Outsider Chronicles: Tokyo Underworld
Death is never fun. Getting reborn into a world where monsters of all sorts haunt the streets is even worse. Add in a bunch of childish Immortals locked in a war and an emo best friend and you have a recipe for disaster.
Sooo, this is an odd idea, but it could be interesting. Enjoy!
Chapter 1
Soooo, my death was lame. I mean, getting killed by a box full of Twilight books falling on your head isn't exactly something to brag about, even if it was less painful than reading them. Still, at least I got a new life out of it. Oh yeah, I ended up getting reincarnated. I'm still not entirely sure why, but after I died, I woke up again as a baby. Now, normally I wouldn't complain about that, but when I found out that I got reborn into a world infested with man eating monsters who are indistinguishable from Humans until they are chewing on your spare ribs, I think I have the right to start swearing like a sailor. The fact I was also born as a future plot point to help the protagonist start to grow a pair didn't help matters. Oh, am I being to obtuse? Let me make it clear then. I have been reborn into the Tokyo Ghoul world as Hideyoshi Nagachika. Eh, I guess it could be worse though.
Anyway, other than discovering I was a god damn side character, I managed to adapt fairly quickly. I didn't get too bored going through school again by virtue of being a brit last time and thus, the schooling was completely different...mostly. I mean, it was still mildly annoying having to act like a toddler to keep from freaking people out but whatever. I grew up with a single mother, but that was no real hardship since she had a decent job and my Dad wasn't a complete deadbeat. I never did meet him though and all Mum could tell me was that he was apparently Hungarian and that she hadn't been with my Father long before I was born.
Despite being disgruntled over having the roll of squishy best friend, that didn't mean I wasn't about to help out Kaneki when I got the chance. Seriously, the kid spent most of the time looking like a kicked puppy, I couldn't not do so. Plus, Kaneki was highly intelligent and, like me, a complete bookworm, although I prefer fantasy and gothic literature over the down right disturbing horror Kaneki liked.
Oh, speaking of being the squishy friend, I should have known that whatever asshole god stuck me here would never allow me to remain such. Honestly, I'm surprised that I never noticed that something was...different about me. It was little things, like the fact that my senses were incredibly accurate, to the point that I could actually hear dog whistles, although it was right on the edge of my hearing range so I never actually noticed, other than a slight irritation when one was used around me. Still, the fact I could hear what the neighbors three doors down were doing should really have tipped me off. Plus, the fact I once managed to sniff out one of my classmates lost backpacks thanks to the tuna sandwich in her lunch box was just one more thing that should have tipped me off. I also liked my meet so raw it was practically still mooing, had a short temper that I definitely didn't have last time through and got antsy on the full moon should have been a massive slap in the face that I wasn't quite as Human as I first looked.
However, for some utterly unknown reason, I didn't figure it out until it was literally shoved into my face. How? Well, a couple of weeks after my 16 birthday, I found myself waking up in a field not far from my house, naked and covered in blood. I also had fur in my teeth and a half eaten rabbit at my feet. Not exactly what I'd call a normal wakeup.
"What the hell is going on?" I muttered.
"I can answer that."
"GAH!"
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the unexpected voice and spun around to see an amused looking man sat on a nearby rock. He was clearly not Japanese and had long, slightly ragged looking brown hair and dark blue eyes. He was wearing tattered jeans, a rumpled shirt and an old long coat with baggy sleeves.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"My name is Lucian," said the man, "Here, put this one."
He tossed a bundle at me and I was surprised to find that it was my jeans and a t-shirt.
"How did you..?"
"Get dressed and I'll explain," said Lucian.
I did as I was told.
"Alright, spill," I said as I sat down across from the older male, "Who are you and what happened to me last night?"
"I admit, I only came back to Japan because I needed some time away," said Lucian instead of answering, "I never dreamed that you'd actually turn."
I blinked.
"Turn? What do you mean?"
Lucian chuckled.
"Alright, enough beating around the bush," he said, "Last night, the first full moon after your 16 birthday, you Changed for the first time."
I blinked a couple of times, then froze as a rather uncomfortable realization settled over me.
"Wait, Change? Full moon?" I asked, "Are you saying I turned into a Werewolf?!"
"Technically you're a Lycan, but yes," said Lucian with a smirk that showed a mouthful of way to sharp teeth, "Natural born Lycans transform for the first time after they turn 16. Admittedly you're a tad different since you're only half Lycan, but the fact remains that you did Change last night."
I let out a strangled groan and dropped my face into my hands. Then I paused as I realized something.
"Wait, how did you know I could change?" I asked, "Your not local, so you don't know from my scent or whatever, so how…?"
"Your mother kept me up to date," said Lucian.
"Why would she…" I started, before my eyes widened again, "Wait a sec, are you…?"
Lucian held up a photograph of him and my mother with their arms around each other.
Soo, yeah, thats how I found out that Ghouls weren't even close to the top of the food chain. That spot was the place of the Immortals, the Vampires and the Lycans, the monsters hidden by the darkness of night and the vigilance of their forbear. I stumbled into this world, a part of it yet separate. I was unique, a hybrid of Human and Lycan, the son of the first of the Lycans.
Ahem, sorry, I was channeling Selene there. Let me translate. Tokyo Ghoul is not the only world present here, there's also Underworld and I have the dubious honour of having the original Lycan as a father. Eh, at least I'm a VERY long way from Victor or he'd probably have me killed on principle alone.
Speaking of my standing as a half Lycan, I got to spend the next couple of years working with a few Japanese Lycans who Dad got in to train me so he could go back and continue his campaign against the Vampires. I'd have said something about that, but Victor deserves everything he gets. Over time, I was able to gain control over my Lycan side to the point where I was able to change at will, unlike most young Lycans. I'm not sure if its because I was born a Lycan or if it was my Human side, but I had a far easier time controlling my Change. On the other hand, I wasn't as strong or fast as a full blooded Lycan, although I was plenty strong enough to go toe to toe with Ghouls and Vampires in my Human form, at least according to my trainers. It turned out that my Human form actually had more of a boost than your average Lycan.
One thing I did have over other Lycans however was my near immunity to silver. Oh sure, it was irritating, but at most it caused a rash and a slight fever if it got into my system, rather than utterly crippling me. My wolf form was also smaller and slimmer than my fellows, granting me higher speed and agility than the bulky yet powerful full bloods. Oh, and I had a tail. I still had no idea why since neither Lycans or Werewolves had tails, but I wasn't about to complain about it.
And thus, time continued to march on forwards and, other than spending my full moons hunting with the local pack, my life during the day didn't change. I went to school, hung out with Kaneki and got into University studying literature to keep with the fact that I hadn't lost my love of reading and writing. Hell, I'd even managed to get a book of my own published, although I never did tell Kaneki about it and wrote it under a nom de plum.
"So, where exactly are we going?" I asked.
"To that cafe I told you about," said Kaneki.
"Ohh, you mean the one where you met your Prince Charming?" I said with a smirk.
"Hide!" whined Kaneki.
I just snickered as Kaneki pouted. Teasing him was so much fun. Unfortunately, my smile because a tad fixed as we rounded a corner and Kaneki brightened up.
"There it is," he said, pointing at a cafe a short distance away.
It was Anteiku. Well, looks like I'd be going hunting in the not too distant future. There was no way I was gonna let Kaneki get Ghoulified without a fight.
We entered the cafe, placed our orders and took a seat, just as the news started a report on a Ghoul attack in the Takada building.
"Jeeze, thats near here," I said as a waitress placed our orders in front of us, "Kinda scary, right?"
Not really, at least, not for me. The likes of Rize and Jason were strong for Ghouls, but considering they wouldn't expect a seemingly normal person to turn into a gigantic, angry wolfman, I'd have the advantage of surprise if they did try to attack me.
"I guess," said Kaneki, "But I've never even seen a Ghoul."
"I guess its hard to be scared of something you've never even seen," I said, "Then again, considering they're supposed to look Human, you wouldn't know someone was a Ghoul until they were chewing on your rump steak."
I grinned, losing a very small amount of the Wolf to make my teeth look bigger.
"Even I could be one."
Kaneki shuddered and glared at me.
"Don't do that!" he said, "You know I think that wolfish grin of yours is damn unsettling."
I stifled a snort as I took a bite out of my bacon and sausage sandwich. Considering they couldn't eat it, the sandwich was surprisingly good.
"So, which girl is it that caught your eye?" I asked, "Is it her?"
I jerked my thumb at Touka as she walked past.
"No, shes a customer, not a waitress," said Kaneki, "Although I guess shes cute…"
"Hnn," I said as Touka walked past, resisting the urge to wrinkle my nose slightly.
Ghouls had a different scent to Humans, not bad, but they always smelt of dried blood and coffee which didn't exactly make a pleasant combination.
"Um, excuse me?" said Touka as she stopped next to our table, "Are you done with that?"
She indicated to my empty plate.
"Oh, sure," I said, handing it to her.
The hidden Ghoul bowed slightly and took the empty plate, but not before shooting me an odd look. I couldn't help but notice that her nose twitched ever so slightly as she did. I guess I must smell strange to her, but I guess I shouldn't be totally shocked. If Ghouls smelt different to Humans, there's no doubt that Lycans and Vampires would as well. I turned back to Kaneki, who was wearing a smirk that had me on guard. Kaneki wasn't the type to tease people, but that didn't mean he couldn't.
"I think she likes you," he said.
"Jailbait," I drawled.
Kaneki rolled his eyes.
"Three years at the most," he said.
"We're here because of your lovelife, not mine," I said in annoyance.
Kaneki snickered, before he suddenly blushed and ducked his head. I didn't need to turn to know that Rize had just walked in, I could smell it. She reeked of fresh blood and I could literally smell the blood lust leaking off her. I forced myself not to growl by burying my now clawed hands in my palm and using the pain to focus on something other than my instinct to rip the crazy bitch apart.
"Um, are you Ok Hide?" asked Kaneki.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I said, "So, I take it thats her?"
Kaneki nodded.
"Yeah, you haven't got a chance," I deadpanned.
"Wha...HIDE!"
"What? Shes way out of your league. It'd be like Beauty and the Bonehead."
"You mean beast," growled Kaneki.
I forced a chuckle and stood.
"Whatever, now I've seen your crush, I'm outa here," I said, dropping a handful of coins on the table to pay for my food and drink, "Later."
"See you."
I left the cafe and quickly ducked into an alley where I let my carefully reigned in anger loose. I may have more control than a Pureblood Lycan, but my instincts and rage were still strong. Still, I was able to limit my change to my teeth, fingers and eyes. I gritted my teeth as a feral growl rumbled from my chest, despite my efforts to stop it. Damn, I'd severely underestimated how much Rize affected me. Hell, I don't even know why I was reacting like this! Sure she was a bloodthirsty murderer, but still. I was barely holding back the urge to transform and tear Rize apart….
"GRRRAHH!"
SRANG!
I took a deep breath, my anger now calmed slightly with the sacrifice of a metal bin that was now sporting a set of slash marks in the metal.
"Tch, I need to go hunting tonight," I muttered as I left the alley and headed home.
And done. Yes, this is a bit of an odd one, but hey, all the fun things are. Underworld will likely take a back seat since I just needed an excuse to use Lucian in a story. Plus, in order to get Hide involved, I'd need to send him to Europe and I don't have an excuse for that right now.
Despite that, I probably will have a few Vampires and Lycans make appearances to make things interesting, so theres how things stack up. Ghouls are about as strong, physically, as Vampires, but have the advantage of solid skin and Kagune. They also have a resistance to the viruses of the Immortals. Despite that advantage, in a fight, a Vampire would probably win by virtue of experience and a transformed Lycan would be able to tear them apart. A Kakuja on the other hand would be able to fight on par with a Lycan. They wouldn't stand a chance an Elder or Werewolf though, but thats par for the course.
And with that, I'm done. Please leave a review!