The Lady Priestess conspicuously (in miko garb carrying questionable magic books) headed into Anteiku and smacked right into Hideyoshi Nagachika.

"Ouch! Whoa!" Seeing who she was, Hide backed off suspiciously. "I'm so sorry Lady Witch! Please don't hex me!"

Kuri gave him a sharp look, picking up his stuff and handing it over. "Actually, esteemed ofendee, I'm a priestess. But if I WAS a witch, I'd probably say something like…" She leaned in, saying dramatically. "tuus stultus! And you'd find something in your room tonight veeeery interested in why you called it from the grave." Satisfied, Kuri smirked and sat down.

Hide sat down next to Kaneki, stunned

Kaneki meanwhile, was trying to stifle a laugh.

"Kaneki…am I gonna die?" Hide whispered, terrified.

"Of course you won't die Hide." Kuri said, demonstrating her stellar hearing. "Cuz I'm not a witch, ne?"

Kaneki finally recovered from his fit of laughter. "Hide, You're not going to die I promise. She's really not a witch."

"But she hexed me!"

Kuri opened her book, annoyed.

"No she didn't." Kaneki laughed.

"She said something creepy in Greek at me!"

"It was Latin." Kaneki tried to stop laughing.

"Really?" Hide leaned forward. "What'd she say?"

"I'm not telling." Kaneki smirked.

Kuri made eye contact with him and smiled, glad to have their own little secret.

Hide grunted noncommittally. "Fine whatever…when's your date?"

Kuri stiffened, realizing where, no, when, the Wishing Hut had dumped her. She wasn't too late!

"It's tonight!" Kaneki sighed happily, sinking into dreamland.

Kuri rummaged through her book, searching for the right magic to aid without breaking her own limit. Fate Manipulation? No, too far…

Rise entered Anteiku instead of waiting outside, correctly sensing a threat in Kuri. "Kaneki? I'm ready to go."

Kuri flinched at the challenged and put her head down.

For reasons unknown to himself, Kaneki stepped in front of the priestess, in between her and Rize.

"Hey Rize." Kaneki smiled warmly. "I'm ready too."

Rize, seeing Kaneki's return challenge, glared at Kuri. What was this girl, and why did she vex her so?

Feeling the tension, and unconsciously responding, Kaneki led Rize to the door. "Let's go."

Satisfied at her claim, Rize relaxed. "Let's go."

The priestess sat there for a few moments, turning over a scrap of cloth in her hands and smiling. The cloth belonged to Rize and now she knew just how to spell her!

But at that moment her world trembled and shook. The priestess collapsed against the chair. Something had changed…Rize was moving up feeding time!

Kuri yanked herself to her feet, looking at her hands, transparent and glitching, her tether pulling at her, she grit her teeth and—

Xxx

Rize's head reeled as she felt the tear in her shirt. Who knew what that witch would do now?! Distracted, she missed what the prey said.

"Shall we go to the bookstore?" Kaneki repeated.

Rize got her thoughts together. She'd better devour him, and fast, before they were interrupted. She smiled sweetly and held out her hand to him.

"I have a better idea. Let's go for a walk."

Kaneki was disappointed. "Oh alright but I thought you'd want to go to this bookstore I found."

Rize rethought her response for this particular type of prey. "I know one that's having a sale! Come on!"

"That sounds great! Lead the way."

Sensing her time was running out, Rize grabbed him, pulling him into the darkness, pulling him into her arms.

"Ah! But…this isn't the way…" Kaneki attempted, extremely distracted.

Rize hugged him. "I wanted to be alone with you…"

Kaneki blushed, a dream come true—until she bit him. He was shocked! "Rize what….?"

Rize bit a full chunk outta him. "Aaah I knew you'd be delicious Kaneki!"

At that moment the priestess arrived, breathing hard and clenching her fists. "STOP!"

Rize ripped the flesh from his shoulder. Kaneki screamed.

"Kaneki!" Kuri wrenched him from her. "It's-its alright! Sh-she's not gonna eat you!"

Something was wrong with her—her speech was stilted, sounding broken. But there was no time to examine it—cuz she was about to die!

"You have no right to interfere! But if you do I'll kill you too! I don't care!" Rize snarled.

Kaneki got in front of her. "No…y-you wanted me…not her."

Rize smiled. "How big of you, prey, stepping up and offering yourself to me. How can I refuse!" She lunged.

Kaneki closed his eyes, accepting his fate.

"Kaneki NO!" Kuri yanked him back. "don't…" She fell to the ground, shaking, voice stuttering like a broken record. "please…"

"No don't!" Kaneki cried.

Kuri shook her head at him. "Just…run…"

"Look!" Rize laughed. "She's dying for you. How great you must feel for a High Priestess to sacrifice her life to save you? Too bad it won't matter!"

Kaneki seized his moment, and ran away; but not fast enough, as Rize's kagune stabbed him.

"You fucking coward." Rize spat in disgust.

At that moment fate—or something?—intervened, and steel beams crushed the ghoul at his feet.

Released from whatever bound her, Kuri lunged and grabbed Kaneki in her arms. She touched his face, hands shaking. "Kaneki…please be alive…I messed up; I'm sorry…please please live!"

Kaneki groaned and looked up at her.

She was crying. "I'm really sorry… I wanted to… I couldn't…" Kuri touched his face. "Please, you have to live…" She groaned, starting to fade like a ghost or a shadow. "I'm…I'm Kuri…" She whispered the introduction, almost as if she was reminding herself.

"K-kuri…" Kaneki managed.

"I-I finally get to hear you say my name and I'm not happy at all! L-listen. You…you have to l-live ok?" The priestess was transparent and fading away. This must be a dream. "I-I'll come back. But…I-I c-can only do that if you l-live." She lunged and kissed him. Kaneki's eyes went wide. No, this was real! "Please!"

"Alright…" Kaneki mumbled. "I'll…live. Just don't…disappear. Stay."

With more strength than he thought he had, he grabbed his hands.

"No." Kuri pulled away. "L-live…for yourself…I-I can't…I won't be able to…we cant…"

Kaneki reached for her, but touched nothing. "W-we could try…"

"No…we cant… your grabbing smoke… see you…" With one hand lifted in farewell, she vanished.

The world went dark.

Xxx

In the Wishing Hut, the Lady Priestess wept at her weakness. She shoved her body against the locked door, striking it with a fist.

"Let me out! Let me help! I want!" She hit. "to see!" She hit again. "him—"

Suddenly Hide and Kaneki walked through the door, knocking her to the floor.

"Again, witchy woman?" Hide smirked.

Kaneki stared into her eyes. And one eye, his Kakugan, was hidden by an Eyepatch.

In her mind, Kuri screamed.