Okay, so if this did get traction, I would be truly appreciative if you chose to read my story. I plan to continue until this story feels cohesive and complete. Also, I would appreciate yourconstructive criticism to improve my writing and storytelling skills. Otherwise, I don't think I will look at or acknowledge any of the comments left just to let you know.

Chapter 2: Know Your Place Human

As Kaneki headed home his mind raced with excitement. He had just a chance to date with that incredible temptation but her real name was Rize, Rize Kamishhiro. She was even like the same author. What would the chance be of that? Never had Kaneki felt so glad to have taken a chance at love; he hadn't felt this happy since his book had gotten personally signed by the author. *Ha is that supposed to be a joke* Surprised Ken swung around to be met with nothing left but a face of fear and conflicting confusion " Hello?" he said expecting something but was answered in silence.

Leaving Ken with unsettled thoughts, he decided that sleep was probably the best thing for him. Seeing his building in his sights he headed in its forward direction with his head up high still excited for the Sunday he could have experienced his first date as that thought set in that would be his first date his cheek became slightly warmer than before. Finally meeting the stairs he walked up, following the path that made him meet his door, pulling out his key, making contact with the door to see opening the door and closing door behind him, not noticing a small outline of a hand imprint on the door. Taking off his shoes he could make out an outline of a person before turning on the light revealing his mother "Shouldn't you be sleeping" "I wouldn't be a good mother if I didn't make sure my son was safe" "That's still no excuse for you to strain yourself just because of me" replying to his mother with a reasonable response.

But despite this response her smile never wavered, making Ken smile in return but still resolute in making her feel comfortable. Picking up the breakfast tray and bringing it into the kitchen portion of the apartment placing the utensils into the sink cleaning them with more energy than he would normally have. "Did you enjoy yourself?" Mrs. Kenaki asked "Yeah a lot actually" sounding more cheerful but something Mrs. Ken's motherly instincts told her that something had changed seeking answers she finagled her son with questions hooked by her stirred interest" Well did everything special happens today," asked, leaving the dishes to dry "Well there was something else that happened" "oh really Like what," his mother said with fake surprise " Do tell what could have made you so cheerful" eagerly waiting " I met a someone " he held his words to look at his mother to find his mother had a sense of genuine surprise and a high level of interest.

Gently but somewhat abruptly pulled him in by his arms ``Please tell me everything" and before he knew she was asking him a whole slew of questions that followed along the lines of "What does she look like, How did you meet her, is she an avid read" answering as much as he could as, but time past both fed on each other excitement. Through the way, Mrs. Keneki's eyes weld joy and comfort to know her son could have finally found the perfect soulmate to keep him happy: Ken expresses how he felt around Rize describing to his mother that he thought that he was thrilled and optimistic, and while he did have Hideyoshi he and him were still very different people.

As words were said, time passed, and eventually they both had to sleep. We see our protagonist lying on his couch blissfully at peace, and within his mind, it is very similar but he is lying on the grassy plain again looking into the sky with a mild smile with only one word that he thinks of peace. "What type of shitty mind palace is this" Jutting up he turned around to see something he just couldn't understand at that time but his mind could only see a much taller human figure with white eyes that looked best like shattered pieces of plates which was the only color he could see with the once blue sky and green grass both replace with a void best looking like the edge of a cliff. One idea came to the protagonist "Run" and so he tried rising to his feet but those milky white eyes were in front of him "Ah" yelling in a panic to see that this thing was human-like in stature superior to most "THING" shrieking as if insulted you "Because I am insulted to be addressed as such from a lower life form" "Wait what.. how do you know my thoughts?!" slowly becoming more and more fearful and panic believing that this had to be a dream or some type of nightmare "O but that is were your wrong Kaneki I am NOT just a memorable DREAM" putting one foot forward "or a long-lasting NIGHTMARE" grabbing the powerless boy by the head high above to "I AM VENOM". With Venom's final word uttered he looks at Ken with a simple toothy grin on his demonic face that could even give ghouls a run for their money, as our protagonist fears for his life he attempts to make a sound to ask someone, anyone, to help but no one could hear he looked down to see the now self-proclaimed Venom open and widening his mouth to an absurd amount, jagged teeth included to then pulling Ken in final consume him whole without anything else uttered.

A gasp filled the morning air with fear and a sense of looming death. A figure rose from a couch sweaty and unnerved choosing to gather his thoughts he concluded it was a nightmare it must be. Standing up he only needed one thing right now a shower gather fresh clothes and head to the bathing room the heat took his mind away from that nightmare crouching in an upright cradle position to think more, but he still wondered what that dream could have meant for him what was it or he… he was human or ghoul he just couldn't understand. Something else was wrong, he was hungry he could almost describe it as starving he… he needed "KNOCK KNOCK" Looking to the door with fear as tho expecting him to enter. "Kaneki," his mother asked, he immediately calmed his Pasteur "Yes is there something you need Mom" standing up as he shut off the water grabbing a towel "No I just want to make sure you are okay" Pausing "I'm okay why are you up so early" "because your up so early it's not normal for you" with concern evident.

Ken hears his mother's reasoning, now putting on fresh clothes at an increased pace.

"Well I just wanna try something new" hoping his mom would take the hint "You can tell me if something is wrong" finally opened the door to see the mother in front of him pale and thin still having a deep concern in her eyes regardless of her sickness "I promise if there was anything wrong I'd tell you" laying a gentle kiss on the forehead of his mother enter an initiate hug of reassurance."I just need some fresh air. I'll be back so I promise," Ken said with absoluteness. Mrs Kaneki knew better but could wait until her son was ready to talk to her, but that was just wishful thinking.

Leading his mother back to her bed he lays her gently, making sure her blanket was comfortable engulfing he lower waist "You know I can take care of myself" "Yeah but that was before you got sick" reminding her of her condition "Maybe so but I was still just as capable but now I'm just... weaker now" she said with soberly "Don't worry from now on I'll be the one to take care of you" alloying his mother to show a small grin before pulling him in for one last hug. Ending the hug Ken gathers his necessities and opens the door giving his mother a loving smile closing the door and locking it. Turning he walks forward and meets the solid earth, wandering without purpose as his shoes meet the cold dirty concrete, and strolls past the few people walking by.

He needed to get their mind started and wait for why they would-. He thinks "It's just me it's just me" Trying to prove to himself that he is alone he has to say "Don't count on it" looking horrified, and turning his head like a madman getting small looks and judgmental gazes from bystanders. We calmed down slightly and continued with a faster speed in their steps (stop it stop it leave me alone) pleading with his subconscious "OH but where would be the fun in that" Ken hastened their pace he needed space he needed to think he saw it a chance an alley at this point running into the narrow alley with speed far faster then he knew he could eventually he slowly lost track of time only to be stopped by tripping and landing on his face. He slowly lifts his hands making contact with dirty water but he doesn't care and sits breathing heavily "What's happening to me" his eyes watering out of fear, panic, and Hunger. His mind confused him and was seemingly torturing him so he did what he typically did when he was sleeping and when he was awake he looked up the sky was blue which meant it was going to be an early morning at least for them.

*How about we clear somethings* Venom spouted looking down he could see…. Venom with clear sight even in the unhygienic puddle, his mouth contorting into a cryptic grin with jagged teeth. Hunching over he asked in desperation "What do you want from me?" *I want nothing from you Ken, I'm just here to help you,* Venom said with a small tone of fake reassurance.

"You not real I'm just not sleeping enough that's all" sounding desperate *Look at me a fool* showing irritation in his voice *Like I said my only intention is to help you* "How am I supposed to believe You" his voice barely a whisper Venom took a moment before replying with "I can help you deal with those guys" saying with nonchalance Ken turning his head to see a trio of men approaching him with varying degrees of interest the far right had slicked back hair and looked like a delinquent with irritated eyes in the center an l high school student the one on the far right was similar but he had red hair with a mask over his face looking a little unbalanced to be generous, and leading the packed was a boy with slicked back hair but blond in color and shirtless but with a cote hugging his shoulder a clear view showing is knowledgeable six pack.

Now realizing the threat and conflict that is most likely about to happen he lifts himself to his feet to get away "Ah ah where do you think you are going" Ken could feel something hitting him in his back in the shape of a foot. He hit the ground face-first leaving him in extreme pain *What are you doing you should be fighting back" Venom mentally yelled at Kaneki in anger "No I don't want to hurt anybody" flipping himself over to see his attackers "Ha as if you could do anything to us" as the leader was pulling back his foot to kick The protagonist to his face. Still, the leader groaned and fell to the ground in pain. Ken looked at the leader and didn't understand before looking at the other two he understood he kicked their leader in the crotch *You're welcome NOW get up and Fight!* they sprang to their feet punching the redhead in the nose and fell back clutching his now broken and bloody nose in pain "Oh God I'm so sorry" he said to the laying redhead be "You freak" the shorter blonde said swinging at ken but instead of a pale hand it was a black gooey black clawed hand bending the blonde's hand leaving both in panic "your a.. a gho-". Before he finished Ken used his left fist to punch, knocking him out. Leaving even Venom surprised, he didn't want that delinquent to finish his sentence stumbling to the dirty concrete wall he leaned against it, understanding he didn't want to accept his situation. Was he a ghoul?

"No, you Not you are just a human I'm the reason you have power Me!" venom practically screamed at the boy mentally speaking out loud he said "What would you know you not even real" Venom was pissed taking control of his host body he attached themselves to the wall leaving ken fearful and desperate for control but something was exiting from his chest not even tearing through his clothes a slope of tendrils exited his body forming a black head with those white plated eyes " listen here boy I'm here to help you I've already proved that I can protect you I can give you more power then you've ever had in your life and all you need to do is keep it is to make sure to feed me" a long silence past as ken processed each one of Venoms words asking One thing "How to do I know I can trust you" venom slowly detached ken from the wall and giving back Ken's motor control "You Don't… not yet" he finished reentering his newfound home.

The screen turns from black to white as an unnerved and dirty Kaneki opens his apartment door with groceries in his hands... They were hungry mentally readjusting themselves, understanding that there were two in this body now. Mrs. Kaneki, her eyes which once lay on the surface of her book taking note of the creaking door now glanced, seeing a no longer clean or easygoing son in his place was her boy and his clothes and his skin covered in dirt and small bruises. Ken could see his mother almost gliding towards him "What happened to you" "It's nothing I just ran into some delinquent" saying with nonchalantly "Are you hurt where did this happen when did this happen" his mother asked question after question seemingly without end "Mom I'm fine I handle it I'm fine" he said with semi reassurance his mother wasn't reassured. Taking off his shoes and closing the door he heads towards the kitchen to place the bag on the counter "How did you get these you only go shopping every other week" the Miss looking through the bag to find various ingredients, rice, and vegetables even a small chocolate box on the side " Oh I just decided to go early this week" that was a lie the truth was he took whatever money the delinquents had on themselves.

He wasn't sure why he even considered why he stole from them but Ken had to believe that they deserved it he put to better use far more than those punks ever could have. *Serves Those bastards right I deserve to be treated with the utmost respect* "Quiet" Ken whispered internally and externally in high irritation "Ken did you say something" "No it's nothing just think I need another shower" trying to keep the mind straight "it's our mind now," venom said giving Ken more reason to gather his fresh clothes. "Ken with all you bought I think I'll be making dinner tonight" "Okay just make sure not to overwork yourself" he entered the bathroom and turned on the shower while taking off his dirty clothes placing them on the right corner sink and choosing his clean ones on the left side.

Finlay enters the shower and just stands letting the water fall onto his skin still thinking about that fight the way he felt he felt strong he liked feeling powerful but he didn't want to hurt them the way he did. *They attacked us we needed to protect ourselves we did the right thing,* Venom said trying to reassure his host "What do you know You're not even human" *I don't need to understand human beliefs or at least yours and you don't need to talk out loud for us to communicate,* venom said with informative tone *Is this how it's done* Kaneki trying to communicate like Venom mentally, the feel was weird but was almost like thinking but with another person openly viewing your thought *That's exactly how it is done,* Venom said with finality *Now finish up your shower your gonna need to be ready* Ken took a moment then asked *Ready for what* *training*.

Grabbing a towel from the side racket drying himself while the last droplets hit the floor as his mind pondered if he had to train then what would be the reason *You know we still share the same head and to answer that lingering question we need to be prepared for potential dangers from humans or ghouls* and in a sense Venom wasn't lying he just needed both himself and Ken to be ready for the future… their future. Ken accepted that he needed to understand his power now and Venom was the only one who could help him do so whether he liked it or not he had to Train or find a way to get rid of Venom. Calming himself, he leaves with a mild smile on his face while closing the bathroom door, and sees his mother making dinner.

He couldn't tell what she was cooking but he had an idea "Please tell me that you haven't burned yourself please" Ken knew his mother was a good cook but she was at times clumsy "You should stop doubting your mother I just want my son to have a good and healthy dinner" she said standing he ground " Well maybe I'd eat more if my mother didn't make it a habit of pushing her bodies health" Ken said almost sounding sassy in the way he projected his voice. Noticed that his bowl was already on the small table that separated the couch and the TV but chose to ignore this and walked towards the only blood relative that he considers to be a real family and the only one that he even still lives at all. Now at his mother's side, he could see the clear bowl of Udon "You almost finished with your bowl" "Oh don't worry just eat I'll be there in a minute" Seeing that her son didn't leave she looked into face and there it was that face that meant that I'm not moving until I know your taken care of what a duo they were a son and mother who would do anything to keep the other happy even if one of them couldn't have happiness. Coming to her sense she walked to the couch while he son grabbed her bowl taking a moment they both said the blessing in silence.