Well…here we are. I know that for some of you, this was a long journey to get here. Good news: there's still a little bit more journey to experience. Both this chapter and the next one Bad news: the hiatus will last until next year, at the earliest. I know it's a long wait, but real life beckons. At least, you all deserve one hell of a midseason finale. And here it is.
Haise gets kidnapped by Harada and gets taken to an unknown location. While Shuu is recovering in the manor, Mirumo makes a drastic decision for the sake of his son. Meanwhile, Yukio makes her way to the X-Force to deliver pertinent about the why of Yashida Industries interference of their team. Get ready…because this is where the shit hits the fan.
Chapter 13 – source: sinking into nothing…
(Earlier this morning)
Investigator Ui walked toward the main office of Chairman Tsuneyoshi Washuu, alongside Ihei and Hisako. Hisako asked,
"Sir, did you uncover any new leads on Rosé before thinking of asking Chairman Washuu to do what you said last night?"
Ui explained why.
"I have. I possess significant information that Rosé is connected…with the Tsukiyama group."
Ihei remarked,
"That's a pretty large target, sir."
"Well, it's for good reason. They're a corporate giant that stayed in business for a century. They even survived the zaibatsu conglomerates dissolution of the 1940's. Even after the turmoil of the bubble economy in the late 1980's, they still continue to financially perform to this day."
Ui handed his case file to Hisako before asking,
"Investigator Ichiki, would you be kind as to list all industries as stated in the file?"
"Yes sir."
Hisako opened the file as the trio entered the elevator.
"They have their hands in almost every industry. Food production, precious metals acquisitions, steel productions, chemical research, technology; both regular and bio, and even…medical facilities…"
"And a ghoul is in charge of all of it?"
asked Ihei.
"They've probably used the medical facilities Investigator Ichiki mentioned to falsify their records. Only a ghoul-run corporation with significant ties could pull off such a feat."
Ihei had a childish look on her face as she says,
"And we're going to end them just like that…that's a depressing way to go…"
Hisako then asked as she returned the file to Ui,
"But a major company like the Tsukiyama group will undoubtedly use their legal resources to stop such a bold move like the one we're going to do?"
"True, as separate but equal agents of the government, we cannot do anything to imply an abuse of executive powers…but I also gained another piece of evidence."
Ui then showed Hisako of Harada facing a ghoul a broad daylight.
"Is that…?"
"Yes, it is. Harada must've brought in some of Ichiro Yashida's…personal security to assist in recovering Haise. I intend to confront him about it."
As Ui placed the photo back in the file, he then says to Hisako,
"In retrospect, your displacement from the X-Force…might've been a blessing in disguise…"
"How so, sir?"
"Honestly…I wish that squad didn't exist…"
A little shocked, Hisako asked,
"Why exactly?"
Ui took a moment until he spoke,
"The Bureau sanctioned the creation of the Quinx project because of both the escalating threat of the ghouls…and the D'Ken incident. And yet, they've begun to attract more attention to the Bureau."
Ihei listened closely.
"Although their record is undeniable, their existence is…troubling…and for the record, I'm not Assistant Investigator Washuu. I'm not saying this because I have a bias to enhanced individuals or mutants…"
"Okay…"
Said Hisako in an apprehensive tone.
"I'm speaking from the heart when I say that my views of the Quinxes are akin to what the creators of the Sokovia Accords felt. They need to be reined in before they cause a disaster that might deal a deathblow to the Bureau."
Hisako asked,
"Don't you think that's pushing it a little?"
"Perhaps…but Haise Yashida as their leader, it becomes a question of not if, but when…"
Hisako feared that Ui's distaste for Haise would take him to a place that he won't know is bad for him. Soon, the trio made it to the Chairman's office. The door opened by itself as Hisako, Ihei, and Ui all met with Tsuneyoshi Washuu for the operation. Ui spoke to him,
"Chairman Washuu, thank you for taking the time to speak with us."
"From what you described, it sounded vital."
"It is sir. Per regulations, we've spoken to the VP of the Tsukiyama group last week. From the call alone, they acted a lot more upset than your typical financial representative. Thus, the possibility of the VP acting a part in hiding their president's identity becomes apparent. We ask for the containment unit to limit all media coverage. During the Investigation, we intend to conduct a comprehensive RC screening for every employee within every facility the group owns."
"Sounds like a well-thought plan you've created, Investigator Ui."
"Thank you, sir."
"Unfortunately…I believe it has become a redundant course of action…"
Confused, Ui asked,
"Sir?"
Tsuneyoshi brought out a tablet to display a news broadcast. The broadcast reported on sudden fires breaking out on buildings and facilities owned by the Tsukiyama group, even the manor owned by Mirumo Tsukiyama burned to the ground. The report further reported that the Tsukiyama group suddenly got de-listed from every major stock exchange in the country. Ui felt that he was beaten to the punch, and it filled him with such anger.
"I can only imagine what you must be feeling right now, Investigator Ui. I can only offer my condolences for this unfortunate turn of events."
Hisako and Ihei looked at Ui with worry. Ui hid his anger as best he could when he responded,
"Thank you, Chairman. Please excuse us."
As the trio exited the room, Ui wanted to find some much-needed release. Unfortunately, what waited for them outside the Chairman's office was Assistant Special Investigator Washuu. Hisako thought to herself,
"Great. Here comes the salt…"
Restraining his anger, Ui says to him,
"Investigator Washuu, can I help you with something?"
"I just wanted to offer you my…sympathies…"
"Is that right?"
"You just wanted the credit, you damned hyena…"
"Of course. I can't imagine the audacity these ghouls possessed…"
"I wanna see you writhe, you Arima-worshipping punk…"
"The fact that they did this is proof enough of their ghoul status…"
"I suppose so…please excuse us…"
Before they headed to the elevator, Matsuri gave one more remark that felt rather biting.
"Guess that's the price you pay for justice? If you ask me, you're in the wrong place for that kind of bullshit!"
Hisako knew how devoted Ui was to the concept of justice. For Matsuri to say it in such a snide and deriding tone of voice made Ui's anger rise to new heights. As he left, Hisako attempted to ease his anger by telling him,
"Let's head to the training room. Work out your frustration."
Ui gave a steady exhale before replying,
"Thank you…"
The trio soon made it to the Main Office's training room. Hisako stood behind the nearest punching bag she could find and waited for Ui to start. Ui took off his upper work clothes, wearing nothing but an undershirt. He then started to punch his anger away. Ihei watched as she felt a measure of sadness for her superior.
"Fucking ghouls…they humiliated Koori like it was nothing…"
Ui kept on hitting the punching bag, showing no sign of getting tired. During the punching, Hisako talked to him.
"I imagine Assistant Special Investigator Washuu was out of line for what he said earlier?"
Ui stopped punching for a moment to respond.
"It's not just what he said…"
Ui punched a little more while continuing.
"He's nothing more than a microcosm of the…flaws in the Bureau itself."
"Flaws?"
asked Ihei. Ui continued punching while talking.
"It's not just Matsuri Washuu. It's also Kijima. He broke the laws that this Bureau consents to, for good reason."
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH!
"It's the mask operation that Yashida led that further ties our hands to do our duty."
PUNCH! PUNCH! PUNCH! PUUUNNNCH!
"But most of all…"
Ui put all his anger into this single punch.
"IT'S HOW THIS JOB EATS AWAY YOUR SOUL!"
Ui put so much anger into the punch that he pierced the bag itself. When he looked around, he sees Hisako bleeding from her nose. Ihei's heart dropped as she grabbed a towel from the towel rack to wipe away the blood.
"Hisako, I'm so sorry!"
"It's okay, sir…"
"NO ITS NOT!"
Ui breathed heavily as he kneeled down. Hisako's nose finally stopped bleeding before she sat close to Ui, with Ihei following. Hisako asked,
"Ui, what's really the matter? I know the Tsukiyama group pulled is a major headache, but this…what's really eating you?"
Ui took a couple of deep breaths before giving his answer.
"When I scolded Kijima for his stunts, he told that…it was easy for me to judge him…because I don't look like a round goblin like him…"
Ihei held back her laugh, but a snicker was heard nonetheless, which irritated Hisako.
"Hairu. Not cool."
"Sorry."
"Like I was saying, he also said something that's been…irritating me lately."
"What'd he say?"
asked Hisako.
"…People like him make up the Bureau more than me."
Hisako got a better idea as to what Ui felt.
"It's been gnawing at me, those words. And people like Matsuri Washuu make it worse, with the way he does his operations…I'm getting thoughts that's…there's no justice to be found in killing ghouls…"
Hisako felt a measure of sympathy for Ui. She admitted that she felt that way for ghouls due to her community never having experiencing them, so it was mutants that bared the brunt of their hatred.
"Part of me wanted ghouls to come…so they can finally look at someone like me as someone useful…remind them why people like me exist…"
Hisako says to Ui,
"Maybe you need another reason to go with justice…"
Ui and Ihei listened.
"I mean, yeah justice is a good cause, but…sometimes it helps to fight for something just as important."
"Just as important?"
"When I was an X-Man, justice was a priority for why we fight…but it wasn't the only one."
"Well, I do fight ghouls so there would be no more victims…"
"That's good too…but what's your stake? What do you fight for? What does Koori Ui is willing to shed blood for?"
Ui sat a little speechless as Hisako compelled him to look inward in himself. Something he never took time for. Hisako stood up before saying,
"Take some time to really chew on that. I'll be in the doctor's office if you need me."
Ui groaned a little as he instantly regretted his past action.
"Again, I'm so sorry…"
"Relax. Nosebleeds are the least of my problems…"
"Let me help you."
Said Ihei, guiding Hisako to Dr. Shiba's office. As Ui was finally alone in the training room, he thought about Hisako's words.
"What am I truly fighting for?"
Ui remembered when he was a child growing up in a wealthy family. He was without want, but his needs were few. His devotion to justice came from watching Sunday morning tokusatsu shows, later on watching the news broadcast of the Invasion of New York in his teens. Watching the Avengers becoming triumphant inspired him to look into professions of saving people's lives from any threat. Against his parents' wishes, he enrolled in the GCB academy. Such an action made him ineligible for his inheritance. But for Ui, such a matter did not faze his resolve. Only after passing every exam did he catch the eye of Kisho Arima, a Special Investigator o whom he heard nothing but positive rumors about. Only after seeing Arima in action did he feel that his decision about the Bureau proved itself the correct one. But even after all such achievements, he still felt like the new recruit with a vague idea of a cause to fight for. As he wiped the sweat from his brow, Ui thought to himself,
"In the end…I haven't changed. I'm still that young man who joined just to play hero…"
Just as Ui finished getting fully dressed, Arima walked inside the training room to talk to him.
"Koori."
"Arima!"
"I heard about the Rosé operation. I wanted to see if you were alright."
Ui felt a little shocked by Arima treating him like he used to.
"…I am. Just…working out some anger. But…"
"Maybe you got a little bit…too much anger in you?"
"…"
"I saw Investigators Ichiki and Ihei heading to Dr. Shiba's office. One of them had a nosebleed?"
Ui felt further ashamed by his actions from earlier before confessing to Arima.
"…my fault. Like you said, I got a little too angry…"
"…I assume not on purpose?"
"Of course not, but…Washuu stood in front of the Chairman's office to rub salt in the wound…"
"Of course…"
Arima then spoke in a caring tone of voice.
"You gonna be alright?"
"I always am."
Ui responded in the same tone.
"Still, watch yourself."
"Says the person who should follow his own advice."
Arima smiled a little as Ui acted relaxed around him. Just then, Arima's phone rang.
"I need to get this. Let's catch up later."
"Yes sir."
As Ui left the training room to check in on Hisako, Arima now stood alone in the training room.
"What is it?"
'Old man Yashida is making his move.'
Arima narrowed his eyes in response to the news.
"What kind are we talking about?"
'I'm sending you a file. Something you'll definitely have to read into.'
Soon, Arima received a digital zip file. As soon as decompressed it, a folder named "Project Permanence" appeared. He gave it a quick read-through and immediately got into a state of alarm.
"This comes from a good source?"
'Well, it did come from the 24th ward…'
Arima now felt as if he were getting played.
'But everyone who saw this knew that something big is going down at Yashida Industries. I even have a source in the company itself…'
"Within the company?"
'Apparently the current CEO is so cheap that he removed the RC cell detector from company grounds.'
Such news further alerted Arima.
'It was really quite easy…'
"Alright…I'll take you at your word."
'Well then…see you soon…'
As the called ended, Arima feared that what Ichiro planned for Haise was happening now. He then called Akira.
"Investigator Madou, it's Arima. We have a major problem…"
xxxxxx
Haise slowly awakened to see himself strapped to a steel chair in some sort of medical facility that also sat next door to some sort of weapons making facility. He tried to remember what happened.
"I think I was talking to someone…someone who knew…"
Once again, Haise felt his grip on his memories slipping away. At that moment, he heard a disembodied voice speaking to him.
"I imagine that you are going through a lot right now."
Now in a panicked state, Haise exclaimed,
"Where are you?!"
"Please remain calm. I will appear shortly."
Soon, a holographic projection of a triangle appeared in front of Haise. It spoke in a calm, almost emotionless voice with a distinct tone of an intellectual.
"Greeting, Haise."
"Who are you?!"
"I am Delta, an AI interface created by the Yashida Industries' I.T.S team one. One of them said their crowning achievement."
"Okay…"
Haise took a look around at where he sat.
"Where am I?"
"A research facility owned and operated by said corporation. Master Yashida wants you here for a reason."
"Wait…you serve my Great-Grandfather?"
"Yes. I help him from his personal schedules to insider trading on the stock market."
"Insider trading?!"
"Yes. It's how Master Ichiro's company managed to stay solvent and operational, despite Shingen's incompetence. And right now, I already informing Master Ichiro of your awakening."
Haise then remembered that he was tied up.
"But then…why does Great-Grandfather have me like this?"
"…I cannot tell you that…Only he can."
The hologram instantly disappeared as Ichiro entered the med room, alongside Dr. Sarkissian. Ichiro says to her,
"Is it ready?"
"Just waiting for the final piece."
"Excellent. Just need to have a word with him."
"I advise you to make it…concise."
"Duly noted."
As the doctor left Ichiro's side, he and Haise were alone.
"Great-Grandfather, what's happening?"
"Haise…or rather…Ken."
Haise felt a little scared that Ichiro referred to him by his old name.
"Why are you calling me that?"
"Because that is the name…your mother gave you. Simple…but possessing many meanings. For instance…your mother choose that name for you because it meant 'good health.' While in the old Celtic language, it means 'born of fire.' Your mother wanted that name for you because it was her wish for you…while your father agreed with that name because he wanted you have some…semblance of his strength. He succeeded."
"What?"
"Delta, display records…of Ken's achievements."
Soon, holographic screens of Ken Kaneki's past victories played around both Haise and Ichiro.
"What is this?"
"Soon…it will be my life."
"Your life?"
Ichiro snapped his fingers, signaling Delta to stop playing the holographic video clips.
"I loved Mariko…but her constant mewling made her nothing short of irritating!"
Haise sat shocked when he saw Ichiro speaking of his mother in such a disdainful manner.
"All her life, she lamented about how her father never did show her any kind of love. Bullshit! I raised my son the best I could, and he couldn't even give me an heir worthy of my legacy! But I lived as long as I could…so I could meet him again."
Haise then remembered the memory of when his father met Ichiro, both during the war and during the Moses Magnum incident
"Dad…saved your life…and you wanted…something from him…"
Ichiro's tone softened before enlightening Haise.
"Yes…I wanted his healing factor. The thing that made him…untouchable…to death!"
Now Ichiro talked an a slightly unhinged voice.
"I offered Logan the means to live an ordinary life. The kind of life men like him always desire. Hell, if I knew about his love for my granddaughter, I would've gladly called off that bullshit engagement my son was making her go through and gave her to him if it meant I could have what I wanted!"
Haise continued to be in a state of shock seeing Ichiro act in such a way that made him look a death-fearing madman.
"But that time has long since passed…and maybe…for good reason."
"Why?"
"…As Ken Kaneki, you became a little more like your father. Fearless and strong. Unwavering in the face of adversity. Something my granddaughter would foolishly condemn as something destructive or monstrous. Hell, her life philosophy is proof of her infuriating naivety and unwillingness to confront reality for what it was!"
Now Haise felt a measure of anger in him.
"Sometimes…she made it difficult to even be in the same room. On some level, I understood why Shingen had to be cruel to her. But the fact she never toughened up, even once, is proof that she lived a far too sheltered life…"
Now Haise remembered when Mariko, or rather Sayu, actually fought for him.
"No…"
"What was that?"
"Mother was kind because she wanted to be…but when Dad wasn't around, she stepped up to be the head of our house…and the moment she knew I was in danger, she fought to keep me safe!"
"You lie…"
Replied Ichiro incredulously.
"No! She was kind not because she had love in her heart! She was kind because she wanted to survive! She fought back against the cruelties of the world in her own way. She wanted to reach the hearts of those she wanted to bond with. The problem was…few people deserved what she had to offer. But…one of the few things I learned from her…sometimes it's not about what you deserve, it's what you need. And she knew that she wanted to love my dad…because he was willing to be honest with her."
Ichiro still had a skeptical look on his face.
"That's why my dad fell in love with her! And that's something you could never understand…"
With little strength he had left, Ichiro slapped Haise in the face. Haise spit back before saying,
"With you as his old man, no wonder Shingen became such a bitter bastard."
Ichiro then felt weak as he felt his knees shaking under the weight of his body. Delta alerted medical personnel, including Dr. Sarkissian.
"Get Mr. Yashida to the next room. We have to begin the procedure."
"Yes, Doctor."
As some of the medical staff got Ichiro ready for the procedure, Sarkissian was alone with Haise.
"Hello, Haise. I am Doctor Ophelia Sarkissian, our Great-Grandfather's personal oncologist."
"Why do I get the feeling that's not your only job?"
Sarkissian smiled a little before continuing.
"True. Before he hired me, I was a biochemist in John Hopkins. Made some decent research into curing cancer. That's how I got into his employ. But that's not the only reason…"
Sarkissian then showed a serpent-like tongue from her mouth.
"What are you?"
"A chemist. A nihilist. A capitalist. A mutation. But most of all…a Madame."
Sarkissian then dug one of her nails into Haise's neck. He felt some sort of paralysis spreading all over his body.
"High grade toxins are my forte as a biochemist. My mutation allows me to be immune to every toxin ever recorded. That toxin you're feeling slightly suppresses your healing factor. Just enough for the procedure. Here's the next step."
Although he struggled to speak, Haise managed to ask,
"Next…step?"
"Through a certain mutant with alpha-level psychic abilities, we've made sure to erase enough of your memories to make your mind a total blank. Once your short-term memories began to be affected, we could finally take the next step."
Haise struggled to fight back, but both the toxin and the chair stymied him.
"To effectively make sure that the process of erasing Ken Kaneki went as planned, You, Haise, have to occupy long enough to erase Ken. Think of it as…Ophiocordyceps Sinensis."
Haise knew what she spoke about.
"A type of parasitic fungus that latches onto moths. The fungus consumes the moth until there's nothing left. That's your purpose."
Tears began to stream from Haise's face.
"An implanted personality of Ichiro Yashida's creation, made to erase Ken Kaneki…until Haise Yashida consumes everything Ken Kaneki used to be. Once that was done, all we have to do…is send you somewhere to be erased."
Haise felt some of the paralysis subside enough to say,
"No…it's my body…my mind…my soul…"
"Wanna know what I call it?"
"Please…don't erase me…please, I don't want to disappear…"
Sarkissian got close to Haise's right ear and whispered,
"Now sink into the floor…"
(play The Sunken Place – Get Out Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Haise felt his entire being slipping away from the chair and into the floor. He now got surrounded by an empty black space where he kept on sinking to the barely starry void. Haise descended further down against this will, powerless to rise back up. He cried as loud as he could, but no sound came out of his mouth. Tears streamed from his face and floated in the weightless air as Haise went down further into the all-encompassing void. He also saw a rectangular view screen displaying what he last saw in real time. He sees Sarkissian with a cold, yet sadistic look on her face. Although it was distant, Haise heard what Sarkissian said to him.
"Welcome back to the sunken place…Haise."
Soon, things went completely dark as Haise began to lose sight of himself.
"So, this is it. This is how I die…worse…this is how I fade away…to nothing…"
(end music)
Soon, Haise Yashida ceased to exist. This became apparent when Ken's hair became completely black. Sarkissian then says,
"Delta, inform Mr. Yashida that the subject is fully empty."
There was a brief moment of silence, which made Sarkissian a little confused.
"Delta?"
"…Acknowledged."
"Well, that was a little strange…"
xxxxxx
(The Chateau)
The Quinxes gathered all they had on Yashida Industries in Urie's room. Although pickings were slim, news of a secret project caught wind in the underground. Something that, thanks to Deadpool's sudden eagerness to participate in their investigation, they were able to get in ample quality. Urie commented on this,
"I'm…honestly surprised that you wanted to help us on this."
Taking offense, Deadpool replied,
"What's it gonna for you people to believe that I've changed?!"
Saiko then says,
"I believed you."
"Thank you, Saiko! At least somebody here has a good eye for character!"
Saiko had a grin on her face that expressed cockiness while Mutsuki replied,
"We're sorry if we're making you think we're still doubting you."
Urie added,
"My bad."
"Thank you."
Shirazu asked,
"But you did make sure that your source was legit, right?"
"Yes, I did. And it's legit in ways that will blow your mind."
Urie then asked,
"Is that right?"
"Yes, but I had them wait at the edge of the neighborhood because of you-know-who…and I got their numbers. Just in case…"
Urie knew what Deadpool talked about and appreciated his discretion.
"Okay. Let's not take too long. Let's review what we got."
Urie took the photo of a heavy truck in the 24th ward.
"Yashida Industries has gained a lot of acquisitions, most of them legal."
Deadpool then added,
"But certain purchases the company made were kept hidden by all the major authorities. How he got to move them…"
Deadpool pointed at the photo.
"Was through the 24th ward. My source says that they headed toward an exit not just out of the ward, but Tokyo itself."
"So everything they have might not be in their main office…"
Said Mutsuki with Shirazu adding,
"Or any of their factories in the city…"
Urie asked,
"Deadpool, you said your source-?"
Before he could finish, Urie's phone rang. He looked at his phone to see that it was Yukio calling him.
"Whoa…"
The rest of the team huddled around Urie to see the same thing. Mutsuki then says to him,
"Answer it."
Shirazu asked,
"You sure?"
Deadpool correctly guessed,
"If it's about Haise, then anything she gives could be a potential clue."
Mutsuki nodded in agreement, which compelled Urie to answer the call and put it on speakerphone.
"Yukio. You got discharged already?"
"I did it to myself."
"Well, glad to hear that you're okay. Haise was a little worried about you for a moment."
"That's what I need to talk to you about. You and the rest of the team."
Everyone that heard the call felt a little surprised.
"All of us?"
"Yes. Call Hisako as well. She needs to hear this as well."
This confused the team. But Urie complied, nonetheless.
"All right. I'll give her a call."
"Thank you. And don't worry about the rest of the cameras. I shut them all down."
Now the team felt totally floored when Yukio mentioned the security cameras.
"Get Arima and Madou as well. They have to know most of all."
Urie responded with a slight stutter,
"R-R-Right…"
As soon as he hung up, Shirazu asked,
"You think she's telling the truth?"
"At the very least, I think she meant us to call for Investigators Arima and Madou."
Mutsuki then says,
"I have Madou's number."
"Go for it."
While Mutsuki called for Madou, Saiko then says,
"I got Hisako's, too."
"You did? All this time?"
asked Urie.
"We kept on texting after she was let go. But I kept her in the loop on what we did in our off time."
"…Right. Call her."
While Saiko did so, Urie says to Deadpool,
"Deadpool, call your sources. Tell them they can come to the Chateau."
"On it."
A few minutes later
The X-force waited in the living room of the Chateau. It was due to the knock on the front door that they all got on alert. Urie answered the door to see two very surprising individuals. The expression of surprise on Urie's face seemed so apparent to Shirazu that he asked,
"Urie, who is it?"
"The Wolverine…"
The Quinxes were floored by this, only for the feeling to hit again when Urie finished by saying the name of the person behind the Wolverine.
"And the Iron Fist."
Wolverine asked,
"May we come in?"
"Y-Yes. Sorry about that."
Both entered the Chateau. For Mutsuki and Saiko, they expected to be the Wolverine they felt vaguely familiar to. Saiko spoke out first.
"You're a lot different from what I remember…"
Shirazu reprimanded Saiko by correcting her.
"That's because the first Wolverine was Mr. Yas's dad. That's his sister, who took on the name."
The team felt a little surprised by Shirazu's seemingly extensive knowledge on the subject.
"I read the X-Men manga growing up. Sorry if I'm bringing an uncomfortable subject or anything…"
"It's fine…FYI, call me Laura when we're off the field."
Shirazu blushed a little when she gave her name.
"O-okay…"
Danny then introduced himself.
"For me, call me Danny."
Urie spoke to the two of them.
"You're Deadpool's sources, I presume?"
"Correct."
The two responded simultaneously. Just then, another knock on the door was heard. It was revealed to be Yukio. Laura asked,
"And who are you?"
"Someone to wants to make up for past transgressions."
Urie then says to her,
"Yukio…whatever your part in this, I expect you to be fully honest about it. I want no stone left unturned."
"I assure you…I will tell you everything."
"I hope so…for your sakes."
Said Arima as he, Hisako, and Akira entered the Chateau. The Quinxes instantly stood up and saluted to him.
"Senior Investigator Arima!"
"At ease."
The Quinxes relaxed a little. Saiko instantly recognized Hisako.
"Hisako!"
Saiko threw herself at Hisako, with Shirazu following after her. But in a calmer manner.
"It's good to see you again. I thought you were ordered to stay away from us."
"Arima changed that, thankfully. Even though I have a lot to explain to Ui and Hairu, I was really happy to work with you guys again."
As the Quinxes enjoyed being around Hisako again, Akira sees Laura and says to her,
"I remember you…"
Laura replied,
"Likewise. Nice to know you survived."
Akira looked a little crestfallen before saying,
"Mostly…but I have to ask: Why haven't you come back for your brother?"
"Ichiro Yashida ordered me to make sure that would never happen."
Said Yukio, making herself known to the higher-ranked Investigators. Akira now got into a bad mood while asking Yukio,
"Why the hell are you here?"
"To make up for past mistakes…"
"Is that right?"
"Listen, I know I pissed you off…"
"Oh, we're already pass pissed. Right now, I'm holding back the urge to put you in a headlock and throw you out this house while hoping your skull splits apart hitting the pavement."
A majority of the team were either scared or excited to see Akira fighting against Yukio. Arima attempted to de-escalate tension.
"Madou, that's enough."
"With all due respect, Arima…stick it up your ass!"
Jaws dropped at what Akira said to Kisho Arima.
"I've been waiting for the day when she would reveal herself as the two-faced liar I knew she was. I promise you this much: I didn't hate you because of jealousy. I hated you…because I feared that whatever Ichiro Yashida had planned for Haise, you took a part in it."
"Correction: Had."
Both Akira and the rest went silent to better listen to Yukio.
"Ichiro fired me a few hours ago. And honestly, I think the happiest I've seen Harada."
Shirazu asked,
"I thought the two of you were friends?"
"Oh no. He can't stand me, and I always struck him as a huge bore. Anyhow, I'm no longer in Ichiro Yashida's confidence. Not gonna lie…it kind of…hurts…"
"Well…boo-fucking-hoo…"
Replied Akira, which Arima strongly reprimanded her for such a respond.
"Akira!"
"No! You don't understand! You have no idea of what she and her boss are doing to Haise!"
Yukio took out her smartphone.
"I have a very good idea."
Yukio, through her smartphone, hacked the smart TV of the Chateau's house to show schematics of a certain kind of machine. Arima asked,
"What is this?"
"Blueprints for a machine, designed to Ichiro Yashida's desire."
"What for?"
"…to finally make himself immortal through Haise himself."
This detail shocked everyone listening, while angering Akira further. Danny stopped Akira from physically fighting Yukio.
"Please elaborate. Carefully."
Yukio then explained how not only the machine works, but also what it was made of.
"We studied a measure of alien technology to achieve our stated goal. After studying the Chitauri tech that SHIELD scientists researched after Natasha Romanoff released to the public, and as well as…"
"As well as what?"
asked Laura, to which Arima confessed.
"Chairman Washuu ordered a private unit of Investigators to acquire any Shi'ar technology we could hide from SHIELD and the international community before they arrived in Japan."
Everyone became shocked at what Arima confessed. Akira most of all.
"Sir?!"
"The Chairman ordered us to do this. For GCB scientists to integrate this into our quinques."
Urie then asked,
"Was this tech integrated into us?"
"…Yes. The goal was to create kagune-enhanced Investigators without the drawbacks of ghouls. It couldn't be done with earth technology…"
This fact threw the Quinxes in for a loop. For some of them, they felt used. Urie then asked,
"This order came from the top, right? Chairman Washuu?"
"Not just him. There are…many corporate interests that wanted to see the Quinx project succeed…"
Urie stomped his foot. Which got everyone's attention.
"I know I signed up for this…so whatever happens to me…is my fault. I know that…but why? WHY THE FUCK DID THEY LIE?"
Arima felt a measure of guilt over Urie's anguish.
"Urie…you're not the only victims of the Washuu family…"
Urie was curious as to what Arima meant.
"But let us focus on this…"
"Right…"
Arima says to Yukio,
"Continue."
Yukio nodded before moving on.
"With our understanding of both alien technologies, the next step was to integrate them for a specific goal. However, it had to be done in two steps. First, we affect his long-term memory."
"His past."
Said Laura.
"Correct. When Haise…or rather Ken came back to life, our doctors guessed that his long-term memory seemed to be affected by his…delayed resurrection."
"But he died!"
Everyone saw how much emotion Laura held back.
"I held my little brother in his arms before he drew his last breath! How did he come back?!"
"Well…before he came back, we extracted Ken from his grave."
The Quinxes and Deadpool collectively exclaimed shock and disgust, with Deadpool yelling,
"WHY?!"
"It was Ichiro Yashida, not me!"
"We know that, but you do realize that if anyone found out, THEY WILL BE PISSED OFF!"
"EVERYONE QUIET!"
Yelled Akira.
"Let. Her. Finish."
The Quinxes and Deadpool all sat silently. Akira then gestured to Yukio to continue.
"During the excavation, the team assigned to recover the body received an unexpected surprise."
Yukio played a video of the grave team recording the night they dug up the grave. What happened next seemed like something out of a horror movie. Ken's right arm shot up…
SNIKT!
With his claws popping out of his fists. This caused some of the excavation to drop the casket Ken was buried in with total surprise. This also served as a jump-scare for the Quinxes and Deadpool watching, the rest simply reacted with silent shock. One of the excavation team slowly approached Ken. Although he seemed conscious, no further reactions were seen. The video soon ended as Yukio says,
"One of our doctors hypothesized that due to the stress of what Ken experienced before, his healing factor was strained to the point of exhaustion. What you, and indeed us, thought as his death may have been the body putting Ken into a sort of…biological deep hibernation."
Most of everyone present were still in a state of shock, save for Danny.
"I've once heard of monks who entered into a state of mediation so deep, their heart rates decrease to the point of being undetectable. Even by heart monitors."
"That was one guess. Either way, Ken was alive. Which Ichiro believed was a golden opportunity."
"Opportunity for what, exactly?"
asked Akira. Arima responded,
"Project Permanence."
Hearing Arima say the name of the project surprised Yuki as she asked,
"How did you know?"
"I had Yashida Industries looked into sometime after the Jean Jacket Incident. My private investigation results were just emailed to me a few hours ago. Although…some of the details of the project were still out of reach. I'm hoping that you would enlighten me."
Yukio then displayed a file on a female doctor. She looked like someone from the Scandinavian area of Europe, whom Yukio explained.
"Her name is Ophelia Sarkissian. She's a doctor who specializes in biochemistry. She's hired by Ichiro to be his personal oncologist after hearing about her research into cancer research."
Laura asked,
"Does the guy have some sort of cancer?"
"He does. It was given to him after being exposed to atomic fallout…in Nagasaki."
Akira responded,
"World War Two."
"Yes. Ichiro Yashida was a veteran of the Japanese Imperial Army. After the end of the war, he created the company that would later become Yashida Industries. Although he amassed a great deal of wealth rebuilding the country, his sickness from the fallout remained with him. What kept him alive…was meeting with the Kuzuri once more."
Arima then responded,
"The Wolverine."
"Logan was there as well. Ichiro told me the truth about the Kuzuri. He was a mutant who became a prisoner of war, but survived the fallout of Fat Man."
"Fat Man?"
Asked Saiko, to which Hisako answered,
"The second nuclear warhead America dropped on Japan during World War Two. It made Japan surrender, ending the war once and for all."
"Ichiro wanted what Logan had. And he met him again…during the Moses Magnum incident."
"But that was over 20 years ago."
Said Mutsuki. Yukio elaborated.
"Standard medical science staved off most of the cancer's advance, but Ichiro's longevity would extend some more when Ichiro acquired Logan's corpse."
Laura knew what she meant…and felt a measure of anger.
"You…took my dad's body…and desecrated it?!"
Although she hesitated to answer, Yukio knew that she had no one to blame but herself for being in her current position. One where she had to answer for what she participated in.
"…Yes."
SNIKT!
Laura yelled as lunged at Yukio, which Danny got in between just in time. Everyone else were floored by Laura's actions at that moment as Deadpool exclaimed,
"Laura, not the time!"
"FUCK OFF, GIMP-SUIT!"
"Laura, you can't kill her!"
"GET THE HELL OUT OF MY WAY!"
"Not happening! We need her alive!"
"SHE HAS TO PAY FOR DAD!"
Akira then helped Danny hold back Laura.
"Laura, I know how you feel. I want her to pay for what she's done as well."
Akira held her back as long as she could.
"Laura, stop!"
exclaimed Danny, to no avail. He then karate chopped Laura in the neck, much to the surprise of everyone present. Danny carried her to the couch afterwards. Arima says to him,
"Was it necessary?."
"She didn't give me much of a choice. She'll be though, just…unconscious for about half an hour."
"We're…gonna need her for this."
"If what miss Yukio is saying is correct…she's better off here."
Replied Arima to Danny before asking Yukio,
"How does Logan's corpse factor into this?"
Yukio then displayed a digital file called X-25.
"This was clone of Logan called X-25, created by Transigen. After their dissolvement, Yashida Industries acquired their assets not yet seized by the US government. Although it was a corporate front for Weapon X, they also had access to data pertaining to their projects. The one Ichiro Yashida wanted…"
"Was research pertaining to Logan's healing factor?"
asked Arima.
"Exactly. With Dr. Sarkissian's knowledge, a specialized treatment for his cancer was finally created. For a while, he seemed healthy. Healthy enough to ignore Ken…even he was clear his great-grandson needed him."
Danny asked,
"Wait…you mean to tell me…that Ichiro Yashida knew that not only Ken was alive…but about what happened to him, and did nothing?"
"Yes. For all his success, Ichiro Yashida failed to be a decent human being. Something his son certainly inherited."
Danny grunted as he grew resentment for Ichiro. He remembered when he went above and beyond to help Kaneki with his depression, alongside others. And yet, Ichiro Yashida knew that his great-grandson needed help, and did nothing. Yukio continued.
"But now his cancer has not only returned, but the treatment also that was created from both the corpses of Logan and X-25 has become ineffective. Ichiro's original plan was to simply extract the entirety of Ken's healing factor into him, but his body has now become non-salvageable."
"That's one way of saying that he's dying for real."
Said Urie. Saiko then asked,
"But you said earlier that his great grandpa was going to put his mind into Maman's body. How?"
Yukio then displayed a video file but did not play it yet. She asked everyone,
"Anyone of you seen Get Out?"
Deadpool raised his hand before responding,
"Jordan Peele's best foot forward into cinema. And if I remember watching the movie, Haise's in big trouble."
"What kind?"
asked Mutsuki. Deadpool explained.
"In the movie, the main character gets invited to a lone house in the woods."
"That should've been a red flag."
Said Urie.
"He was invited there by his girlfriend to meet his overfriendly family. Later on, he discovers that this family was behind a string of abductions of black people. The main point of the abductions…was to transfer the brains of old white people into the bodies of the black people they abducted."
Now everyone became absolutely floored when Deadpool revealed the true horror of Ichiro Yashida's intentions for Haise. Mutsuki was the first to say,
"We have to get to Sensei now!"
"I agree."
Said Yukio before playing the video file. The video showed a facility in a mountainous region.
"Ichiro Yashida has a secret research facility dedicated to both weapons and medical research."
Arima asked,
"Where is it located?"
Yukio then displayed a map of the route to said facility.
"It is near Mount Tiene, at Sapporo."
"I think that's in…Hokkaido, right?"
Asked Shirazu, to which Akira replied,
"Correct, Investigator Shirazu."
Yukio added,
"But it is guarded by a battalion of specially trained agents of stealth."
"Agents? Like Shield?"
asked Akira. Yukio responded,
"No…ninja warriors."
Everyone felt surprised when Yukio mentioned ninjas.
"Ninjas? For real?"
asked Saiko. Shirazu says to her,
"Don't forget. Harada was trained as a ninja."
"And he leads them. They're called the Black Clan, ninjas that served the Yashida family since the Sengoku era."
"For that long?"
asked Urie.
"They are extremely loyal to Ichiro. Combined with the technological might of Yashida Industries, I doubt that we can defeat enough of them to be able to reach Ken."
Arima then says,
"I'll contact some Investigators I know will come if I ask."
Akira then says to the team,
"X-Force, get ready as fast as you can."
The team responded while saluting,
"Yes, Investigator Madou!"
Akira then went to Yukio and says to her,
"I want you to know that I intend to make you pay for your part in this…"
"I intend to."
Slightly taken aback, Akira asked,
"What?"
"I know that I allowed this to happen. I allowed Haise…or rather Ken to be used like this. I imagine if Mariko were alive right now, she wouldn't hesitate to not just condemn me, but kick my ass where I stand."
"Is that right?"
"Either way, I have to make right by both the woman I called my sister…and the son she brought into the world. The only thing that is left of her…"
Akira then asked,
"Who is Mariko?"
"Ken Kaneki's mother."
"His mother?"
"During the Moses Magnum incident, Mariko was saddled with a loveless engagement with a political figure forced upon her by Shingen Yashida."
"The current CEO."
"Mariko knew Logan during that time and fell in love with him. When Shingen found out, he wanted her to stop, but she willfully disobeyed him and planned a way to get out of her father's control."
"How?"
"She faked her death during an attack on Yashida Industries' main building and changed her name after the X-Men stopped Moses Magnum."
Akira felt a little aback when she heard the story of Kaneki's mother.
"I know. I think it's romantic as well."
Hisako listened near the kitchen table, feeling a very familiar feeling as she thought to herself,
"Now I remember why I had a crush on Ken…"
As soon as the Quinxes got downstairs, Arima addressed everyone.
"I've contacted Ui and Itou squads for this mission. We're gonna have to do this off the books."
"Off the books, sir?"
"Unfortunately, even if we expose Yashida Industries for what they're doing to Haise, or rather Ken Kaneki…"
Shirazu's heart jumped a little when Arima confirmed that the Senior Investigator he followed was indeed his hero.
"By the time any action could even be considered, Ichiro Yashida would 've achieve his goal. We must strike now. Before we lose Kaneki."
"Yes sir!"
With their quinques in hand, the X-force exited the Chateau and saw two black SUVs parked outside. Yukio told them,
"I used the last of my connections to get them for all of you. We're gonna have to take the train that runs from Tokyo Station to Hakodate. From there, we take the Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto Station to Sapporo."
Arima replied,
"I'll text Ui, Itou, and my own to meet us at Tokyo Station right now."
Hisako was on her phone checking trains to said destinations as told by Yukio.
"I've looked up trains to Sapporo. There's only one left, and it's leaving in about an hour. Where we are right now, it'll take us about 40 minutes."
"Well done, Hisako."
Said Arima before addressing the rest of the team.
"Let's move."
The X-force went in the front SUV with Hisako joining them. While Arima, Akira, Danny and Yukio boarded the rear SUV. The cars went to Tokyo Station, all of them thinking of Kaneki to individual degrees. Back at the Chateau, Laura woke up from the couch.
"Good think I faked it."
She then got on her phone.
"Touka, get everyone ready."
'Know where we're heading?'
"Sapporo."
xxxxxx
In an undisclosed highway, Shuu slowly woke up to find himself in the back of a car. He sees both Matsumae at the driver's seat and Milo sitting beside her.
"Matsumae…"
"Good evening, Master Shuu."
"Where are we?"
"…Master…do you remember what happened earlier?"
"I was meeting with Haise…and then I felt something sharp on my neck. Then everything went to…"
"You were under attack sir."
Answered Milo. Shuu asked,
"By whom?"
Matsumae answered.
"From Yuma reported, they looked like ninjas."
"…Ninjas?"
"Milo, read the report that was mailed to master Shuu."
Milo opened a brown envelope and read what was on the file inside said envelope.
"It is the report on Yashida Industries you asked a week ago, Master Shuu."
Remembering this, Shuu asked Milo,
"Would you please read it?"
"…Most of the report just gives what was already known to the public, however…"
"Yes?"
"The report says that Ichiro Yashida is the master of a clan of practitioners of ninjutsu."
"He actually owns a clan of Ninjas?"
"The report says that Ichiro Yashida is the descendent of a Daimyo who created the first ninja clan during the Sengoku era."
"My god…"
"Indeed, and it seems that they serve him even to this day. They're most likely acting on Ichiro Yashida's orders pertaining to Haise's role in the company's latest project."
"What is it? Tell me."
"Master Shuu…although this is serious, there is a more pressing matter to attend to."
Said Matsumae. Shuu then asked,
"What is it, Matsumae? What's happened?"
"…The GCB have discovered that the Tsukiyama family are ghouls."
This revelation made Shuu's heart sink.
"No…"
"Yes. Your father had a plan in case something like this would happen. He ordered all those serving him in every facility and building owned by the Tsukiyama group to burn everything. Leave no trace of our existence in this world. Even the banks that did business with us would be hard-pressed to find any trace of our funds."
Shuu felt his world being torn down in front of him.
"As of yesterday, The Tsukiyama family's influence…has now vanished, alongside the company group itself."
"But what about…"
"Master Mirumo is fine. He's waiting for us."
"Where?"
"…Sapporo-Tomakomai."
This detail shocked Shuu. Matsumae explained further.
"After we arrive in Sapporo, Master Mirumo purchased an island in the Philippine region. He made sure that it would not be charted on any map, nor spotted by any air or seacraft."
"Has he made sure of…food?"
"…He's stockpiled for at least six months before the need for to return to mainland Japan would prove itself necessary."
Shuu felt a little guilty for this chain of events, to Matsumae's notice.
"Please, Master Shuu. Do not blame yourself. It is due to our incompetence that the family has come to an end. Thankfully, both you and your father are still alive. That's all that matters. If we follow Master Mirumo's plan, the Tsukiyama family may still survive."
"…How long?"
"We've been on the road since last night. We should make it about an hour after the sunset. Afterwards, we wait for all the rest of the servants and ghoul employees to come with us to the Philippines."
"All of them, you say?"
"Surprised?"
"Not at all. I've always known father to have a keen sense of chivalry."
Matsumae smile a little before finishing,
"We'll be there soon."
Milo then gave the file to Shuu. During the ride, Shuu read the last page of the file. He found that Yashida Industries owns a research facility about 15 miles from Sapporo. He kept this information to himself as he felt he was given another chance to do right by Kaneki.
xxxxxx
(Tokyo Station)
The X-Force waited at the station alongside Investigator Arima. As Shirazu and Saiko went to the nearby vending machines for snacks, Hisako asked Arima,
"Sir, did you look into Yashida Industries because of me?"
"Part of it. Truth is, it's been going on since Haise…Ken was a part of Bureau."
"How did you know about Kaneki coming back to life?"
"…it started out as following online rumors of people spotting someone resembling him. Then I looked into it and discovered that he went to the cage fights in the 8th ward. Once I saw the rumors to be true, I knew I had to get the Kuzuri a part of the Bureau."
"I'm surprised that you wanted to keep it to yourself."
"I didn't. It was Ichiro Yashida that wanted to keep him from the public."
"So, you had Kaneki exposed to the public because you wanted the X-Men to come back for him?"
"…"
Hisako felt that Arima was still hiding something more. Knowing the difference in rank, she decided not to pry further.
"Fine. We'll leave it there."
Soon, multiple cars arrived at the station. The X-Force discovered that it was not just the squads that Arima called for, but Iwao and Suzuya squads as well. Even Shimoguchi squad arrived. Arima sees Itou approaching him and asked,
"Didn't I ask just your squad and Ui's?"
"Well, I couldn't resist asking for some extra hands."
Special Investigators Ui, Iwao, and Suzuya soon met with Arima. As well as Shimoguchi and Hirako.
"Special Investigator Arima, we're ready."
"What's the situation?"
asked Iwao. Juuzo, Take, Kuramoto, Ui, and Nobu Shimoguchi all stood in front of Arima to listen to the mission.
"Yashida Industries have, in a sense, gone rogue."
"In a sense?"
asked Shimoguchi.
"I have to keep this brief considering that all of you will have less than ten minutes to make a decision that will most probably affect your careers."
"That's a pretty serious thing to say…"
Said Kuramoto.
"Well…it has to do with Haise…"
A little peeved, Ui asked,
"What's his connection?"
"He's been kidnapped…by a clan of ninjas."
Every Special Investigator and Shimoguchi standing in front of Arima became dumbfounded he said the words 'clan of ninjas.'
"Now you know why I wanted all of you take your time to…"
"I'M IN."
Exclaimed Ui, with rare excitability. Something which surprised even Arima.
"Ui, that was…unexpected of you…"
"You said clan of ninjas. Why wouldn't I?"
Juuzo laughed a little by Ui's behavior before saying,
"So am I."
"You sure, Investigator Suzuya?"
"You got me at ninjas. Plus, I like Haise. He's always given me snacks. Plus, we really needed him when Jean Jacket was here."
"That's why I'm here as well."
Said Iwao.
"If it weren't for him, none of us here would be alive. For me, I'd go to his side anytime he needs it."
Save for Shimoguchi and Ui, every special Investigator felt the same. Arima then says to them,
"So I take it that all of you made your decisions?"
All the Special Investigators and Shimoguchi gave their silent consent. For Shimoguchi, he kept his reasons to himself.
"I'm here because…well…he wasn't looking down on me when I lost my…original team."
Soon the train to Hakodate arrived.
"All right. If there's no more to say…"
"Don't be so hasty, Arima."
Both he and the special Investigators all looked back to see Assistant Special Investigator Washuu alongside at least 10 squads worth of GCB Investigators. Notable of which to both Shirazu and Ui was Kijima, and his usual partner Furuta. Arima spoke with Washuu.
"Assistant Special Investigator Washuu, may I ask about why you're here?"
"Chairman's and Director's orders. We are to retrieve the kidnapped Investigator Yashida."
"But why all of them?"
"It has been discovered that Yashida Industries may have had a hand in recent Aogiri operations. It's been also discovered that one of their members has infiltrated their company and has been feeding info pertaining to our operations."
Although he hid it, Arima felt that Washuu lied on the spot.
"I've already called ahead to Tokyo Station and told them that the Bureau will be renting both this train and the one going to Sapporo."
Arima felt no choice but to go along with Matsuri's act.
"Very well."
All the Investigators that arrived boarded the train. As soon as the train left the station with every Investigator that arrived, Arima made his way to the front of the train. The conductor sees him and tells him,
"Sir, I need you back at your seat please."
Arima showed him his badge.
"Is there a…"
"No. But I need to borrow your PA."
Although confused, the conductor allowed Arima to speak into the train's PA system before exiting.
"Attention, GCB Investigators. This is Special Investigator Arima speaking."
Everyone, Investigator or otherwise, listened.
"You have chosen to be part of a special Investigation outside even the knowledge of the Bureau. I am grateful for all of you that came at my request."
Every Investigator listened to every word out of Arima's mouth.
"This is the full story behind the goal of the mission. Yes, I said mission because one of your own was kidnapped…by Yashida Industries."
Excluding the X-Force, every Investigator were curious as to what Arima meant.
"Simply put, any suspicions of Haise Yashida actually being Ken Kaneki…are correct."
This came as a shock to the Investigators.
"How is due to Ichiro Yashida's machinations. He intended to keep him a secret from the public, but Ken Kaneki's nature as a fighter made it easier for the higher-up of the Bureau to locate him and recruit him."
The Investigators talked amongst themselves about what Arima just said. While Ui thought to himself,
"So Arima was close to Haise…rather, Ken Kaneki, because of either the director or Chairman Washuu…if so, what for?"
"Through Ken Kaneki, the Bureau managed to find the perfect candidate for leadership of the Quinx squad, now called the X-Force."
Urie thought to himself,
"Way to cover your ass…"
"However, thanks in part to the X-Force's undercover investigation into Yashida Industries, their intentions for Ken Kaneki became clear. He was to be part of Ichiro Yashida's attempt to gain immortality through a private plan called Project: Permanence."
This shocked the Investigators, excluding the X-Force.
"How exactly…is simply…too gruesome to describe."
Hairu thought to herself,
"Wow…must be pretty bad…"
"One of the discoveries during the Investigation was exposing an Aogiri ghoul hiding with Yashida Industries, but Ichiro exercised his 'power' over the Bureau and threatened to pull the funding on the Quinx project, as well as many other quinque development projects."
Some Investigators talked about how Yashida allowed such an error. Some wondered if it was even an error.
"However, what made this offensive necessary was due to the fact that agents of Yashida Industries interfered with the Rosé investigation, alerting the Tsukiyama group to believing that we were on to them being ghouls."
Multiple gasps were heard while Ui stood up from his seat hearing this.
"During the process, Haise Yashida was taken by Kenuichio Harada. Acting on orders from Ichiro Yashida, he rendered Haise unconscious. Even without the kidnapping, Yashida Industries have interfered with an Investigation, which possess grave consequences."
More talking was heard before Arima continued.
"The goal of the Investigation: Retrieve Haise Yashida and uncover any connections Yashida Industries possesses to Aogiri Tree. Details will soon follow upon arrival at Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto."
As Arima ended, Matsuri gave a slow clap.
"Wonderfully done. Ever consider politics?"
"…You're not funny."
Matsuri slightly laughed off Arima's retort.
"In all seriousness, there was no need to keep it secret."
"Why is that?"
"…Both the Director and Chairman want Ken Kaneki returned to us."
Arima was shocked when Matsuri said Kuzuri's real name.
"We've known for some time. As soon as we got the opportunity, we ran an DNA test on…Haise."
"So why keep it a secret?"
"…we tested his DNA for more than his identity. We've discovered something revolutionary."
Arima knew what Matsuri talked about but acted surprised.
"Revolutionary?"
"His mutant DNA interacts with ghoul DNA in ways that staggered the minds of the scientists Vasuki provided to examine."
"So that means…"
"Yes. As such, we've been 'asked' to retrieve Ken Kaneki…and hand him over to him."
Arima hid his feelings about the orders given to him.
"Very well. The Quinxes won't like this however…"
"So don't tell them. I'll handle it on my end."
"Very well…"
As Matsuri left the room, Arima thought to himself,
"I'll have to move fast after this mission…"
xxxxxx
(Sapporo-Tomakomai)
Shuu made it to his destination alongside Matsumae and Milo. As Matsumae finished parking the car near to the docks, Shuu stepped outside to see not just the house servants waiting for the ship, but a lot of the ghoul employees present as well.
"My god…there must be dozens here."
Said Shuu with Matsumae replying,
"Hundreds actually. There are currently 1,500 ghouls present here, with another 700 arriving soon."
Shuu then asked,
"That much?"
"Although he attempted to keep it light, Master Mirumo gave a lot of ghouls jobs. So they could blend into human society with little trouble. He's even helped exposed ghouls to relocate to other parts of Japan where there is less of a dove presence."
"Astounding…"
"Yes…Master Mirumo's mercy knows no bounds."
Shuu looked at Matsumae's left hand balling into a fist that seemed to shake with rage. He understood the source of said rage. He asks her,
"When is the ship arriving?"
"…I'll contact the Master immediately."
"Very good."
Shuu walked somewhere to be alone. However, Matsumae noticed this and says to Milo,
"Keep an eye on him."
"Yes."
Milo followed Shuu. He notices that Shuu still held the file he given to him earlier. He sees Shuu looking at it further. He then remembers,
"Oh no…Master Shuu will most probably discover something I forgot to rip out."
Milo makes himself known.
"Master Shuu."
"Milo. Didn't hear you…"
"Master Shuu…may I please retrieve the file back?"
"…and why exactly?"
"Master Shuu…before Kanae disappeared, she told me about your plan to bring Ken Kaneki back from the doves."
"Did he?"
"Yes…that is why I want that file back from you."
Shuu stood his ground as he replied,
"I will not."
Milo sighed before saying,
"Master Shuu, please consider the situation."
"I know the situation we're in."
"Then why are you…?"
"Because I have to take responsibility!"
"Your responsibility is to the family."
"And this is the best way for me to fulfill it."
"And why does Ken Kaneki mean so much to you?"
asked Matsumae as she entered the conversation.
"I know that I am a servant to you, Shuu…and please forgive my presumptuousness, but I feel that our bond is…akin to that of a sister and brother. I know you better than you know yourself. So imagine my surprise when you treated this…mutant with an almost…God-like love for him."
A little embarrassed, Shuu retorted,
"I wouldn't…put it like that…"
"So what way would you put it?!"
"…I owe him."
"Owe him what, exactly?! He's a mutant! He come from a vastly different world. One built on the hatred of our kind. It's all the more reason to leave him to his fate."
"I cannot, in good conscious, leave him to that necrophobe!"
Down to her last nerve, she exclaimed,
"WHY?!"
"Because he can help us!"
"How?!"
Shuu took a deep breath before giving the reason. The one reason that he knew will persuade even Matsumae.
"His flesh enables us to eat the same kinds of foods that the humans eat."
Surprised by this this revelation, Matsumae stood silent for a moment before asking,
"Are you speaking the truth?"
"I am. Sometime after the incident at the 8th ward, two acquaintances I knew ate his flesh: a day later, they could eat a hamburger steak as if they did so all their lives. Yoshimura even asked a geneticist he knew to test this flesh, and it proved itself capable of drastically changing ghoul DNA. Enough to change how we derive our nutritional sustenance."
Even Milo was in a state of shock hearing this as Matsumae responded,
"Forgive my language…but are. you. FUCKING SHITTING RIGHT NOW?!"
In a calm voice, Shuu replied,
"I shit you not. Ken Kaneki is the key for us ghouls to finally get the humans to stop killing us. To finally see us the way we want them to see us…but only when he take a most drastic step in our evolution."
Stunned by this information, Matsumae paced a little to think on how to make the case to Mirumo. She asked,
"May I see the file you have on you?"
Shuu handed Matsumae the file to her, and she looked at it while pacing herself. She considered everything after reading the entire file, including the location of the secret facility.
"It's near here?"
"Yes. I intended to go there myself if Milo hadn't stopped me."
Matsumae looked at him as he nodded to confirm.
"…if you're right, and that's a huge if…I'll ask Master Mirumo to…ask to see if we can change course."
"I cannot."
Said Mirumo as he stood in front of them, with at least four of the house servants behind him. Both Matsumae and Milo bowed in front of him as Matsumae says to him,
"Master Mirumo, I only meant-"
"I heard everything."
Everyone stood silent over what Shuu confessed to both Matsumae and Milo.
"I admit…it's quite a significant shock."
Shuu then says to him with conviction in his voice,
"Father, I know you conceived of this course of action with good intent…"
"Then you know why we must go through with this course of action."
"Father…from the bottom of my heart…it's ludicrous."
Although he hid it, Mirumo began to irritated from Shuu's defiance.
"Shuu, think about why we're in this position in the first place."
"My obsession with Ken Kaneki. I know that."
Mirumo sighed as he dare not deny the facts within what Shuu confessed to earlier.
"…Before he disappeared after the D'Ken incident, Yoshimura invited me to his café."
Shuu felt surprised by this.
"Really?"
"Yes…he offered a piece of a special kind of flesh. His flesh."
Shuu knew it to be Kaneki's.
"He asked me to use a fair amount of my resources to test it…to see if it could be replicated for all of ghouls within the whole of Tokyo."
All were floored by this revelation.
"At first, I was in total disbelief. However, the testimony of a certain young woman made me curious."
Shuu asked,
"Was her last name Fueguchi?"
"Yes. How did you know?"
"I knew her personally. Platonically, of course. She even planned to go to school…before his 'death.'"
Mirumo felt a little dejected when he asked,
"And what happened to her?"
"…She's in Cochlea."
Now visibly crestfallen over her current situation, Mirumo's anger slowly began to arise.
"I actually had the pleasure to meet her, even talk to her a little…I thought she was a nice little girl, with a bright future ahead of her…"
"I believed the same thing when I first met her. And father…despite suffering so much, she still had hope in her heart. And that hope…Ken Kaneki gave it to her. He is the key to us finally getting the humans to stop killing us! I am asking you to see that!"
Mirumo acknowledged the passion his son currently possessed. He did fear for Shuu's life, and the lives of his people. However, in his heart Mirumo knew a greater truth.
"This course of action is ultimately one of retreat…even if we escape the doves for now, can we escape them forever? Even if we are very frugal, it's only a matter of time before the doves find us again when we need to find food…"
Mirumo made a choice. One that possessed the potential of the end of the Tsukiyama family.
"Matsumae…Milo…"
"Yes, Master Mirumo?"
Said the two simultaneously.
"Gather all those who either can fight or will fight. We intend to rescue Ken Kaneki."
"Yes sir."
As soon as they left to perform their duties, Shuu says to his father,
"Thank you, father."
Mirumo walked up to his son and hugged him.
"I do this because I believe in you…my beloved son."
Shuu hugged his father back as he said,
"Merci…Pere…" (Thank you…father…)
xxxxxx
(Sapporo)
The Investigators made it to their destination. As they stood to listen to Arima, Mutsuki spoke with Urie.
"I worried…"
"About Haise?"
Mutsuki felt a little surprised when he referred to Kaneki by his false name. Much to Urie's notice.
"Sorry…I'm already used to calling him by his…"
"Assumed name?"
"Yeah. I'm still reeling in from the fact that we were serving under not just any X-Man, but the one who died saving the world."
"I know…but even then, I knew that he was someone that I'd…"
"You'd what?"
"…I'd trust with my life."
"Yeah…but truth be told: I treated him as nuisance at first, but was because…"
"Because of what?"
"…I wanted to get into the S3 squad."
"What for?"
Urie sat silent for a little while before saying,
"I'm…not ready to tell everything yet, And I don't think now's a good time."
"I understand."
"How do you think Shirazu is holding up?"
Looking around, Mutsuki finds with a serious look on his face sitting in between Saiko and Hisako.
"From the looks of him, he's ready for action. Can't say he's alone."
"…I can get where he's coming from."
Both Saiko and Hisako were concerned about Shirazu as he sat with a serious look on his face. Saiko asked,
"Shirazu, are you okay?"
Hisako added,
"Yeah, you're looking a little…grim."
"I'm fine. I'm just focused on the mission."
"Maybe a little too focused…?"
Shirazu responded in a calm voice,
"I'm still squad leader. That means I need to keep a cool head. I'm sorry if it's freaking you guys out. I just…wanna get this right. For Kaneki's sake."
Hisako then said to him,
"You're already calling him by his…"
"Real name?"
Hisako felt at a momentary loss for words.
"I kinda…knew who he was. This just make it real. Real enough that when we rescue Kaneki…I want him to know how much I really want to…live up to his…"
Shirazu did not know what right word to say to fully express what he felt. Luckily for him, Hisako knew.
"Example?"
"Yeah. I saw him on the news. About the 9th ward. I knew what kind of man I want to be. Because of him, I became somebody who could take on a monkey-munching kaiju. I thought the Wolverine was cool…but Ken Kaneki was the hero I wanted to be. That's why I don't care about what happens to me. Kaneki is the goal. And when we get him from Yashida, I'm gonna stand with him against anyone and anything that wants to take him away from us."
Saiko then says,
"Same with me. I want Maman back."
Hisako stood impressed by Shirazu's courage, and how it affected his comrades.
"I know Kaneki would be proud of him…"
Then, Hairu approached the three of them for the purpose of talking to Hisako.
"Hisako, I see you're back with your old team."
Hisako heard the tone within Hairu's voice. One that accused her of abandoning her.
"I'm still a part of Ui squad, if that's what you mean."
"So why act that you're still a part of them?"
Shirazu responded,
"Because the orders to keep her away from us was total bullshit."
Hairu asked,
"What?"
"The only reason why she had to be stuck on your squad was because of Yashida Industries sticking their dicks into our personal business."
Slightly disgusted, Hairu retorted,
"And you think that makes it all right for you to snatch up people from other squads?!"
"You were the ones that snatched her up!"
"Enough!"
Said Akira who intervened just before the situation got worse.
"The fact is we're here because of one of our own has been taken from us."
"You mean one of your own."
"Haise is a part of this Bureau."
Shirazu and Saiko noticed Akira called Kaneki by his old name.
"I mean Ken Kaneki."
"Whatever."
replied Hairu. Which made Akira angry.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me…bitch."
Many of the Investigators heard what Investigator Ihei said to Investigator Madou. Akira maintained her composure.
"The Bureau was doing fine before that mutant came here and started to change everything."
"The Bureau was losing Investigators before he became a part of it."
"Losing people is part of the job. Why bitch about it?"
Now with outrage in her voice, Akira asked,
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. Why cry for the weak who were always going to die no matter what you do?"
Some of the Investigators, as well as Saiko, Shirazu, and Hisako most of all, felt disturbed by what Investigator Ihei just said. At that moment, Yukio arrived to say to her,
"So, does making sure no one cries for you when you die is proof of your legacy?"
Ihei looks at Yukio with a deriding expression on her face.
"Oh, I'm never gonna die. I'm far too strong for any ghoul to kill."
"Is that right?"
"You're damn right. I've had more than 200 kills in my time here. I consider that proof enough that I'm basically invincible."
Some of the Investigators silently reacted to Ihei's claim. Yukio then says to her,
"At the very least, you just jinxed yourself."
"Excuse me?"
asked Ihei.
"Arrogance is always unbecoming of oneself. To proclaim yourself as invincible is to declare that you know nothing."
Ihei now got angry.
"Is that right?"
Ihei brought out her quinque out (a white rinkaku-based weapon that resembled a machete), which startled the Investigators around her. Yukio, however, seemed unfazed by this and brought out her katana, Danzan. Akira exclaims to the two of them,
"Stop this right now! This is not the place!"
"She started it. I'm just finishing it."
Said Ihei, to which Yukio replied,
"I do this to give her a much-needed lesson: There is always someone stronger than you. Like when Ken Kaneki defeated Kisho Arima."
Now Ihei's slightly angry expression on her face now became full-on rage.
"YOU SHUT THE FUCK UP!"
"IHEI!"
Yelled Investigator Arima as he approached the scene. Ihei instantly reverted into a childlike state.
"Arima…I only did this because-"
Arima slapped her face while displaying a rare sight of anger that no one saw, not even Marude ever saw before.
"You are embarrassing yourself. Apologize."
"But…they said-"
"Apologize now!"
Rather than doing what Arima told her, she asks him,
"Why?"
"Excuse me?"
"Why did you allow Ken Kaneki to defeat you?"
"I didn't. He defeated me of his own skill."
"No he didn't. He cheated! He cheated his way to be stronger than you, and you should be as pissed off as I am!"
Arima sighed as he sees Ihei for what she truly is.
"Clearly…the garden has failed you."
For some of the Investigators, what Arima just said confirmed where Ihei came from, based on her behavior.
"Hairu…what Ken Kaneki has become…is why both me and others wanted him here for. If he is stronger than me…then he is becoming what I want him to be."
Hairu felt her whole world shatter before her. She always accepted two things in her life that felt like immutable truths to her. One, that she stood stronger than anyone in the entire Bureau. Two, Arima was the only person she accepted stronger than her. For Ken Kaneki to usurp her worldview felt nothing less than an affront to her. Something he had to pay for. So she did something previously unspeakable to her. She lied to Arima to his face.
"Okay…I'm sorry for everything…and I'll apologize to them, too."
"Very good."
Said Arima in a relieved manner. As Ihei apologized to the X-Force, she thought to herself,
"I'll make you fuckers pay…by killing Ken Kaneki…"
As she joined with Ui for the operation, she asked him,
"You can't accept it either, right?"
Ui felt a little off-guard. Hairu then says to him,
"I'll gladly keep it to myself. Just be honest."
Ui took a deep breath before saying,
"I cannot accept Ken Kaneki as one of us. The fact that Arima wants him in the Bureau…may be one of his rare lapses of judgement."
"…Likewise."
Soon, Matsuri arrived at the scene, asking Arima,
"The hell's going on?"
Arima was the only one to speak.
"Just a little…out of hand argument."
Matsuri looked around to see no one with any visible injuries.
"It better be…"
xxxxxx
(Yashida Lab)
One of the ninjas under Harada's command notified him of an ongoing development as Harada was busy sharpening his sword.
"Harada."
"Status."
"Our surveillance system has notified us of movement at the station in Sapporo."
"…The GCB."
"Yes sir. Delta has predicted that they'll most likely come here…"
"For him…"
Harada took a moment to sheathe his sword.
"Ready the clan. We are now at war."
The ninja nodded at Harada's command. He then went to Dr. Sarkissian's workspace to check on the progress of her work. He sees the machine that was created for Ichiro Yashida's goal to transfer his mind to Kaneki's body. It was a cube shaped supercomputer with some sort of katana enclosed in the center behind a glass casing. Two sets of large wires extended from its left and right sides, with the ends of said large wires splitting up into thinner wires. The ends of the thin wires had white pads attached to them as they laid on the foreheads of both Ichiro and Ken. Harada recognized the katana within the supercomputer glass encasing.
"Muramasa…"
"Indeed. The final piece to making this project possible."
Said the doctor, who oversaw the project. Harada asked her,
"Have you started yet?"
"Delta is finalizing preparations for the process. The process will take some time."
"How long?"
"I don't know yet. Bear in mind that this is all pure theory. Even with all the components to make it possible…as well as the two dwarves we…acquired…in the end, I don't know how long the process will be. Might take minutes, hours, days even."
"This is bad…"
"What's the hurry?"
"…The GCB has arrived. Most likely to rescue him."
Sarkissian now looked worried, albeit slightly.
"Well then…I get Delta to skip the systems check and get right to the transfer. Try to hold the fort in the meantime."
"Despite how capable some of them are, the Black Clan will be a force of power they will regret fighting."
Sarkissian then showed Harada something on her tablet.
"As for the other…patient…"
The tablet displayed a sort of tube-like bed containing, that seemed to be, Mariko's resting body within blue liquid.
"We've harvested the last of the necessary DNA from her son. Soon…she'll come back to life. Possibly after Master Ichiro's procedure."
Harada showed emotion as he sees Mariko within said tube. After he placed the tablet on the table between hi and Sarkissian, she then gave him a vial containing some sort of green liquid.
"Here. Have your soldiers dip your arrows into this. It's a special poison I developed. Guarantees to kill a human within seconds."
Harada looks at the vial, initially hesitant to accept.
"I am sure of our success. And when Master Ichiro succeeds, what we do afterwards will be a pertinent matter."
"Thinking ahead. Not bad. However, there's no need. Master Ichiro already has a plan for when he assumes his new body."
Harada then takes the vial.
"Like I said, hold the fort."
Harada left. As he joined with his ninjas, he thought to himself,
"Mariko…we will be together again…like we used to be…"
Harada stood in front of at least 1000 black robed ninjas, all ready for war. In service of Ichiro Yashida.
Well…one more chapter to go. An epic battle of ninjas, Quinxes, mutants, Investigators and ghouls will soon take place. Until then, stay tuned. Thank you for reading. Don't forget to share with your friends and/or leave a review. Until next time…