** Trigger Warning: Blood **

Within the span of three weeks, Valissa had come to find a new familiarity with the way this world functioned. No longer would she mindlessly stare off into the cellblock walls – wondering what her fate might be as days passed. No. Instead, she had been saved by those very beings she had been created to destroy. For the most part, at least. That was the fate of a Devil. Little would her makers have imagined one of her kind to team up with Ghouls, but it's happened, and Valissa couldn't have been happier. Anything would have been a highlight compared to that prison. Years spent in solitude – quickly coming to find that she is quite the socialite.

Perhaps being a caged bird would not be so bad after all.

The job did have its perks, like a whole new wardrobe. The identity of her devilish state was to remain a secret from a majority of the CCG. None could predict the outcome if the truth of the matter were to end up entering through the wrong ears. Until Yukinori was absolutely sure his comrades could handle the sensitive information, he and Juuzou would keep their lips sealed. She too would remain the same. As a Devil, Valissa wished to remain out of the spotlight, if she could manage.

In the first week of her employment, Valissa had been given a limited amount of spending funds in order to create herself a reasonable business attire. Touka hadn't warmed up to the idea of her clothing continuing to fall into borrowed hands. This was no big deal. Besides, this would be a first for Valissa. Owning sets of her own clothing, or perhaps when she was a young child – before being abducted. She had to of had some type of wardrobe back in those days. Memory didn't serve her well. In any case, this was a time she would rejoice in, as well as the fact that Mr. Yoshimura had been correct.

Days prior, the elder had explained the nature of Devils. Few details still circled around in her memory. One being that her eyes would change their tint. At her first glimpse into the mirror, Valissa had eyes opposite to those of a hungry ghoul. Appearing like that of a black hole in the center of her gaze, but now… with the aid of Yoshimura, Valissa's eyes altered. What used to be the shade of crimson now reflected back as white as snow, and what had been darkness now showed off a blue as deep as the ocean.

This new alteration in her appearance certainly helped pass her off for being human.

Further into the weeks, time passed. This world was certainly a lot to take in. The tall structures surrounding each street. Motorized vehicles honking their horns at every turn. People chattering away into rectangular means of communication. Yes, a lot to get used to in a quick amount of time. No doubt that she'd be up to the task.

Valissa remained put together. Focused. Educating herself on all she needed to about Devils, Ghouls, and anything else. Like how to act in a meeting room. Having been a prisoner for as long as she had, without the proper education into reading and writing, Valissa could only retain information within the back of her mind. Luckily Yukinori himself had taken extensive notes and would share with her the details of their plans each day on the walk back to Anteiku. No leads yet as to the whereabouts of further Devil's nests. No one was giving up. Not yet.

There has to be a lead somewhere… we'll find it.

Hunting for that location would have to wait a day or so. Unlike some others, Valissa had been given the luxury of having weekends to herself. A young woman who had been tortured for a majority of her life earned a bit of free time.

This particular Saturday started out the same as the others. She would wake from her slumber – calmly stretching out her arms in a stretch to greet the new day. The patter of rain against the glass window could be heard through the dimly shaded room. Already she's come to feel the sensation of falling drops on her skin. These new friends of hers had given off warnings of catching a cold, but Valissa couldn't care less about a worry so foolish. Eyes caught sight of rain for the first time, and she'd take in the feeling just as much. This time around, she'd simply smile out the closed window at this day – ready for a full adventure.

It had not taken the young woman long to gather herself. After a warm shower, the girl put a simple set of shorts over long legs combined with a plain gray t-shirt and combat boots. A style simple for a weekend, and for any type of event. There would be no plan for the hours to come. Didn't mean that she was not ready for anything.

Downstairs she had been greeted with a freshly brewed mug of coffee. A sweetened flavor of vanilla creamer added to soften the black taste. This almost becoming like an addiction. Deep down inside her gut, Valissa felt there was some hidden agenda behind the morning routine. Knowledge remained. Ghouls had their way of keeping their cool when humans were around – without consuming flesh, that is. The situation was the same for her. Valissa is constantly surrounded by Ghouls when she isn't working with the CCG. On her days off, she has to constantly focus on another matter. Not of the honeyed scent of Touka's veins or the way that Nishiki's heart beat faster around Valissa's presence. Could be due to her rumored beauty, or because she's something for the ghouls to fear.

Valissa did have these moments where she would zone out but never did she actually try and make a move against this new family. That's why she believed that Yoshimura had something put into her daily dose of coffee. To help suppress that animalistic desire to leap across the counter and…

Don't.

There had to be some type of explanation. Truth be told, even if there was, Valissa didn't care to know. So long as the method worked in her favor, he could keep assisting the control by whatever means necessary. There was no longing anywhere in her to harm these people. They may be Ghouls – monsters to the outside world, but to her, they were saviors. The beings that got Valissa out of a horrid life. Giving her a second chance. Words could never fully express her appreciation for being spared that day. Perhaps the cooperation of her actions with the CCG and keeping her appetite at bay would help aid in some unspoken thanks.

"Yeah, Enji. I heard you loud and clear. Just running to the bookstore. It's down the street. Won't take me longer than a half hour to get there and back." Three weeks may not have been a long time, but not everyone could act at a babysitter. Especially for someone as old as Valissa. It was almost embarrassing. Yoshimura trusted the young lady enough for a trip like this – alone. If anything foul were to happen, they'd trust she'd make the right decision. To not cause a scene, but to get back to the coffee shop as quickly as possible. "Don't worry!"

From casual training courses with Juuzou at the CCG headquarters, her skills in hand-to-hand combat improved. She'd still be weak in an actual fight, or so she figured. Devil's were naturally strong. Holding power beyond that of a Ghoul. Valissa didn't feel that tough. In doing what she could, like training, she helped ease her mind into the belief that handling herself wouldn't be life-threatening. Unlike Ghouls, Valissa could handle the scent of human blood. Didn't bother her to see a drop of crimson running down Juuzou's skin when she got a lucky hit.

As she already knew, when it came to being surrounded by Ghouls, her focus had to be spot on.

When opening the door to leave the shop, Valissa felt a sudden pause in that motion. Thud. Newly blue eyes widened as a rush of senses began acting up. A head started to flare inside. Hands were suddenly trembling. Mouth watering. That scent in the air, the one she had ignored for so long, became very potent. Unavoidable. Knowing better, the correct option right now would be to shut the door and walk away. To hide away in the four walls of her room. Treating that like the cell she had grown up in. This would be the best of two options, because on the other side of this door stood a Ghoul – bleeding.

The scent wafted right up into her nose. Driving her mind mad with desire even with the door still standing as a blockade between her and… Kaneki. Yes, she knew even without the proper affirming sight of that snow-white hair. Since day one she had noticed an unwanted attraction to the young man. Not by his looks, but by his scent. It was unique. Unlike any of the other's that surrounded them. She had understood this, but never felt the need to act. Not until this very second.

"Oh… I'm sorry…."Taking the second route to her earlier choice, the Devil stood alone in that short hall. No, not on her own, but with one other. The door closed behind her. Back leaned up against the wooden surface while her eyes took in the sight. A gaze so intense. Brought on by such a mere injury: a bloody nose. Had to of been caused when she had been opening the door to exit. Wrong place, wrong time.

He gave a light grin in return. Admitting to Valissa that this wasn't anything to concern herself over. "You heading somewhere?"

She nodded in reply. Remaining silent. The blood that had been trickling down his nose had since been wiped clean. Remnants remained on his hand as the scent still lingered. Her nose worked like that of a great white. Through miles of open ocean and a single drop of blood could still drive her mad with hunger.

Next, she knew, Kaneki had been slammed up against the wall. Hard. The shark lingering inside Valissa readying to strike. Breathing heavily. Hands, much like claws of a beast, dug into his shoulders. Pinned between brick and pending doom. She couldn't stop that gaze. Mind had been racing moments prior, but right now – silence. Almost as if the world around her fell into a paused state. The only sound would be the magnified rush of blood running through his veins. The pulse of his heart making one stand out. Right on the young man's neck.

"I won't stop you."

These words were barely taken in. They drifted with the breeze – in one ear and out the other for it did not matter if Kaneki had given permission or not. The beast would not wait to strike its prey. That is exactly how the next few months played out which, to Valissa, seemed like an eternity of torture once again.

Like in slow motion, she could feel the boy's flesh tear open underneath the clench of her teeth. A rush of warmed red life beginning to stream down her throat – pooling on the floor at their feet. Her mind knew this was wrong. That she shouldn't be… losing control. Too little too late, and Kaneki, he remained silent. A huff of discomfort at the start. Showing no other sign of pain. His hands rested gently on her waist as the beast continued to stain the hall with blood.

I can't… control…

"The hell are you doing?!"

Ripped away from her prey, Valissa nearly tripped back over her own feet. Her sight picked up the view of Kaneki – his neck stained with blood. Same as his clothes, and Touka staring at her as if a war had just been declared.