In the woods, the White Rabbit continued to run until She stops to see some familiar figures. The One Eyed Queen's soldiers. They all stepped to the side to make way for the Queen to exit from her carriage with the assistance of the Bin Brothers.

"Oh no," Rabbit muttered.

"There you are, Rabbit." The Bin brother picked him up by her kagune.

"Argh!" Bin presented her before the Queen. "Your Majesty, I can explain."

"You're late."

"I know, I know. I-I'm so sorry. I came as soon as I could." Rabbit attempted, not wanting to die.

The One Eyed Queen smiled.

Xxx

In the Queen's palace, The One Eyed Queen and the Rabbit sat round a table full of treats.

"So you told Arisu what you heard?" Queen asked.

"Yes, that Kaneki was alive." Rabbit said eagerly. "Is he?"

"I'll be the one asking questions." Queen said firmly.

"Ah, right, right. So this makes us all square then. You said if I got her here then I-I'd get-" Rabbit tried to get up but was slammed down by her kagune by the Bin Brothers.

"I said," Queen towered over her. "we'll settle when the game was complete. We are still setting up the board. Now, as for your friend, Arisu, I need you to report everything she does. Where she goes. Who she talks to. What she is thinking. I need more than my eyes, I need your kagune. And you will either help me, darling... or decorate this room. Understood?"

Rabbit nodded, whimpering in pain. "Yes, your Majesty.

"Now leave." Queen said imperiously.

Rabbit left, biting back tears.

Xxx

Arisu and Knave were near the border of Tulgey Woods.

"The Tulgey Woods." Arisu breathed. "Anteiku is on the other side."

"Aren't you worried this is all a trap?" Hide asked.

"If there's a chance that Kaneki is alive... we have to take it." Arisu grabbed a long stick from nearby bushes. "Right, let's go."

"The One Eyed Queen." Hide said. You said it was also her who threw Kaneki into the Boiling Sea. Why would she do that?"

"I don't know." Arisu shrugged. "But I would love to ask her. And see the look on her face when she realizes I'm not the forgiving sort. Particularly when said face meets this branch, repeatedly."

Hide's eyes widened. "That doesn't sound like you."

Arisu smirked. "My doctor said I'm a danger to myself and to others."

"Ah, you can't believe everything you read now."

"I don't." Arisu shot back. "In fact, when I thought Kaneki was dead, I stopped believing in much of anything."

Xxx

In the One Eyed Queen's palace, A suspicious breeze opened the doors that lead to the balcony. The Queen headed outside.

"Well?" A Man asked.

"She's back." The Queen smiled.

"And what is the girl doing now?"

"Looking for her one eyed ghoul, of course. Isn't that what we wanted, Yamori?" The mysterious man stepped off the railing and approached the One Eyed Queen.

"What we want can't be accomplished until we have them both," Yamori reasoned. "And the girl is…persuaded…to make all her wishes.

"And since that was your job…" Queen snarled. "I'd say perhaps you shouldn't be so pleased with yourself.""

"Do not talk down to me, Eto," Yamori growled.

"That's the thing about power..." Queen grinned manically. "…it can be so fleeting."

Yamori Scoffed. "Is that a threat?"

"No." Queen calmed down. "Threats are for people who aren't prepared to act." She released her kagune and began to transform.

"Wait..." Yamori attempted. "…you need me!"

"Not anymore." Queen said in her royal form.

"B-But I did what you could not!" Yamori cried. "I captured the One Eyed Ghoul! I brought him to heel! I-I brought Arisu back to Wonderland!"

If the creature could smile, then a twisted smirk decorated the Queen's face. "Which means your work and your usefulness to me is done. I'll take it from here."

With a crack and a snap, she began to kill Yamori.

"You don't know...where she is? Do you?" Yamori choked out.

Queen let go of him. Yamori struggled to get up and caught his breath and began to snicker. "That's right, you don't. You don't know how to bring a ghoul to heel, how to make them obey. Which means only I know exactly where Arisu is going, and how to make her use her wishes—how to properly make them both obey. So if you want my help, yes, our deal remains. I will get you those wishes."

"In return for what, exactly?" Queen snarled at him, regaining her form, but still irritable.

"All in due time." Yamori snarled. "Let me bring these doomed lovers to their sticky end, oh my Queen." He mocked with a bow.

Queen yanked her robes away from his touch. "For your sake, I hope you do."

Yamori stepped on a wandering cloud and flew away to a tower cloaked in mist beyond the Queen sight.

The One Eyed Queen looked on worriedly.