Hey guys! I'm posting the second chapter a little early (just because I want to... and because posting these on Wednesdays instead of Thursdays is a better schedule for me). Also while I'm on the topic, chapter posting might slow down a little after the fourth chapter (to come) because school is starting back up for me and I'm taking driving classes at the same time so it's pretty busy for me. TL;DR the pre-written chapters may or may not run out soon in which I'll have to switch from posting every week to posting every two weeks. We'll see, it's not confirmed, but it's just a heads up. Anyway I hope y'all enjoy!
Kaneki continued his way through the streets of Tokyo, looking around slowly. He tried hard to keep from worrying.
It's fine. Time travel isn't real. This is just a dream or a coincidence.
I did not time travel!
Kaneki stopped in his tracks, thinking to himself in silence as other people pushed past him. Was it really possible that he traveled into the past? If that was the case…
It was approaching noon as Kaneki made his way to a restaurant. If he was correct then…
Then past me should be here on a date with Rize.
Kaneki walked slowly to the table where he and Rize had lunch and…
Thank goodness, no one's there. I must just be seeing things then. Or maybe this really is a dream-
And then he saw the two of them walk into the restaurant. A tall young woman with flowing purple hair and scarlet red glasses accompanied by a boy roughly the same height as the woman with black hair and a nervous expression made their way to the table Kaneki was spotting out.
No way…
That's… me!?
Kaneki watched as a much younger him sat down at the table with Rize, and he felt a chill go down his spine. No one, human or ghoul, was meant to view themselves in third person in real life. It was so strange that Kaneki just stood there for a while, frozen. It wasn't until he noticed all of the suspicious stares that he moved, heading outside the restaurant.
However, even being outside he was entranced. He watched as a young Kaneki talked to the very woman who tried to eat him alive…
So I really did travel into the past, somehow, some way.
I must be going insane…
Kaneki watched a moment longer before continuing on his way. Despite being so fascinated by the fact that he was watching a version of himself ten years younger reenact actions he had done himself he knew that it would only be a matter of time before his former self noticed his staring. Whether past Kaneki recognized his future self or not didn't matter, all he knew is that it would be bad news if he drew too much attention from his counterpart.
Kaneki wasn't sure if the butterfly effect was a real thing or not, but if his time reading books taught him anything then he knew at least that if he interacted too much with this past world it could change everything.
Then again… what if that's a good thing?
What if I use this opportunity to make a brighter future? Sure, the one I live in now isn't all that bad, but what if I can stop the destruction of the One Eyed King? What if I can save everyone who was lost in the many battles we fought?
What if I can bring peace for both humans and ghouls alike? I mean, it's at least worth a shot.
As the sun began to set Kaneki's thoughts only continued to race. If he was going to change the past then what would be the first thing he would change? It wasn't often that he thought about changing the past, other than maybe regretting letting himself get kidnapped and tortured by Jason…
Okay, at least I thought of one thing. But is that really the only thing he would change?
Kaneki sighed, putting his hands behind his head in a casual manner as he walked. It was getting a little more chilly as the sun continued to set, and Kaneki started debating whether he should put on the stolen sweatshirt or not.
Wait a minute, this is the night that Rize attacked me…
Maybe I can stop her from turning me into a ghoul!
Kaneki nodded to himself, agreeing with his own inner thoughts. He began sprinting down the street, making his way over to where the incident would happen.
Just let me get there on time, please!
Kaneki skidded to a stop, recognizing the dark shady path that he had taken. There seemed to be no one there, and Kaneki breathed a light sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, maybe I made it here before-
Suddenly a blood curdling scream rang out from the pathway. Kaneki felt his blood run cold, and he immediately knew.
I'm too late…
No, I can still save myself. I just have to hurry.
Kaneki jolted into action, running down the pathway at full speed.
If I can just make it there in time, I'll never become a ghoul…
Kaneki suddenly stopped in his tracks, deep in thought.
Wait, is that really what I want? Do I really want to be human that badly? If it wasn't for me becoming a ghoul I would have never met Touka… and if I had never had met Touka then I wouldn't have my happy family back in my time.
Is it really better if I'm a ghoul?
Kaneki's thoughts were soon interrupted by a large metal crashing noise. Kaneki jumped a little, darting towards the noise.
I'm too late. I'm too late!
Kaneki stood in front of the scene. Several silver and red steel beams lay in a pile, dust rising in a cloud around the construction site. Kaneki rushed over to the heap of beams, digging through before he spotted Rize and himself. He looked down in pure horror, seeing Rize's caved in skull. Her once gorgeous purple locks of hair were matted and stained dark red in blood. Her neck and upper chest area were also almost completely smashed, and the only intact part were her torso and legs.
Meanwhile the exact opposite could be said for his past self. His young figure wasn't as smashed as Rize was, rather there was just one large steel shaft laying across his stomach. His entire torso seemed crushed however, being almost completely flat. It was sickening for Kaneki as he saw his past self so mutilated. He looked around, noticing a payphone nearby. He hastily ran over to it, dialing 9-1-1.
Please be safe. If I somehow killed myself in the past by being too slow to call…
No, I'm sure it's fine. I was fine then and I'll be fine now.
Kaneki didn't bother to wait for the ambulance to show up. Instead, after alerting the authorities about the accident he made his way to Anteiku. He knew what he had to do.
Kaneki opened the door to the coffee shop, watching as none other than Touka herself wiped the tables. It was clearly closing time, but Kaneki knew it would be fine.
Touka turned around slowly, looking at Kaneki with a look of exasperation, her hands on her hips.
"You know we're closed, right?" she informed Kaneki with a sigh, rolling her eyes a little as she spoke. "Come back tomorrow when we open back up…"
"I'd like to speak to Yoshimura as soon as possible," Kaneki blurted out, a determined look on his face. He watched as Touka gave him a skeptical look, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Why exactly do you need to speak to him?" she asked, setting down the damp rag she was using to wipe the tables and stepping closer to Kaneki. She gave him the slightest of dirty looks, frowning before speaking up again. "Who even are you?"
"My name is Haise Sasaki, and I'm here to request a job here."
I hope y'all enjoyed! Also P.S., expect the name Haise to be replacing Kaneki's name in the rest of the chapters, just a heads up :)
Until next week! C'ya!
