he had going with him, but it did use quite the energy from him. Even with his overall kagune, it seemed that in addition to being able to crystallize in mass, creating an armour plate that could deflect many blows, he was also able to crystallize them in multiple shapes.

He had even tried to mimic common simple weapons, including a bow. However, he eventually realized that it was too difficult, and it costed a lot of rc cells. So instead, he stuck with making his crystallized rc cells sharp on the edges, and turning them into blades, which could damage even ghouls themselves.

Though, being a ukaku, this wasn't any more than just typical, Hide just thought that he probably needed stamina training, which definitely included long distance running, jump roping and swimming. Yes, even the last one was a surprise to Hide, which he didn't mind. Maybe then, he would be able to create a replica of a bow or something. For now, he was going to focus on close combat. In the range department, he could probably just fire them out like any normal ukaku ghoul.

Still, being an ukaku that could fight, and preferred close range, was an anomaly. Still, if it helped him overall with beating his enemies, then he did not mind it whatsoever.

And so, for the first time in perhaps forever, Hide found himself with a figure that matched that of a fighter. He wasn't over the top muscular, like Amon, or threatening like Yomo, but he definitely had the evidence of exercise and training, and it certainly paid off in the end.

Hide smiled, as he felt his mind actually being excited. This was what he needed as a celebration, something interesting to do. Not be looked upon by the others to emphasize your past, right and wrong. He was sick of people looking down on others for their past, but knew that that was how the world worked. There was no way to stop that.

As he began to walk across the street, his sweat still falling a bit after the workout, he looked at the overall street, the quietness, which in a way was a bit eerie but calm.

It did not matter however, as Hide felt more confident, and while he still had the voice of Amber in his head, it only came up whenever he was around a dangerous ghoul. Even Touka, Yomo, Hinami and Nishiki, Amber rarely spoke up whenever Hide was around. Perhaps she realized that these ghouls were people Hide was not going to eat, ever.

Of course, it didn't mean Hide was no longer talking to Amber, whenever he was asleep, she was still there, talking to Hide, trying to coerce him into her ways. But he continuously declined the offer, wanting to remain himself.

Of course, there was the risk that it would not last long. The risk of his kakuhou breaking his barrier, separating it from his bloodstream and the rest of his body, which could release the rc cells in his system, either causing an overload too quickly that would kill him, or turn him into a ghoul after a bit.

Hide ultimately decided to go back to the Chateau, to wait on the rest of the Quinx Squad, before he found himself getting an early sleep. He was getting used to the whole schedule, but felt incomplete with his current life.

Throughout the days, he had continued the little schedule after investigations and meetings. He would essentially visit the coffee shop before he would spar Touka and Yomo, before heading back to the Chateau.

Through this, and the occasional spar Haise would do, Hide had showcased his strength, which while surpassed that of the other members, were still unable to defeat his leader and friend. With that friend in particular stating, he always felt that Hide was holding back.

It was a half-truth, as in part due to the fact that Amber would always show up and momentarily distract him, telling him some ghoul-related stuff and how to be one, letting it out and even going as far as to tempt Hide into eating his friend. Though, it was also the fact that he feared hurting his friend, even if he did not see it.

It was a week after did Hide find himself at what appears to be a shop. He had decided to take a different route back to the Chateau, deciding to enjoy the nice air and atmosphere given to him before he had found himself here.

Hide shrugged, not really caring, he had some money, before entering the shop. It was here did Hide immediately realize it was a mask shop, his memory coming back to something.

Helter Skelter

"Uta, that was his name, right?" Hide asked himself, as he looked around, seeing all the masks in display. Hide had to admit, they really looked good, especially with the lighting, it really made them stand out.

As he looked around, the voice of Amber began to play in his mind, alerting him of an individual being within this vicinity.

"Ooh, I smell a metal ghoul, a metal ghoul? That's different..." Amber's voice played, which itself did confuse Hide, a metal ghoul?

It quickly came across to Hide that it was probably Uta, with all his piercings and all.

Hide sighed, "Uta! I know you're in this shop! I can smell you!"

Hide quickly saw the blanket near him move, and to his shock, making a small yelp see Uta appear almost out of thin air.

"Well, that's a surprise, you did consider my offer, did you?" Uta asked, looking at Hide with his weird eyes.

"Well, sure I guess but it was more that I came across not knowing this was a mask shop." Hide replied.

Uta merely shrugged, not giving in to Hide's comments, "Seems like you despise me. At least pretend to like me."

Hide looked on in surprise, "Hey wait wha-"

But Uta commented, preventing Hide from finishing his outcry, "But anyways, I guess I'll begin to take your measurements as I ask you some questions." He replied, beginning to take out some measuring tape.

Hide looked on, a bit confused at what was going on, but shrugged. "So, what kind of questions would you be asking me?"

Uta faked a chuckle, "Idiot, it's me who asks the questions in this time, not you."

Hide just stayed silent as the pierced individual got his measurements. "So, any girlfriend in your life?" Uta asked out of nowhere which clearly made Hide skip a breath, causing him to cough a bit.

"What?" Hide asked, faking a chuckle, confused at the sudden question he had been asking.

"You heard me very well." Uta replied, very nonchalantly which made this conversation even more awkward than it needed to be.

Hide shrugged, "Well if you're asking that then no, though the staff at Big Girl are all very cute."

Uta chuckled at the comment Hide had made, "Is that like your favourite place to go?"

Hide nodded, "Yeah, Kaneki and I used to always go there, before, you know-"

Uta merely stayed silent at Hide's comment, not wanting to say anything out of the blue.

"Became a ghoul, then he couldn't eat there without vomiting, so yeah. I did bring another coworker with me there once, and then he turned into a ghoul. It's almost like a curse. Anyone I bring to Big Girl, they become a ghoul." Hide chuckled at the situational irony he had made up for himself.

"Very interesting indeed, as for your case, it has come to my mind that you have a kakuhou inside you?" Uta asked, and Hide flinched, forgetting some important features.

Hide then offhandedly mentioned, "Wait a minute, why are we asking these kinds of questions?"

Uta shrugged, "It helps with making the masks. If I get to know my customers, the better the mask will turn out."

Hide looked at Uta, a bit unsure before nodding in understanding, "Alright then, are there by any chance half masks you make?"

Uta nodded, "Just like your best friend? He asked for one, and I provided him with one, so yeah I make those as well."

Hide nodded, a bit thankful. "Maybe a simply crow mask would be nice."

Uta nodded, "I can definitely see that in you, considering I was watching one of your spars."

Hide flinched, "You saw that?"

Uta laughed a bit, "Yeah, I have to admit, the orange wings fit your style well."

Hide chuckled, not really taking it into account. "Then I'll just be like a bird."

Uta nodded, "That's exactly what I was thinking. These masks are sometimes very symbolic, as they determine what the doves call us. Your friend, Kaneki was called Eyepatch, curtesy of the mask I got him."

Hide took it into account, if he was a ghoul and had the CCG after him, he'd probably be named after a bird, as the mask could be the main distinguishable feature, alongside he others.

"Perhaps ghouls could get more? To kind of play with them?" Hide asked.

Uta shrugged, "The opportunity is there, but many stick to the one as it makes them feel wanted in a sense."

"I see..." Hide mumbled after a bit, not really understanding though. He felt that he'd be getting in a useless conversation that he didn't understand because he wasn't a part of the ghoul world.

Just as Uta finally finished his measurements of Hide, he then gave Hide a time when the pick up or when he would drop off his mask. "I can come pick it up around this time. The later the better."

Uta then shook his head, "I cannot run the shop around that time."

"Then why now and today?" Hide asked.

"Because some of the days I do not have to run errands." Uta replied.

Hide nodded, understanding before he was planning on leaving. But before he could, he found the door opening in his face.

"Ack!" Hide groaned as he felt the door smack him right in his face.

"Oh, my apologies." The voice was familiar to Hide, very familiar, and he quickly recognized it as someone he knew.

To his surprise, when he opened his eyes after lessening the pain, he met face to face with a very familiar face.

"Kaneki..." Hide thought as he spotted his white-haired friend at the entrance.

"I-I'm fine, it's okay." Hide mentioned, as he watched as Kaneki/Haise walked towards Uta.

In part, Hide was a bit nervous, hoping Uta wouldn't get caught by Kaneki, who was a CCG investigator after all.

Instead, to Hide's surprise, he pulls out a mask, which intrigued him to a degree, looking at Uta.

"This mask was delivered to my house from this shop." Haise stated, clearly a bit confused looking at the mask, as if he was trying to figure something out about it.

Uta took the mask, looking at it, before commenting, "I did send this to an address, perhaps I got it wrong?"

Hide looked on the two conversing, noting Haise's mind clearly a bit confused. Hide knew the mask in that hand belonged to Kaneki, and perhaps seeing it was bringing some of his memories back. Despite this, Hide continued to just listen and look on.

Haise turned to Hide, clearly a bit confused, "What are you doing here Hideyoshi?"

Hide then turned, realizing he was being called, "Oh, I was just placing an order for my own custom mask, that's all, this place is pretty good at that."

Haise nodded, "I see," He said, turning to Uta. "You make custom masks? Like make them?"

Uta nodded, "Yes, I can." Was all he said, before Haise looked up at Uta's eyes.

Hide could understand what Kaneki was getting at, with Uta's uncharacteristic eyes.

"Say, what's going on with your eyes?" Haise asked.

Uta merely pointed to them, "They're tattoos, the colours fade after a bit."

Both Kaneki and Hide cringed at the sight of that, "Sounds painful." They both said simultaneously.

Uta merely shrugged, "It hurt at first, but you get over it. The first is always the worst."

Hide shrugged, "Makes sense."

Uta then pointed to the mask in his hands, before giving it back to Haise, who looked confused.

"You can keep it." Uta stated at last, not paying attention to the confused look Haise was giving him.

"Are you sure?" Haise asked.

Uta smiled, "Not really, fate brought the two of you here after all, so just take it."

Haise looked at the mask, clearly confused, before accepting it, and beginning to walk out. "Hideyoshi, follow me." He stated, and Hide was a bit nervous.

"Uh, sure." Was all he said, before saying bye to the store owner.

Once the two got out of the store, Hide looked to see his best friend giving him a strange look.

"Is there anything you need to talk about?" Hide asked his best friend, who acted more like a coworker.

Haise nodded, "What were you doing in there?"

Hide shrugged, "Like I said, getting a mask, I thought it would be useful."

Haise looked on, clearly a bit confused by the mask he had in his possession right now.

"Is there something wrong?" Hide asked, to which Haise sighed.

"I feel like I had this before, and I clearly did. But instead, I used it. I don't know, whenever I look at this, I feel some memories coming back."

Hide looked at his best friend in pity, knowing very well what he was going through. Regardless, he had to let his best friend find his way on his own. Even the others, Touka and Yomo agreed to this.

"Well, what exactly does it remind you of?" Hide asked, and watched as his friend clearly try to struggle.

"It's more like this voice in my head, that keeps taunting me and telling me about it, how apparently I used to wear it." Haise stated.

Hide nodded, mainly because that statement was true. Kaneki was dubbed eyepatch by the CCG and Hide had quickly figured it out, with the body configurations further matching him, the only exception being his hair colour, a stark difference then Hide was used to.

But the voice in his head? It sounded eerily familiar to Hide, with his own issue with Amber. However, Hide had acknowledged that the voice in his head was his subconscious, the ghoul in him, whereas Kaneki's was different.

"So, this voice in your head-" Hide stated, trying to get him to talk.

"I don't really know, to this day I still have issues regarding it."

Hide could clearly see in this, that his friend needed more research to figure out his past. To figure out himself before he could realize himself. The recovery from amnesia is a far journey, and some may never recover, and those who do may miss a chunk of their lives.

Hide could only hope that his friend got it back sooner rather than later.

"But." Hide turned around to his friend, who had uttered that word.

"Yes?" Hide asked.

"You, Hideyoshi Nagachika." His friend stated, causing Hide's full attention to reach his friend.

"That's my full name." He commented, giving his white-haired companion a small smile.

Haise nodded, already knowing that, "I already know that, but I feel like you had a nickname."

Hide flinched, "A nickname?"

"Yes, but that's not all." He started, "I feel like I knew you from before."

At that Hide flinched, clearly not expecting those exact words. To think his best friend was finally beginning to have his suspicions on him was a bit surprising. Considering the time, he had spent getting used to it, he now had his amnesiac best friend somewhat recognizing him.

Hide sighed, "Well for the nickname, you kind of called me one when we were fighting that ghoul."

The white-haired individual then raised an eyebrow, clearly not recognizing what he meant.

Hide sighed, "When that ghoul knocked you out, I defended you."

Hide looked to see that his friend was beginning to understand, "Oh, that ghoul."

Hide nodded, "Yeah, I think you just said it out of exhaustion, but my nickname was Hide."

"Hide?"

The orange-haired felt his skin fill with goosebumps, as he watched the reaction of his best friend calling him by his actual nickname for the first time.

It truly was something he wasn't ready for. Kind of like watching a kid grow up quicker than you think.

There was a lot of times Hide had wished he could talk to his best friend, but ironically this wasn't one of them.

"So, can I call you Hide?" The boy asked, and Hide felt himself flinch again.

"Y-yeah you can." Hide stated at last.

"Okay, Hide?" Hide turned to see Kaneki asking him a question.

"Yes? What is it?" Hide asked his friend.

That friend in question clearly was struggling, "What is our connection prior to the CCG?" He asked at last, and Hide knew he had to answer.

Hide pondered, clearly trying to think his next words very carefully. He could either be honest and tell his friend directly, risking their health, or indirectly, making him more curious into delving further.

He wouldn't be exactly breaking his compromise by telling Kaneki his past, but instead encourage him to research more.

Hide sighed, "Well, for that, I just cannot answer that."

"And why is that?"

Hide looked to his best friend, "To be honest, there are some things that you need to find before you talk to me about this."

His best friend clearly was confused, what did Hide mean by that? "So do you know anything about me?"

Hide looked down, "I cannot confirm nor deny it. What I can tell you instead is to look into your past, confront Arima and Akira before you contact me. I just cannot tell you anything. The things you want to find, you need to do on your own. I cannot help you with that."

He watched as Kaneki/Haise looked at Hide, clearly trying to determine what this person was, not just now, but also in his past.

For Haise, his past was clearly confusing him. Trying to figure out what happened, regarding him and how he grew up. With the little voice in his head making, it even worse.

"Who am I?" The white-haired asked, and Hide could only look on in pity, really wanting to answer, but knowing he couldn't.

Hide asked him clearly, "Who do you think you are?" Hide asked.

His friend thought, "I'm Haise Sasaki, but the voice in my head's name is Ken Kaneki."

Hide's eyes widened in realization. "So, he does know." he thought, a bit surprised.

"Could Kaneki perhaps be the ghoul in him now?" Hide asked himself mentally, trying to understand the situation Hide was in.

"So, then that's who you are. Like I said, if you are confused, confront Arima and Akira. I cannot be the one to tell you." Hide said at last.

The entire time, the two were walking together through the streets. For Hide it really reminded him of the simpler days. When the two were the best of friend, walking with each other in school, talking to each other with ease. Their friendship at that time was there, and fully functioning.

Now, while they still had the ability to walk together, their friendship was unlike anything that it used to be. This time, it was clearly one sided. One friend thought of the other as his best friend, while the other merely saw the other as a coworker, not knowing of the two's past interactions and friendship.

It was incredibly difficult for Hide, to pretend this scenario, to pretend to be himself, when he was ultimately hurting, just wishing to get his best friend back.

"I had asked them before, but they haven't really given me any extra information." The white-haired said at last, taking Hide out of his thoughts.

Hide sighed, "Well, there you go. Just keep searching through your head to the best of your ability. Like I said, I cannot tell you what you want to hear, I can only let you go at your own pace."

He clearly did not want that answer, and frankly, neither did Hide. He wanted his best friend back as soon as he could. But regardless, he was making improvement, he was remembering, if it was abstract and distant.

For Hide, who had felt his job and life becoming more mundane by the minute, things like this gave Hide the reminder why he was here in the first place.

He was waiting for his best friend, he was waiting for him to remember him, to become Kaneki, his best friend again. Where they can go back to their lives. Even though Hide knew their lives were inevitably changed for the rest of their lives, Hide knew he had to keep moving forward.

If this story was their tragedy, they had to make the most out of what they were given.

"You're getting stronger, it's impressive." The Quinx leader stated after a bit, shocking Hide at the topic change.

He scratched his head, chuckling, "Well thanks, I appreciate the compliment. I've been training these nights if that's what you want to know."

The white-haired raised an eyebrow, "What exactly are you training? Like fundamentals?"

Hide nodded, "Yeah, mostly training to help my body. There're things like stamina and strength that I need to improve on, that's all."

"Well then where'd the skill in your kagune come from?"

Hide flinched, not expecting that question, but also knew he should have anticipated that.

Hide sighed, "It's something I don't want to explain, but there's a sort of, feeling that makes me use it."

"What feeling?"

Hide looked to his best friend, who had a more sorrowful tone, rather than a skeptical.

Hide sighed, with that look he could not keep it a secret.

"I'll tell you later, but in short, I have my own voice in my head." Was all Hide said.

While his best friend wanted to ask further what he meant, as he clearly could understand what Hide was going through, he himself having a voice in his head but before he could, he opened the door to the Chateau.

They had spent this entire time walking back from the store as they talked, and they had just made it back.

The white-haired Quinx leader merely looked at Hide's defeated look, as he continued to stand there, a bit confused as Hide walked in.

While Haise/Kaneki was confused at what Hide meant, Hide was in a more precarious state.

Ignoring the rest of the Quinx squad, who called to Hide, Shirazu and Mutsuki in particular, calling out to their friend in concern, Hide went up in his room, locking the door, as he slid down in the corner of his room.

Hide sighed, clearly depressed at the conversation with his friend.

While he had hoped to have something like that again after all those times, and tribulations, but this was different. With this example, Hide knew that regardless of what he wanted, he knew that ultimately everything had changed to much for them to have what they had previously, simply classmates at a post-secondary school.

Before Hide knew it, he began to get teary, as he thought about his best friend, whom he cared deeply about.

"Kaneki..." He mumbled ever so silent, even in this state he had made sure to keep his voice quiet.

"You have so many people waiting for you, please come back." Hide thought as his tears became more abundant.

At the end of the day, regardless of how hard they tried, Hide simply knew that their friendship would probably never recover.

The scenes of all their rough times replaying in his head, from their little moments in school, their introduction, the coffee shop, to them fated meeting during the Owl Suppression Operation, there was simply too much for them to recover.

Hide put his head in his arm, as he let his tears out, not wanting to let the others hear her out, yet he wasn't completely sad.

He was somewhat content, somewhat surprised and somewhat shocked. It wasn't just a negative emotion that hit Hide, but rather an unstable balance of emotions, too much for Hide to handle. Despite all of his positive outlook, he knew even he had reached his limits.

He could only wonder what his amnesiac white-haired friend was thinking this entire time, but knowing his state, he couldn't.

But still, at the very least he got the chance to talk to his best friend, like the old times, before all the drama that ensued.

Even with the chance of having a conversation with his friend, he ultimately knew that things were probably not going to be same.

Things were never going to be the same, the damage was too much. Even if it healed, the scars were still going to be there, an ugly marking reminded the victims of their haunted past.

Despite the need to return to normal, they were never going to get it.

Perhaps that was the tragedy in their story after all.

Why did they have to go through this? Why did Hide himself have to watch over and do nothing, as Kaneki was the one to suffer again. When could he actually be useful, and not fail his best friend?

A.N / Chapter 14 is finished, with regards to the manga, ending around chapter 38. I decided to bring some of perspective into Kaneki/Haise. It was difficult in terms of identity, and thus was why I frequently referred to Kaneki/Haise as, white-haired, leader, descriptions that are well known for him. Regardless, for Hide, he still sees Kaneki, while the reader is supposed to see Haise. That's the idea. You may see this, by a certain note in this story. As for the future, I do have a good idea for what happens to Hide, and it does give a more alternative route. We'll see around chapter 50-60, and there's something major that happens to a character here, just to let you know.

Flame Body.

Shapeshift.

X Flames.

Flaming Pellets.

Fiery Drift.