Good to see you all back. If you've noticed, I've started another fan-fic. So this will take longer to finish. But if you are willing to be patient, I'd greatly appreciate it. Without further ado, let's get to the chapter. In this chapter, the GCB are gearing up for the Rushima Island offensive. The X-Force will be present to not just help, but also rescue one of their former teammates. Meanwhile, the identity of the One-Eyed Owl is closer to being revealed. With so many moves being taken place, what will be the outcome? Read to find out.
Chapter 17 – coup: The weight of the past
(4th ward, nighttime)
In a conference hall, a great number of reporters arrived to hear a very important announcement from author Sen Takatsuki. On their way to said destination, Ui led his squad to apprehend Takatsuki, among them was Hisako. Hisako sat opposite to Ui as he looked slightly tired look on his face.
"Investigator Ui, are you doing alright?"
"...I'm fine. I...trained a little too much last night."
"I understand. We're not that far from Rushima."
"Yes...by the way...have you visited him yet?"
Hisako knew who Ui meant.
"Not yet."
"I understand."
"What about you, sir?"
"Who do you mean?"
"From what I heard...Hairu is in high school right now."
Ui did not say anything as he did not want to. He wanted to forget what he did. Rather, what he did not do.
flashback
(earlier in the day)
Ui parked his car in the corner of a street. This street was near a high school. The student then started to leave in masse, indicating the end of a school day. After waiting for a while, Ui saw Hairu alongside two girls around her age. She was smiling and laughing at the same time. Ui felt a little relieved when he saw her happy. However, he also felt a little sad when she sees her outside of the Bureau. A mixture of melancholy and resentment made themselves present within. At that moment, he remembered what Kijima told him quite some ago.
Kijima: "People like me make up more of this organization than people like you...it'll get to you, one way or another..."
Ui felt a rising amount of emotion within him.
"Is this anger...Am I feeling this for her? But why?"
By the time he realized it, Hairu stood in front of his door.
"Ui?"
Ui got startled when he snapped back to reality.
"H-H-Hello, Hairu."
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm..."
Ui sat at a loss of words. She sighed before telling her friends,
"Haruka, Miho, I'll talk to you later."
"Sure. See you later."
As they left, Hairu enter inside and tells Ui,
"There's a café nearby. I'll point you in the right direction."
Feeling he had no choice, Ui replied,
"Right..."
When they arrived at the café, Hairu enjoyed a tall order of ice cream while Ui only had coffee. As he stared at his coffee, Hairu asked him,
"So...why'd you come to my school?"
"...I just wanted to check up on you."
"Hmm...how's work?"
"We're close to eradicating Aogiri."
"Whoa, for real?"
Hairu sounded a little excited when Ui mentioned this, which made him feel a little better when he heard Hairu sounded like how she used to be when they worked together.
"Yes...it was a long time coming, but we did it."
"When's the operation?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"You should be proud of yourself, Ui. You fought so hard to get this far."
"I'll admit...I am. But...maybe it would be better...if you-"
"Stop."
Ui paused due to the fact that Hairu remined him why he quit.
"I don't know if I can go back...at first I quit because I felt that I failed Arima...but now...I'm starting to think..."
"Hairu, what is it?"
After another pause, Hairu confessed.
"What if we were on the wrong side?"
Ui sat in shock over what Hairu confessed to.
"What are you talking about?"
"...I'm sorry...but I don't think I can go back..."
Hairu finished her ice cream before leaving. Ui sat as if he was rejected as he tightened his grip of his coffee.
end
Hisako still worried for Ui's mental health but focused on her assignment. At that moment, Fura asked Hisako,
"So...how does it feel that you're the only Investigator that successfully the One-Eyed Owl?"
"Well, it wasn't a walk in the park."
"Never thought it was. Still, it's great that you stuck around."
"Thank you, Investigator Fura."
The car that rode Ui's squad to their destination finally arrived. As they entered, they see a litany of reporters all sitting down. Ui then tells the team,
"Spread out, and standby."
Each of the Investigators nodded in response to Ui's orders. The cameras filmed the empty podium as the reporters spoke to their respective anchors on live television. Eventually, Takatsuki finally on the podium. Some of the reporters remarked that her hair was short this time.
"Good evening. I thank you all for seeing me. I also like to thank the editorial department and the commission for setting up this press conference. You're very kind."
Takatsuki turned to another direction to directly bow to the people who made the even possible. After some applause, Takatsuki continued.
"Honestly, I haven't spoken this much since I released the Black Goat's Egg. It's honestly a little overwhelming."
Some of the reporters laughed a little.
"Anyhow, I wanted to announce the release of a book that I've been working on between other projects. One that took me a...long time to nurture. Years, actually."
Those in the audience were murmuring with excitement as to guess the quality of her upcoming book. While some watching it on television were either of the same mood or waiting for something to happen.
"Before I announce my book...the real reason why I called for this conference...is because I have a confession..."
Takatsuki closed her eyes for one moment before opening them to reveal her kakugan.
"I am a ghoul."
Both the audience in the conference room and those watching it on television were absolutely floored by this confession. None more so than the Investigators in the room. Ui, meanwhile, felt the same emotions he felt when Rose ran away before he could expose them.
"She beat me to it...why does this always happen?"
Takatsuki then finished with,
"My final book is dedicated to my fellow ghouls who were born into this world craving human flesh. Who are alone right now, forced to live in a world that hates and fears them."
Takatsuki got a little more into detail of her book before bowing down, ending the conference. As she walked toward the exit, she was approached by Hisako.
"Ms. Takatsuki, I place you under arrest. Please come quietly."
Takatsuki smiled a little before asking Hisako,
"I don't suppose you remember what happened last time we faced each other?"
"Painfully...but I still won."
"Hmm...good point."
Takatsuki present her wrists to her, to which Hisako placed handcuffs on Takatsuki.
xxxxxx
(the next day)
Numerous news outlets were abuzz by the news of Sen Takatsuki exposing herself as a ghoul to the world. This not only reached the attention of the GCB, but also those within the Japanese government. Even though many of the politicians were grateful this did not cause some international uproar, this was unprecedented for so many reasons. One news show, which had Ogura as a guest, discussed the event.
"Mr. Ogura, have you read the book yet?"
"Believe it or not...I have."
Some members of the audience talked amongst themselves when he confessed such a fact.
"I was told not to speak on the matter...but I cannot deny it any longer."
Ogura took out from one of his inner coat pockets a headband. When he wore it, written on it in english "GHOUL RIGHTS!"
"I WILL NOT DENY IT ANY LONGER! I INTEND TO USE MY PLATFORM TO DEMAND GOHULS RIGHTS RIGHT NOW! We cannot allow this continued injustice against a species of humanity any longer-!"
The television program ended right there.
xxxxxx
In the 1st ward, the Main Headquarters of the GCB were busy, to say the least. As Ui stepped inside the building, he was met with Furuta.
"Investigator Ui."
"Investigator Furuta."
As he walked alongside Ui, Furuta discussed with him the events of yesterday.
"She really stuck it to us."
"I won't disagree. The backlash is too large to ignore."
"I'll say. The office is swamped in calls now that the public knows we have her in custody. Some are calling to condemn her while others are praising her."
"And then there is the matter of her latest book."
"Containment tried its best, but Takatsuki's got so many fans that some of them got copies before they could. A lot of the Investigators felt that they really dropped the ball."
"No...it's because she got ahead of us. There's no telling how far the consequences of her actions could go."
"Speaking of which, have you heard of the book?"
"I did a little research last night. It's call King Bileygr. It's another word for Odin."
"Really? I hate to imagine if Thor would come to the Bureau right now in anger."
"Don't even joke about that kind of thing!"
"Easy...anyhow, I ran a translation of the word. It means...one-eyed. In short..."
"Her book is about the One-Eyed King."
xxxxxx
Back in the Hospital, Hide visited Kaneki again, but this time he brought with him his laptop, a book, and a black plastic bag that looked as if it carried something heavy.
"Kaneki!"
Kaneki jumped up from his bed.
"Hide, keep it down."
"Sorry, but...you got to watch this."
Hide played the video of Takatsuki's conference. The part of outing herself as a ghoul caught his attention the most.
"My god..."
"Yeah. A lot of people pretty much said the same thing. Not to mention..."
Hide gave Kaneki a book titled "King Bileygr."
"King one eye?"
"Is that what it means?"
Kaneki then began to speed run the book, which made Hide remember old times.
"Some things stay the same..."
"Did you get to read this book?"
"Not really. So I went to a book subreddit about this one and memorized a post that summarized the plot. The story is about a nameless one-eyed ghoul who leads other ghouls as their king. It's basically the plot of Willow, but with ghouls."
"A little reductive, considering the quality of her work."
"The thing is, if the writer was a human then you could just call it a fantasy work..."
"But this was a ghoul...that adds more meaning to the story."
"When she announced the book, she said that she wrote it for all ghouls. This made a lot of bookstore owners nervous."
"However..."
"What is it?"
Kaneki closed the book before telling Hide,
"In chapter three, there's an antagonistic human faction he has to fight against."
"Chapter three already?"
"It's me..."
"Good point."
"Anyhow, it bears a strong resemblance to the Washuu clan."
"Right. I remember Yukio telling me that the Washuu clan is allied with Vasuki."
"Who are also a faction of HYDRA."
"Exactly...do you still want to go ahead with this?"
"We don't have a choice. It's now or never."
"Well, guess I should give you this."
Hide gave Kaneki the black bag. Kaneki looked inside, and instantly recognized what it was. Hide explained.
"I called Scott some time ago and told him what's been happening with you."
"Nothing incriminating, I hope."
"Only that you're okay...and they're waiting for your signal."
"My signal?"
"When to move in."
Kaneki had a small smile on his face as he looked at his uniform within the bag.
xxxxxx
(GCB Headquarters, 1st ward. The next day.)
The Bureau did had its hands full with the aftermath of Sen Takatsuki, but what also happened was the appearance of Investigator Hogi. She was recovered by a fishing boat, but she did not care how injured she was. Thankfully, some police officers contacted the Bureau and collected Hogi to a nearby hospital. After a brief recovery, Hogi gave her report to both Director Washuu and Matsuri.
"You can confirm that Investigator Mutsuki is, indeed, back on the island?"
"Yes, director. One of the Aogiri ghouls managed to get me before I could retaliate. Investigator Mutsuki tried to help me, but the ghoul who got me acted faster than they could."
Both Yoshitoki and Matsuri looked at each other before the director tells Hogi,
"Thank you for your report, Investigator Hogi."
"Sir."
When Hogi finally exited, Matsuri says,
"Well, that's one problem solved."
"That just leaves the upcoming operation."
"Reminds me. I have to call my wife, tell her that I'm not making it home tonight."
"Alright."
Before he left, Yoshitoki asked,
"Matsuri...?"
"Yes?"
"...have you ever entertained the idea...?"
"The idea of what?"
"...it's nothing."
Matsuri left the room. Yoshitoki then looked outside the window in the room before taking out a USB drive from his left pant pocket.
"Perhaps it's something I should've done...a long time ago..."
xxxxxx
(The Chateau, afternoon)
Ui gathered the Quinxes in the living room to discuss their part on the operation.
"All right. Many of you here already know what's going to happen in a few hours. In a large-scale operation like this, our role will be assault and security. For now, suit up. We leave within the hour."
As the Quinxes went to their respective rooms, Saiko spoke with Urie.
"Saiko?"
"Hey...I hope you become Special Investigator."
Urie was surprised when she said that.
"Saiko..."
"Look. I know it'll take some time before I get to there. But you got more of it takes. I know that you can help Haru better than I can."
Urie remembered the week after Shirazu's death.
flashback
Mutsuki, Saiko, and Urie all stood outside Haru's room, deciding the next course of action for Shirazu's little sister.
"So...what's the next move?"
Asked Mutsuki. After a moment of silence, Urie says,
"Shirazu...spent every available moment on his sister's side. Maybe he believed that he would live long enough to get her out of this condition. So much so that he forgot to include her in his final wishes."
(pause)
"So that'll be our responsibility. We keep her alive. Not just for Shirazu...but also it's the kind of thing Kaneki would do."
Both Mutsuki and Saiko nodded in agreement with Urie.
"What we do for Haru...is in Shirazu's name."
end
The Quinxes finished gearing up for the operation. As Urie drove the car, his thoughts were on his friend.
"Wait for us, Mutsuki..."
xxxxxx
Mutsuki slowly woke up to find themselves wrapped in some sort of sheet.
"Where...am I?"
They looked around to find themselves in some sort of mine shaft. At that moment, Mutsuki sees somebody entering at the entrance of the shaft.
"You're awake..."
Mutsuki slowly became full of dread as they recognized Torso approaching them. Torso had an arrogant, almost sadistic look on his face while dragging a white sack.
"I've waited for you for so long...now you're mine..."
Mutsuki tried to escape, but for some reason they could not move.
"This is our secret place...where we can live together...forever."
"I have to get out of here..."
As Torso slowly got closer to Mutsuki, he tells them,
"You know...I couldn't figure out why I couldn't stop thinking about you...why I'm so obsessed with you..."
Mutsuki tried to move their legs, but for some reason their limbs will not respond.
"Why can't I move?"
"But now I know...it's your eye. They're the same as mine!"
Mutsuki continued to struggle, much to Torso's notice.
"Trying to get out of there? Well, here's the thing...Phantom limb syndrome."
Torso then threw the sack he carried earlier to Mutsuki. To their horror, arms and legs dropped out of the sack. Their arms and legs.
"It took a lot of work to make sure...THESE DON'T GROW BACK!"
xxxxxx
Hisako was assigned to transfer Eto to Cochlea while he and the rest of the squad participated in the Rushima offensive.
"I'm surprised that you're alone for this."
"Well, I'm basically the only one in the Bureau who can take you on and win."
Eto laughed a little before continuing,
"Got me there."
"Anyhow, you'll be held at Corniculum for a while, where you'll go a physical. If it proves that you're a ghoul, you'll then be held in Cochlea."
"Fine."
After some walking, Eto asked,
"Have you read my book?"
"Believe it or not, yes."
"Thank you."
"Just one question. What do you write?"
"Same as every artist does: I have something to say. In my case, it's how I give hope to my fellow ghouls."
"As well as an expose on the Washuu clan?"
"Exactly! One of my goals is to put a very uncomfortable spotlight on them."
Hisako looked around to see a few cameras around but they were far.
"What made you want to act against the Washuu clan?"
"My mother..."
Hisako stopped for a moment, to which Eto did likewise.
"I remember..."
"Remember what?"
"Before I left the mansion, Emma once told me that during when we face D'Ken, she went a little further into Kaneki's mind...and remembered a certain story that Yoshimura told him."
Eto now had a sour look on her face that indicated she will not like what she was going to hear tonight.
"Did he?"
"Yoshimura told him...that he fell in love with a woman who was incredibly kind to him. But...one night, a group of ghouls hunted them down...and his wife was in killed in the process. Before she died, she gave birth to a baby girl."
"...she did...but she kept a major secret from him."
"A secret."
"She was a reporter investigating a major underground organization. She used Kuzen as a means to get close and learn whatever she could...she didn't count on loving her link."
Hisako felt a measure of pity for Eto as her family life was broken to the point of no return just, perhaps, hours after she was born.
"I'm sorry."
"Part of me blames my father...but I put that behind me for quite some time."
"I think she's lying..."
"The rest of my hatred is for Vasuki."
"I know them."
"Really? How, exactly?"
"I know two members of the X-Force. I spoke with one of them about what he learned. Right now...well, I don't want to give away too much..."
"Smart. Just one more thing...Rize Kamishiro?"
"She was the ghoul who mistook Kaneki for a human."
"She was also a ghoul who escaped Vasuki."
Hisako remained stoic as she kept Eto walking toward their shared destination.
xxxxxx
In another part of Tokyo, Arima was given the assignment of hunting down one ghoul powerful enough to be given a triple S rating. Hirako asked him,
"Sir, will we be joining the operation later on?"
"Unfortunately no. We have our orders to hunt down Shachi. Intel says that he was sighted here a couple of days ago. Keep your guard up."
"Yes sir."
The path they took eventually led to a large pillar. Shachi sees the doves approaching in a group. He observes them a little before focusing on Arima.
"I know you...Kisho Arima."
"Hello...Shachi."
Shachi slowly got up and cracked his limbs a little before speaking.
"Many ghouls call you the Reaper..."
Arima gave an order to his subordinates.
"Hold your positions. Provide long-range support when necessary."
(play Blue Moon – Brandon Yates, start at 0:14)
Each of his squad nodded in acknowledgement. A tense staredown then happened between Arima and Shachi.
"At the end of the day...he's nothing more than a Washuu clan lackey..."
"Commencing eradication."
Shachi punched the ground, displaying the fact that he was capable of creating a dedicated mini-quake as the ground beneath Arima began to shatter. Arima reacted in time and leapt upwards to avoid the attack. At the same time, Hirako and the rest of Arima's squad threw steel cables at Shachi to hold him while their squad leader went for a killing blow with his Narukami.
"Useless!"
Shachi once again proved his strength by pulling the cables to him, surprising the Investigators enough to temporarily lose their strength. Just long enough to lose their grip on the cables they held earlier for Shachi to free himself. Just in time to dodge the shot from Arima's Narukami. Arima then switched to IXA and engaged in close-range combat with Shachi. Arima's intimate knowledge of both his weapons allowed him to stand toe to toe with Shachi, but Shachi's agility helped him avoid each of Arima's attacks.
"The way he fights...and the distance between us...this awkwardness is due to his eyes."
Arima then sped towards his opponent, which prompted Shachi to finally summon his kagune. His kagune blocked another one of Arima's attacks before leaping backwards to regain distance between him and Arima. Within Shachi's mind, a memory replayed.
(pause music)
flashback
(6th ward, nighttime)
Shachi went out for a moonlit walk when, all of a sudden, he sees a purple-haired girl lying down for no reason.
"What are you doing, girl? You shouldn't sleep in the middle of the street."
Shachi sees the girl was in bad shape as she struggled a little to turn her head to explain.
"I'm...running..."
"From whom?"
The girl did not tell, instead saying,
"I'm hungry..."
Shachi took pity and took her to an alleyway, and hid her behind a dumpster before telling her,
"Wait here..."
After waiting 15 minutes, Shachi returned to her with an arm for her to eat.
"Here."
The girl took one sniff and suddenly gained enough energy to snatch it from his hands and eat it like no tomorrow.
"Easy. Don't choke on it."
The girl then slowed down her eating before finishing the arm.
"Thank you."
As she finished, Shachi asked the girl,
"What is your name?"
"Rize..."
Time passed. Rize had gotten accustomed to living with Shachi. Enough for him to want give her something important. Rize sees a number of books in front of her.
"What are these?"
"They are books. These can help you become aware of the world around you. I don't know what your past is...but I can give you the means to forge thine own future."
Rize looked amazed by the books in front of her before asking,
"Um...what does thine mean?"
More time passed. The girl developed a passion for reading, much to Shachi's fascination. Eventually he tells her,
"Rize..."
She paid attention to him.
"You can take on my last name if you want."
"Is it really your last name?"
"Yes."
"Were you born with it?"
"No...it was given to me by my teacher."
"Did you kill him?"
"No. He died of old age. Time takes us all."
After thinking for a moment, Rize asked,
"Hey, does that make you my dad?"
Shachi smiled a little when she asked him that. Time passed once more to the point that Rize was a teenager. Her selfish tendencies started to rub him the wrong way.
"Rize?!"
"Ugh, what now?"
"Have you gone on a feeding spree?"
"So what if I did?!"
"Have some discretion! If you continue this, the doves will find where we live!"
"God, get off my back!"
Rize left again, much to his irritation. The next night, the worst had come to pass.
"Shachi!"
"What is it?"
"The doves are here in the 6th ward!"
Shachi guessed that Rize exposed their community.
"Foolish girl..."
"I will handle this."
Shachi fought as many as Investigators before he was eventually captured by them. He stayed within Cochlea for the longest time before he was approached by Ayato and was told the news of Rize.
end
(resume music)
Shachi felt a measure of regret within him.
"A parent must always protect his child. I have failed in this regard...if this is my punishment, I will act accordingly."
Shachi got on the offensive again.
"My marital art is one that takes has no meaning...it has lead me to this day..."
Shachi delivered a series of swift but ferocious strike against his opponent, but Arima dodged them.
"The White Reaper...you are a worthy foe. However, I have found your weakness."
Arima raised his IXA to hit his opponent, but Shachi got behind Arima before the attack could be made.
"Even someone like you has a blind spot."
Shachi aimed his kagune at the back of Arima's neck. However, the next action his opponent threw Shachi for a loop. Arima spun Narukami with the hand he held it on before piercing Shachi's neck. His last thoughts,
"He...read me?"
Arima then fired a condensed lightning blast, effectively killing Shachi.
(end music)
As the body fell to the ground, Arima thought to himself,
"You managed to find my blind spot. Well done..."
Arima's squad approached their leader before Hirako asked,
"Shall we handle things here?"
"I appreciate it."
"Very well, sir."
As Arima left, one of the squad asked Hirako,
"Where is Investigator Arima going, sir?"
"...another assignment."
xxxxxx
(6th ward)
Banjo got a call from someone he had not heard from quite some time. Alongside him were his crew as Shu asked him,
"You sure Ayato called you?"
"Positive. Touka told me so herself."
"Touka?"
"Is she gonna join us?"
Asked Haru.
"Don't know. All I know...Kaneki may be coming back."
This sparked a subtle reaction from both Shu and Haru.
"And if he is...then we got a chance..."
Shu noticed that Banjo held a book in his hands.
"Is that...Sen Takatsuki's new book?"
"Yeah. I'm...trying to read it...wish she didn't use too many complicated words."
Shu replied,
"But it's still a good book. Inspiring, even."
"Wait, how did you...?"
"Haru managed to get me a copy before the doves took it off the shelves of her favorite bookstore."
"I heard they're now hard to find..."
Just now, Ayato arrived. Alongside three figures in hooded robes, as Banjo observed.
"Ayato..."
"That's Mr. Ayato to you, Banjo."
At that moment, Banjo brought out his kagune. This surprised everyone present, with Ayato floored most of all (although he hid his it well).
"I'm not the same floor mat you used to push around. I've put in the work to make sure that I can take assholes like you!"
Banjo's kagune resembled a scorpion's tale capable of shooting electrically charged plasma shots as he demonstrated on a nearby dumpster. Banjo stood ready to prove his strength against Ayato, but one of the hooded figures aside Ayato spoke,
"Banjo, please!"
Banjo stopped when he heard a familiar voice speaking to him.
"Touka?"
Both Touka and Nishiki revealed themselves to him.
"What's up? Been a long while."
"Nishiki?"
"Hey Banjo. Looks like you've gotten stronger."
"Touka, what are you doing here?"
"We need help."
The third hooded figure revealed herself to be Laura, whom Banjo was most familiar with.
"Laura?"
"Hey man. Good to see you again."
"L-Likewise. If you're here, then it is true."
"Yeah it is. That's why we need anyone you can call within the hour."
"Sure, but what for exactly?"
Touka explained.
"We need your help breaking Hinami out of Cochlea."
"...That's a pretty big ask."
"We know..."
Nishiki spoke next.
"However, this will be different. We need only to get Hinami out, and we're gonna get help from the inside."
"Like who?"
Laura explained.
"Hisako Ichiki, for starters. We used to work together in the X-Men."
"Sounds good."
"We also got two members of the X-Force helping us as well."
Said Nishiki. Both Banjo and his people around him talked amongst themselves about their chances. For some of them, it meant near success if such help was guaranteed. While Banjo spoke with Touka.
"Are you sure? I don't want to put my friends in harm's way."
"Yes. Ayato left Aogiri just to help."
"Wait, he did?"
Ayato then tells Banjo,
"Yeah I did. I got Hina to join because she saw Kaneki killing a ghoul. She wanted to know why. That's how I convinced her. Now she's paying the price for me not looking out for her. That's why...I need help breaking her out of here. I need help...breaking into Cochlea."
Half an hour later, at least 80 ghouls arrived at Banjo's request. Ayato stood impressed by what he saw.
"Didn't know you had this many on your payroll."
"They're here because they owe their new lives to the Kuzuri."
"Him?"
"All of these ghouls are living their lives out in the open, among the humans. Eating the same kind of food they eat."
Ayato, Touka, Nishiki and Laura stood amazed by what Banjo explained.
"So when they heard that the Kuzuri needed their help, they jumped at the opportunity. So here they are."
As they looked on to the amount of ghouls who came to help the Kuzuri, Laura fought against the tears she wanted to shed for her little brother. Touka sees this and goes to her side.
"Don't worry...we'll get you to your brother."
"Thanks...and we'll get Hina back as well."
xxxxxx
(Cochlea, 23rd ward)
After finishing with the physical that confirmed Eto to be a ghoul-human hybrid, Hisako then oversaw her transfer to Cochlea. Eto got to her cell, but did not stay there for long.
"Inspector Ichiki?"
"Inspector Haisaki?"
"I'll be taking the One-Eyed Owl to the visitor's partition. An Investigator wants to talk to her."
"...Very well."
"By the way...I thought you were to take part of the Rushima offensive."
"I was assigned to guide the prisoner here."
"I see. My apologies."
As Hisako walked away, she looks behind to see Eto with a kind of smile that indicated that either she has something up her sleeve, or that she correctly guess what kind of plan Hisako was a part of. Eto followed Investigator Haisaki to the visitor's partition to find Investigator Furuta on the other side of it. She also noticed that he had a bag with him. Eto stepped inside with Furuta starting the conversation.
"You look quite beautiful with short hair, Miss Takatsuki."
"Go to hell, you clown. I know Kanou sent you."
"Oh...so you know about Kanou?"
"He is pretty infamous. And for reasons you and I know about."
"No wonder my bosses wanted to do something about you. It's no wonder they wanted to know where you were at all times. Right down to where you have...tea."
Eto gave a small sigh before asking,
"It was you, right? I always felt that my favorite café was bugged in some fashion."
Furuta started to act in a lackadaisical fashion as he laughed before telling Eto,
"I had some interest in what Kanou was doing...as well as steel beams..."
When Furuta mentioned that last part, Eto asked,
"So that was you?"
"Even if I told you...what can you do? After all, you gave yourself to the Bureau. Before we move on..."
Furuta reached into the bag he brought with him to bring out some sort of dish within glass Tupperware.
"Your publishing agent, Shiono. He died."
"Did he now?"
"Yes...but he'll always be a part of you like this!"
Furuta gave her the glass Tupperware.
"I made mushed into a pate dish. Enjoy."
Eto grabbed the glass Tupperware and stared at it for a moment before throwing it at a nearby wall. Furuta gave a smug smile before continuing.
"Even taking into account with Miss Ichiki, you could've taken on the squad that arrested you. Or even turn the tide on Rushima."
"That's because I've done all that I needed to do."
"You say that with so much confidence...but I personally believe that's what you so charming."
Eto gave another sigh before asking,
"Why is it that you're really here?"
"Like I said before, my bosses want to make sure that you...know that you are done. But they want to make sure that fact is rammed so far down your throat to the point that it breaks you...but I can spare you the worst of it...if you tell me who the One-Eyed King is."
"...and why would I tell you?"
"Here's a little history lesson. My predecessors once asked: "What's the best way to control the public?" You focus their attention all on one place. Keep the idiots in lockstep, and you can make them do anything! Even kill themselves! That's why we create enemies for the Bureau to defeat! Enemies like the clowns, Tsukiyama, basically any ghoul who gets even the tiniest of attention. You can even include other targets such as journalists, celebrities, even politicians. Really doesn't matter! As long as you can call the shots, you'll never go hungry again!"
Furuta then spoke in a somber and reflective tone as he continued.
"Of course, you do get the occasional wild card. Like New Mexico, New York, Sokovia, Guatemala...that's when you wait until the world chills out when it's over. When it does, business as per usual. That's why we want the One-Eyed King gone. Too much of a wild card."
Eto smiled a little as she replied,
"That's a relief. That means you know nothing about the king."
"Pretty much. I mean, I've tried every source I know..."
Furuta took out a clown mask from within his suit and spun it around.
"Like the salon for example. But it turned out to be a dry well. Some of the clowns thought there was no king. Even Nico believed it."
Furuta then dropped the mask before finishing with,
"At this point, this king you must've planned must be some sort of symbol for the ghouls to rally behind..."
"Wrong."
Furuta stopped talked when Eto started.
"There is a king. He is the one...who will further our evolution."
Furuta took a moment to reply,
"Even you know evolution for ghouls is near impossible at this point. It's a lot like planning an uprising. You're basically asking for a bloodbath. And since you're the type of person who will sell-out even her own father, I doubt yours will come to fruition. In the end, it's better for the balance of things to stay this way."
"One problem. I'm the side of the oppressed. You're one the side doing the oppressing. That's why the King will appear."
Furuta sighed before replying,
"Well...I guess there's no deal. Enjoy your death sentence. Cause I know I will."
"Hey Washuu...what's it like having a father won't even acknowledge you as his own blood?"
Furuta then brought out his claws and used them to pierce the glass partition in an outburst of anger.
"Die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die. die."
All this only made Eto laugh in a derisive manner
"Oh yes. I'm looking at a real supervillain here."
Furuta retracted his claws before leaving the room. As he walked toward the exit, an alarm was heard.
"Well...good thing I brought a special item with me."
xxxxxx
(8th ward)
Thanks to the Japanese government, the Bureau got their hands on a carrier to ship them to Rushima. Within the carrier were at a full arsenal of q-metal weapons, dozens of RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boats), and missile launchers for long range support. All dedicated to ending a war that was waged for a little more than a decade. The ones taking command of the operation were Director Yoshitoki Washuu, Special Investigator Marude, and Assistant Special Investigator Washuu. Both Marude and Investigator Washuu were deputy commanders while Yoshitoki was the commander of the operation. Squads led by Kori Ui, Juuzo Suzuya, Kosuke Hoji, Shinme Haisaki, and Take Hirako participated in the operation. Taking point were the X-Force, minus two of its mutant members. To everyone's confusion, the only one not participating was Kisho Arima. Hirako explained that he was given a different mission. At the moment, Commander Washuu gave a short speech over the carrier's PA system.
"Good evening. As many of you are aware, we stand at the end of a long journey. One that took the lives of so many of our comrades. For some of you, those wounds are fresh. For others, they eventually became the scars that you will carry into battle. And yet, despite of what we lost, what we will gain tonight...shall mean peace for Tokyo. And that is worth fighting for!"
Everyone gave applause to the commander's speech. When the commander put down the mic, he then gives the command to the carrier's captain.
"Set course of Rushima."
The captain nodded in affirmation to the order. Then Marude tells the commander,
"Nicely said."
"I spoke from the heart."
"I agree."
Said Investigator Washuu.
"This was indeed a long time coming. Aogiri will now be wiped from the face of the world. You should be proud of yourself...commander."
"I'll be proud...when the mission is done."
xxxxxx
(Cochlea, 23rd ward)
As everyone arrived at Cochlea, Banjo remarked on the size of the facility.
"It's big..."
"Has to be to hold us back."
"So...how are we gonna bust in?"
"I got this."
Laura texted someone on her smartphone. A few moments later, she tells everyone,
"Okay. We head to the northeastern part of the place. That's where our guys have a gate open for us to get in."
"Alright. Let's move."
The group went to where Laura mentioned earlier to find not just an open gate, but three individuals waiting for them. One of which were familiar to Laura.
"Hisako."
"Laura!"
Both hugged for a little while before Hisako saw Touka behind her.
"You're...Touka, right?"
"That's right. We met before."
"Right. I met you before helping the X-men save the world."
Banjo then asked,
"Wait, when you helped the X-Men?"
"Are you one of Touka's friends?"
"Sort of. He's here to help us break Hinami out of there."
"Well, thankfully we're not alone."
Hisako pointed to both Deadpool and Yukio.
"Didn't think you'd show up, Ayato."
"I made a promise to my sister. Plus, Aogiri was starting to suck."
"Well, can't say I blame you."
"Who's she?"
"Someone on our side. That should be enough."
Yukio introduced herself.
"My name is Yukio. And Deadpool is right. I am on your side."
After a moment, Nishiki says,
"Good enough for me. Let's go-"
Just now, the alarms of Cochlea started to blare. Ayato exclaimed,
"What the hell is happening?"
"Hell if I know!"
Deadpool brought out his smartphone to talk with Delta.
"Delta, what the ever-living fuck is happening?!"
"An assault on Cochlea forces is currently taking place. The entire facility is currently under lockdown procedures."
"Can't you stop it?"
Asked Yukio.
"I can bypass it with ease in certain sectors...but there is something you should know."
Delta showed the current security feed to show the source of the assault. This made Deadpool and Yukio react with shock. Much to every else's notice.
"What is it?"
Asked Laura. Deadpool explained.
"It's Kaneki."
"He's fighting everyone within the prison."
Said Yukio.
xxxxxx
(play The People With No Fangs – Brandon Yates, start at 0:14)
Many of the guards within Cochlea fought against the man they once knew as Haise Yashida. Now, they against the Kuzuri. Except, he had no mask. What was also different was that he did not use his claws against them. He took out the guards simply by hitting them in either their stomachs or chopping their necks to knock them out. This made the three guards in front of him feel insulted as one of them remarked,
"What?! Your claws too good for us?!"
"...a little bit."
"YOU SON OF A --!"
Within less than a second, Kaneki neck-chopped said guards into submission. He then sniffed the air, searching for a certain scent.
"She's close by..."
xxxxxx
Touka asked,
"Kaneki is trying to free Hinami by herself?"
"From the looks of it, yeah. But he's gotta know what's he's up against."
Said Deadpool. Laura replied,
"Either way, we gotta break in."
"Let's move!"
Exclaimed Touka. As they made it to the roof of the prison, Deadpool asked,
"Delta, can you open the top?"
"Already on it."
xxxxxx
Furuta entered the central surveillance room, asking any of the guards,
"Investigator Furuta here. What's the situation?"
"It's Ken Kaneki, sir."
"He's awake?!"
"Yes sir...and he's taking out a number of the guards."
"How?"
The current warden displayed the current surveillance feed on the monitors. The cameras displayed Ken Kaneki taking down the guards with his own hands, and in his X-Men uniform.
"He's not using his claws against the guards...but our current weaponry is useless on him. Right now, he's on control level two."
Just now, a new alert popped on the screen.
"What now?"
The warden responded,
"The computer system is not accepting my commands! We've been hacked!"
The roof hatch slowly opened up, much to the confusion and terror of the guards.
"Oh shit...Intruders!"
Exclaimed one of the guards. When the roof hatch was fully opened, Laura yells,
"CANNONBALL!"
Laura dived into the prison first. Everyone stood confused at first until Deadpool yelled,
"JACKKNIFE!"
After Deadpool dived, Ayato then asked,
"What is up with those two?!"
Hisako explained.
"They're pretending as if they're diving into a swimming pool."
"The hell do they think we're doing?! Taking a vacation?!"
Touka then exclaimed,
"Just jump in!"
Touka pushed Ayato into the prison; with Nishiki, Yukio, Banjo and his people diving afterwards. During the dive, Hisako told everyone,
"I'm gonna secure an exit at the deeper levels."
"Do you know where it is?"
Asked Touka.
"I've memorized the entire blueprint of the prison. I know where to go and I got Deadpool's number."
"All right. We'll see you when we're done."
Hisako dived headfirst into the deep levels of Cochlea. Meanwhile, the guards scrambled to confront the intruders. Some of them recognized a couple of them.
"One of them is Deadpool!"
"And the other is Yukio!"
Two of the guards aimed at Yukio as she was only armed with a katana, but Deadpool whipped out his pistols and headshot the two guards. Yukio sees this and says,
"Thank you."
"Pay me back later."
Laura grabbed one of the guardrails nearest to her and ran across the floor she got on. She sees four guards running towards her...
SNIKT!
And used her claws to cut their weapons apart before stabbing them in their arms and legs. When the rest of the ghouls arrived, a lot of the guards recognized Ayato via his codename.
"It's the Rabbit!"
"Surround him!"
Ayato summoned his kagune as he performed a spin flip, shooting kagune projectiles at the same time. Resulting in a lot of dead guards. He then tells the ghouls,
"Hug the walls! Take down any doves that try to kill you!"
(end music)
Ayato spots Banjo with Touka, and heads towards them to ask,
"Any idea where he is?"
"No. We need to ask Hide."
"Who's he?"
"The guy you call Deadpool."
Explained Laura before spotting him fighting alongside Yukio. She yells to him,
"DEADPOOL! WE NEED YOUR PHONE!"
"HERE!"
Deadpool threw his phone at Laura, who managed to catch it.
"THANKS!"
Laura then spoke to Delta when she rejoined Touka, Ayato, and Banjo.
"Delta, we need Kaneki's current location."
"Accessing Cochlea's systems."
A progress bar appeared where Delta used to be. After waiting a minute, Delta returned with results.
"He's recently accessed the prisoner's log. He looked up the location of fours cells."
"Four cells?"
Asked Ayato.
"One of them belongs to Hinami Fueguchi. The other three belong to...Yoshimura..."
Both Touka and Ayato reacted when Delta mentioned Arata.
"Arata..."
That last name created an even greater reaction, but the last one would completely floor them.
"And Hikari."
That last name almost made Touka cry while Ayato, for one moment, mentally reverted back to a child. Confused by this, Laura asked,
"Are those two..."
"Our parents..."
Said Touka with Ayato adding,
"But...we thought they were dead..."
Laura can see how this affected them right now but snapped them back to reality.
"Alright, look. I get what you're going through right now. But we still need to escape before the Bureau send in more doves to wipe us out. We can't help anyone if that happens."
Both Touka and Ayato re-focused themselves before telling Laura,
"You're right."
Said Touka with Ayato adding,
"Let's find your brother first."
Before they took the first step towards Kaneki, more guards arrived. Ayato gave an order.
"Banjo, take the ones on the left!"
"On it!"
Banjo brought out his kagune and shot at the guards running towards them. Just as they managed to take them out, one lone figure dove into the building via the roof hatch. With his quinque out front, he shot one lightning round at Ayato. Ayato managed to dodge the attack as the Investigator face him. Everyone present recognized who it was.
"Kisho Arima..."
At that moment, both Deadpool and Yukio arrived to assist Ayato. Kisho recognized who they were.
"Deadpool...and Yukio. You're with them."
"Sorry if we disappointed you..."
"But we have our own loyalties."
"I see..."
Deadpool then tells Yukio,
"Yukio, go with Laura and Touka. I'm gonna help Ayato slow down Arima."
"You're sure about it?"
"It's not about being sure..."
"...very well."
Yukio then tells Touka and Laura,
"We should move now."
As Laura, Touka, and Yukio left to search for Kaneki, both Ayato and Deadpool stood ready to take on Arima. Deadpool remarked,
"He's not leaving any openings."
"That's what makes him deadly..."
"Well, no time like the present."
(play Erased Luck – Therewolf Media, start at 0:44)
Deadpool charged toward Arima while shooting his pistols at him. Arima used IXA's shield function to protect himself from the shots while using Narukami to retaliate. Ayato quickly realized that Deadpool distracted him to allow him to take advantage of Arima's blind spot. He sped his way behind Arima to strike where Arima was most vulnerable, but the white-haired Investigator simply positioned Narukami to protect the area Ayato aimed his kagune at. Deadpool sees this and switched to his katanas. Arima then transformed IXA into a lance to counter Deadpool. Both Ayato and Deadpool held their ground against Arima but held no advantage either.
"No wonder he's considered number one in the Bureau."
Remarked Deadpool with Ayato replying,
"Yeah..."
Just now, gas started to flow into the prison. Both Deadpool and Ayato backed off of Arima before Ayato yelled,
"BANJO! MASKS ON!"
"DON'T HAVE TO TELL ME TWICE!"
Banjo's group placed their masks on when they saw the gas fill the floors they stood on. Some of the ghouls placed their masks on just in time while others accidently inhaled some of the gas, weakening their kagunes in the process. Some of them were killed by the guards, but most of them managed to dive further into the prison. Ayato sees this and tells Deadpool,
"Dive, now!"
"Right behind you!"
"And please no-"
"BANZAI!"
"Diving yells..."
(end music)
Ayato later joined Deadpool at the bottom of the prison. He then exclaimed,
"Everyone present?"
"I think we lost some of Banjo's guys when the gas started flowing..."
"Damn..."
Deadpool sees how their deaths weighed on Ayato and tried to ease him of his guilty conscience.
"This is not on you. They wanted to be here. We make their sacrifices mean something."
"I know that. It's just..."
Ayato stood silent before confessing,
"I got Hinami into Aogiri. But..."
"She had to do horrible shit for membership, right?"
"...yeah."
flashback
Tatara presented to Hinami three ghouls in handcuffs. She asked,
"What is this?"
"Your initiation."
"My what?"
"You are to kill these ghouls."
Horrified by this, she again asked,
"But why?"
"These ghouls refuse to submit to our authority. They will set an example for those who dare to defy Aogiri."
Hinami stood paralyzed at what she was demanded to do. That was when Ayato intervened and killed the ghouls himself.
"Ayato..."
"She took too long. So much that it was pissing me off..."
Moments after, Ayato visited Hinami while she was reading a book.
"Hinami?"
"Hi, Ayato. And...thank you for helping me earlier."
"Sure thing..."
Although she hid it, Hinami felt bad for failing to do what Tatara demanded of her. Ayato tells her,
"It's okay to quit."
Hinami expressed surprise when Ayato told her this.
"When it comes to Aogiri, we not only get our hands dirty. We do it on a daily basis. You can't stop it from happening..."
"It's fine."
Now surprised himself, Ayato asked,
"Why?"
"About half an hour before the test, Eto talked to me."
Ayato gave a scowl before asking,
"She did?"
"Yes...after I told her about why I came here, she told me this. I'm here because I know I've done nothing to take away the suffering of the ones I love. It's the reason why the people most important to me are no longer with me. My weakness is my sin."
Ayato's scowl deepened when he heard Eto talk to Hinami like that.
"And...she's right. My mother, father, Kaneki...I want to protect the people I love...but the way I am..."
Hinami did her best to hold back her tears.
"That's why...I'll do what it takes to be stronger..."
"Fine."
Before he left, Ayato said one last thing to her.
"For what it's worth...I never thought you were weak."
end
Deadpool looked at Ayato, seeing the guilt on his face and how it weighed on him. He then tells him,
"You did everything you could for her. Right now, your sister is out looking for her."
"The fact that she is just proves how I really fall short...compared to him."
"Kaneki...right?"
"I won't lie...he's so much stronger...than even I care to admit. He even saved the world once. I don't know how I can measure to that."
"Don't talk about yourself like that."
Ayato stood surprised when Deadpool told him that.
"Did you believe that Ken was always a badass?"
"...a little bit."
Deadpool gave a wry sigh before replying,
"He wasn't always. For the most part, Ken used to be a bit of a wallflower. One with a terrible experience, but still. He eventually became a badass when he learned to push back against the bad stuff that kept on happening in his life."
"Is that right?"
"Let me put it another way. Are you the same from five years ago?"
Ayato took a moment to think back on how he used to be before answering,
"...okay, good point."
"There you go."
Before they moved on, Deadpool asked him,
"So, what do you think Touka is gonna do to Hinami first?"
"Probably slap her stupid. She's a lot like my mom. At least that's what my dad used to say."
Both laughed a little before Deadpool told him,
"Take it from me. You got nothing to prove. At least not when it comes to who you are as a person. And I'm sure your sister would agree."
"...let's keep moving."
xxxxxx
Kaneki ran towards the cell where Hinami was currently being held, encountering fewer guards on the way.
"Surprised there aren't more here. This is gonna be a trap...I can feel it in my heart..."
Kaneki eventually arrived at the cell...
SNIKT!
Where he sliced apart the lock. On the other side of the cell door, Hinami sat surprised at the noise of sharp steel grinding apart one part of the door. However, she recognized the steel claws that tore apart the lock of her cell door.
"Laura? Or maybe..."
The door then got pushed opened to reveal Kaneki on the other side. She got up from her bed and slowly approached him. Within her mind, she attempted to recognize both the young man who was the closest thing she had to a big brother and the Investigator who gave her mercy on the night of the auction. As she got close to him, she asked,
"Kaneki?"
"Hey...sorry I took too long to get back."
Replied Kaneki with a sad smile on his face. At that moment, Hinami slapped him in the face.
"Seeing Kaneki...finally be Kaneki again...makes me so happy."
Then Hinami started to cry.
"But now I'm asking...when are you going to leave again?"
Kaneki smiled after the slap as he says,
"Fair enough. You've had to say to goodbye to me for so long..."
Kaneki then rubbed the top of Hinami's head as he finished with,
"Those days are over. I'm staying...for as long as you want me to."
Hinami dried her tears, only to cry again as Kaneki gave her that promise.
"Let's get the hell out of here. But first..."
"What is it?"
"We need to take a few more people with us."
"Who?"
"Yoshimura for starters."
Hinami gasped a little before asking,
"Yoshimura is alive?"
"Yeah, but we gotta move now."
As they exited the cell, both Kaneki and Hinami eventually made it to the cell where Yoshimura is imprisoned in.
SNIKT!
With his claws, Kaneki opened the cell door to reveal Yoshimura. Barely breathing and looking as if he were on death's door. Both Kaneki and Hinami looked at him with sorrow. Hinami most of all.
"I got this."
Kaneki sliced off some of his arm skin and dangled it over Yoshimura's nose after retracting his claws. Yoshimura sniffed it and gathered what was left of his energy to take the first bite. Kaneki then placed the skin on Yoshimura's hands, to which he sat upright on his bed to properly eat it. When he finished eating the skin, Yoshimura felt as if the heavy fog within his mind finally beginning to clear up. When he opened his eyes, he sees both Kaneki and Hinami standing before him.
"Ken? Hinami?"
Hinami started to cry before hugging Yoshimura.
"It's so good...to see you again, Yoshimura."
Yoshimura returned the hug before getting another look at Hinami.
"Hinami...you've grown into such a lovely young woman."
"Thank you. Look's who's also here."
Yoshimura looked at Kaneki and sees how much mature and sure of himself he looked to be.
"Kaneki..."
"Breathe the free air again, my friend."
Yoshimura got up from his bed and hugged Kaneki.
"It's so good to see you alive."
"Likewise."
Yoshimura broke off the hug just in time for Kaneki to tell him,
"Let's keep moving. There's two more to free."
"Who else, Kaneki?"
Asked Hinami, to which Kaneki answered,
"The Kirishimas."
Yoshimura lightly gasped before asking,
"Hikari and Arata?"
"Turns out they're alive."
They stepped outside and walked down the hallway as Kaneki explained.
"I wanted to reunite Touka and Ayato with their parents. To apologize to them."
"I understand Touka, but Ayato?"
Said Hinami with Kaneki replying,
"Well, I did kick his ass a couple of times. Yeah it was in self-defense, but I still want to prove no hard feelings."
"Maybe they won't, but a lot more people will."
Everyone stopped when Furuta made himself known to them.
"Taking both a Aogiri operative and the Owl with you? What have you done?"
Yoshimura stepped forward to protect Hinami from the dove in front of them while Kaneki spoke to him.
"Furuta. I need you out of my way."
"Threatening a fellow Investigator. Tsk tsk tsk."
Furuta brought out Rotton Fellow, with the intention of attacking Kaneki with it.
SNIKT!
Kaneki defended himself before Furuta can lay a finger on him. He then tells Yoshimura,
"1st floor, level two, number 249. 2nd floor, level six, number 618. That's where they are."
Kaneki threw his smartphone at Yoshimura before adding,
"This is to help you."
Yoshimura nodded in response before telling Hinami,
"Let's go."
"But..."
"Listen. We can help him by rescuing both of Touka's and Ayato's parents. This...is the only thing we can do."
Yoshimura then tells Kaneki,
"Good luck, Ken."
"Thanks."
(play One Eye Towards The Past – Therewolf Media, start at 0:14)
Now that Kaneki was alone with Furuta, the Investigator charged toward his opponent and went on the offensive.
"You seemed to be friendly with them!"
"It's a long story. Don't wanna bother you with the details."
Both exchanged blows with each other. Kaneki with his claws and Furuta with his Rotton Fellow.
"I really don't want to fight you! But the reason why I am..."
Kaneki blocked every attack from Rotton Fellow with his claws while Furuta continued to talk to him as if they were still comrades.
"Is because I really want to see that look of panic on your face! It's really kind of sad!"
Furuta had a comical sad look on his face as he delivered a powerful blow, enough to make Kaneki to stagger by reflex. This caused his defensive stance to falter, giving Furuta the opportunity to deliver the decisive blow as he thrusted his quinque towards Kaneki's chest. Kaneki, however, reacted fast by throwing himself to the floor and perform a break-dance move to not only kick the quinque off the hand Furuta held it on, but also to kick his opponent in the face. The strength of the kick caused one of Furuta's teeth to pop off from his mouth. He merely laughed at the sight of it before giving a counterattack of his own. As Kaneki stood back up, Furuta aimed one of his digits at one of Kaneki's eyes.
"THUMB ATTACK!"
Kaneki reacted quickly once again as he opened his mouth and bit Furuta's thumb clean off his hand. Furuta screamed like a madman for a minute before going back to his comical attitude.
"Just kidding!"
Furuta gave a large grin while presenting the hand where Kaneki bit off his thumb. Much to Kaneki's shock, both the thumb and tooth grew back as if nothing happened to them. Kaneki muttered,
"Healing factor?"
"That's right~! Courtesy of Weapon X!"
"But...how...?"
"Well, it's a long story. Don't wanna bother you with the details."
Furuta then brought his claws into the fight, which further floored Kaneki. Furuta notices this and tells him,
"Let's just say...we got a lot out of your old man when he got his ass handed to him by his clone."
Although Kaneki's first instinct was to murder Furuta, he kept his rage under control despite what Furuta made fun of his father. As well as this realization as Furuta went back on the offensive.
"If he does have a healing factor of his own...then it doesn't matter how I hurt him. He'll bounce it off. That gives me one last option..."
Kaneki faked being staggered by one of Furuta's attacks, leaving him open to another decisive blow. Furuta fell for it as he says,
"Got you now!"
"That a fact?"
This comment confused Furuta for one moment, enough for Kaneki to recreate the pressure point attack he once used on Arima. After landing the hits on Furuta, only a moment passed before Furuta fell to the floor.
(end music)
As his opponent laid unconscious, Kaneki briefly examined the claws that stuck out from Furuta's wrist before moving on to catch up with Hinami and Yoshimura.
"I have so many questions...but that'll have to wait..."
xxxxxx
Ayato, Banjo, Deadpool and the rest of the surviving ghouls finally made it to the lower levels of the prison. Their goal was to reach the exit of Cochlea where Hisako waited for everyone, to which Deadpool asked,
"I thought we were supposed to help Kaneki bust out Hinami."
"We have to retreat due to the RC gas. Most of us can't fight anymore."
Said Banjo. Ayato then added,
"We're gonna rejoin my sister soon, but we need to get Banjo's people out of here first."
"Gotcha."
Everyone Finally made it to the floor where Hisako guarded the bottom exit of Cochlea. However, what they all found were two things. An unconscious Hisako lying on the floor...and Kisho Arima standing next to it. Deadpool stood angry when he sees this.
"Arima..."
"I did not kill her. But I will place her under arrest later."
Arima charged up Narukami for a couple of seconds before firing. Ayato exclaimed,
"MOVE!"
Arima killed five of Banjo's people before shifting his attention to Ayato. He charged toward him with IXA out forward. Ayato almost met his end at Arima's hands, but at that moment, Yomo arrived and blocked the attack with his kagune. His took the form of clawed gauntlets that wrapped around his arms and hands. Ayato sees Yomo standing between him and Arima.
"Get back upstairs."
"But..."
"Listen to me! He's too strong for you. Get everyone out of here."
Deadpool tells Yomo,
"No chance. My friend is right there and I gotta get her out of here."
Yomo sees someone lying on the floor near Arima. He also recognized the one who spoke to him.
"Fine. I'll take him on for you to get her."
Deadpool nodded at Yomo before telling Ayato,
"Do what he says. I'll join you later on."
Ayato then tells Banjo,
"We're going back up!"
"You heard him! Back upside!"
Exclaimed Banjo to his people. As they ran back up to the upper levels, both Deadpool and Yomo stared off with Arima. Both had their reasons to fight Kisho Arima. For Deadpool, his concern was Hisako. For Yomo, his reason was revenge for what Arima took away.
flashback
Both Yomo and Hikari were watching a sunset together when he tells her,
"Yomo..."
"Yeah, sis?"
"I...met somebody..."
"...could you say that again?"
"You heard me. Truth be told...I'm pregnant."
"Seriously?!"
"Well don't act too heartbroken..."
Yomo sighed in resignation before asking,
"You gonna marry him or what?"
"Oh my god..."
"What?"
"Are you sad right now?"
Hikari laughed a little, much to Yomo's embarrassment.
"Like hell!"
"Oh please! It's written all over your face right now."
Hikari now outright burst into raucous laughter, which made Yomo blush a little. When she finished, Hikari tell him,
"Ren, listen. Doesn't matter what happens. Even if I have kids, turn old, or end up dead...I'm always gonna be your big sister. I'm just...gonna have a lot more going on in my life."
Months passed. Hikari showed her little brother her first-born child. Yomo stood fascinated by the newborn child.
"She's so small..."
"Of course she is. Her name is Touka."
Hikari handed Yomo newborn Touka for him to hold.
"She's cute, right? Just like me..."
Yomo looked at newborn Touka with a certain kind of feeling. The kind anyone can feel when they hold something fragile, yet precious. Such a feeling made him smile a little as he says,
"Touka..."
Years passed. Yomo received the most devastating news. His sister died. At the hands of a dove called Kisho Arima. He hears the explanation from Arata.
"We were just walking down a public corridor when we saw this...young man in glasses. I didn't think much of him, but Hikari...she could tell that he was a dove. She could smell the amount of ghoul blood had on him. She told me...to take Touka and Ayato away..."
Arata began to cry as he finished with,
"She stayed behind to hold him long enough for me to run away with the kids...I wanted to go back. To see if she made it...but..."
Barely holding back his anger, Yomo yelled,
"SO WHY DIDN'T YOU?!"
Yomo held him by his shirt collar as he continued to berate Arata.
"HOW COULD MY SISTER FALL IN LOVE WITH A MISERABLE COWARD SUCH AS YOURSELF?!"
The words "miserable coward" pierced Arata's being as if it were a hot knife through butter.
"IT SHOULD'VE BEEN YOU!"
Yomo gave Arata a punch to his gut before leaving. He walked a brisk pace before finding a secluded place to mourn the passing of his sister. More time passed. Yomo worked in Anteiku as one of the employees that served coffee to the customers. However, his grief got in the way of his work as he dropped coffee cups more often than not.
"I'm...I'll clean it up."
"It's quite alright, Yomo."
Later on, when the café closed, Yomo talked with Yoshimura.
"All I do is drop everything handed to me. I'm not like Irimi or Koma. I'm just...not cut out for this..."
"Nonsense. I know you're more competent than this."
Yomo sat looking discouraged with himself.
"I know you loved Hikari. Losing her was nothing short of devastating. I know how you feel right now..."
After taking a sip of the coffee Yoshimura gave him, Yomo made a confession.
"I said something truly cruel to Arata. I said it because...my heart was so fractured when I heard Hikari died at the hands of a dove. I knew that he ran away because my sister told him to..."
Yomo took a small pause before continuing.
"But my grief was so powerful that...facing the responsibility for my weakness was too much for me. Sometimes...facing my niece and nephew can feel a little overwhelming..."
"How so?"
"...they're a lot like their mother. You remember how she used to be?"
"Yes...more than I care to..."
"When she had Touka and Ayato, she acted less reckless than she used to be. But she still had to go back to being the falcon of the 17th ward. At least to feed them. Even though I never wanted her to die...in some way, this was bound to happen. And the way they are...I don't want either of those kids to be like their parents."
"It's still so sad what happened to Arata."
"Got that right. When Hikari died, he's been feeding on both humans and ghouls. Even kills the occasional mutant as a measure of his own strength. Although he started to protect his kids, Arata's grip on his sanity has been slipping. Eventually...his death was own fault."
As Yomo took another drink of his coffee, Yoshimura gave his thoughts on Yomo's dilemma.
"To protect those you love...can be a herculean task in of itself. Sometimes what you think is right at the moment can come back to haunt you later on in life."
As Yomo finished his coffee, he asked Yoshimura,
"Would you...let Touka work for you?"
"Are you sure? Don't you think they're better off letting them know that you're their uncle?"
"I'm...not capable of guiding anybody...the only thing I'm good for...is fighting..."
end
Yomo led his ground against Arima as the two exchanged blows. However, the differences between stood clear to Yomo. Arima, in a physical sense, outclassed Yomo. Even his mastery of his kagune paled in comparison to Arima's weapons. The only reason why he survived this long was due to Deadpool assisting him. However, Yomo had his reason why he wanted to fight Arima alone but kept it to himself. He tells Deadpool,
"Deadpool..."
"Yeah?"
"As soon as I pin Arima, get Hisako and get out of here."
"...gotcha. Don't get tired on me."
Yomo sped towards Arima with both hands out. Arima aimed Narukami at Yomo, but Deadpool fired both of his pistols at the Investigator. Arima dodged in time to shot Narukami's plasma blast at Deadpool. Yomo saw the opportunity and pinned Arima at a nearby wall. Deadpool dodged the blast and ran towards Hisako.
"I got her!"
"Good! Get her out of here!"
Deadpool grabbed Hisako and ran out of the floor, towards the stairs that led to the upper levels. At that moment, Arima used all his strength to push away Yomo. When Yomo recovered, he sees Arima chasing after Deadpool. He gave a small grunt before yelling,
"ARIMA!"
xxxxxx
Hinami and Yoshimura made it to the second floor but were stopped by Investigator Haisaki and his fellow Investigators.
"Well, well, well. Look at what we have here, gentlemen. The Owl...and the abomination."
Hinami remembered some of the guards calling her that due to her now capable of eating human food instead of humans. She never forgot how much the guards really wanted her dead. Haisaki, most of all.
"I can't stand it. It honestly goes against the order of things."
At that moment, Yoshimura gave Hinami Kaneki's smartphone before telling her,
"Hinami...when I tell you, go ahead without me."
"Yoshimura..."
"No, my dear. This is necessary."
Hinami had no choice but to obey him. Yoshimura took a couple of steps towards the Investigators as he activated his kakugan.
"It's always the same with you people. A legitimate path towards a future where we need not be enemies...and the status quo compels you to erase it before it can take root."
Yoshimura slowly activated his kagune as a scare tactic to the Investigators. They slowly backed away as the Owl manifested before them.
"I suppose that is to be expected with those who regularly engage with genocide. Evil will always seek to justify itself. Genocide is one of the greatest evils anyone can engage with one another."
The Owl then swung his left arm with all his strength. The Investigators brought out their respective quinques to protect themselves, but in the process got toppled over by the powerful force of the swing. He then tells Hinami,
"Now!"
Hinami ran away from the scene and towards the cell door. When she got away from the fight, Delta spoke to her.
"Hinami."
Hinami looked at the smartphone she carried to see Delta for the first time.
"Delta?"
"It is nice to finally meet you, miss Fueguchi."
"Hide told how you helped him make sure my execution was delayed. Thank you."
"You are welcome. If you will let me, I can help you further."
"Okay."
"Right now, Touka is currently looking for you. Alongside Laura and another person named Yukio."
"Touka is here?! I gotta get her to her mom and dad."
"I will inform Laura about where to meet you. In the meantime, follow these instructions. I will update them when appropriate."
"Okay."
Delta left behind a list for Hinami to follow as she ran towards her sister figure.
xxxxxx
Meanwhile, Touka, Laura, and Yukio just about finished taking out another dozen of Cochlea's guards. At that moment, Laura heard her phone ring.
"Delta?"
"I bring good news."
"Don't hold back on our account."
"Hinami has been freed. As well as Yoshimura."
Touka asked Laura,
"Laura, may I?"
Laura handed Touka her smartphone.
"Where is she headed right now?"
"I gave her guided instructions on arriving at Hikari's cell door."
"My mother?"
"Correct. I will guide you there."
Delta displayed the interior map of Cochlea and the route to take to meet with Hinami before telling both Laura and Yukio,
"Let's go."
While Hinami almost made it to Hikari's cell, Touka, Laura, and Yukio took down more of the guards before finally making it to their destination. As they arrived, they all see Hinami in front of them while carrying a smartphone of her own. Touka gave Laura back her smartphone before approaching Hinami. She remembered the night Hinami ran on her own when Ayato came by her café to bring her the news of Kaneki. Although she always worried for her, her priority was Re;. She built it to be the successor to Anteiku, to fill in where it used to. A safe place for ghouls who had their reservations killing humans and, for a time, somewhere where ghouls could finally access the means to actually live as one of the humans. Touka worked hard to maintain the café, to have it work as a community center for ghouls in hiding. She held back her desire to drag Hinami back because she did not to risk what she built. For her, Hinami was another loss she had to bare. Loss was an all too familiar presence in her life. Only hen she heard Kaneki somehow returned to the land of the living did she entertain the idea of hope. However, like every other time in her life, hope was a fantasy that seemed so far away from where she stood. Only after what she learned from both Laura and Hide did she finally decide to risk her life in the hope that some of the people she loved can return to her life. Only when she heard that her mother and father were still alive, she felt her inner child yelling to fight to bring them back. Right now, she had to properly discipline the runaway little sister. When she stood face to face with Hinami, Touka simply grabbed both of Hinami's face cheeks with her thumbs and index fingers before telling her,
"You little dummy..."
"I'm sorry..."
Touka then hugged her, with Hinami returning said hug. Touka held back her tears as she kept on hugging her. To the point where Laura felt she the need to intervene.
"So...I'm just gonna..."
Touka remembered that her mother was locked up here. Hinami asked Delta,
"Delta, is Touka's mom really here?"
"I can confirm for myself. About a month ago, Kisho Arima visited both this cell and one on the first floor."
Touka almost forgot such a fact until she saw Laura rip apart the lock on the cell door. When the door opened, Touka was the first to step inside to see the inmate within the cell. Touka almost backed away when she found someone who looked like her, but in an unresponsive state. For one moment, Touka believed she stepped into an alternative world where she became the opposite of who she is and this was the future in such a world. Until Hinami stepped inside the cell to hold her hand, to remind her where she is...and who she is. Both stepped forward together to fully witness the person on the bed. Although it took her a while, Touka recognized the person lying on it. It was her mother, Hikari Kirishima. Believed to be murdered at the hands of Kisho Arima. At that moment, Touka threw herself onto the bed on her barely living mother and hugging her before crying. She held on to her mother so tightly, with an intention rooted in her childhood self to never let her go. Hinami understood this all too well, and simply placed her hand on Touka's back to convey her understanding. Eventually, Hikari started to respond to whoever laid close to her right now. Touka sees this and asked,
"Mom?"
Hikari took a whiff and recognized the scent. She smiled before asking,
"Touka...is that you?"
She started to caress the hair of her daughter before moving on to laying her hand on Touka's face cheek.
"Did you have a bad dream? It's okay...momma is okay...with you sleeping...with me and...daddy..."
Hikari started to drift into her unresponsive state from before. Touka started to panic as she tried to wake up her mother.
"Mom? Mom, please wake up."
"Touka, it's okay."
Both Laura and Yukio hear Touka talking in a panicked voice and stepped inside. They see Touka attempting to wake up her mother.
"Touka, what's wrong?"
"I...my mom..."
"Touka, she's gonna be fine. We just gotta get her to Kaneki."
"Why?"
Asked Yukio, to which Hinami answered,
"Because Yoshimura was the same way when we got to him. Kaneki gave him some of his skin to get him back to health."
Touka dried her eyes as she remembered the first time she ate Kaneki's flesh. Specifically, when she was in an injured state and healed as if no damage ever laid its hands on her when she ate said flesh.
"I remember that. Laura?"
"On it."
Confused, Hinami asked,
"Laura, can you do what Kaneki can do?"
"If you mean my flesh helping ghouls eat human food..."
SNIKT!
"See for yourself..."
Laura proceeded to slice off a chunk of her arm flesh and dangled it in front of Hikari. Hikari took another whiff and instantly reacted by taking the flesh from Laura's hand and ravenously ate the flesh. Although she hid it, Yukio stood fascinated with how eating human flesh came easy for ghouls. But now she witnessed one eating mutant flesh.
"I wonder how the flesh of a mutant helps a ghoul change their diet completely..."
When Hikaru finished, it took a moment for the regenerative properties of Laura's flesh to kick in. In her mind, Hikari felt that she rose up from inky darkness that she spent so much time in. As her vision cleared, the first person she sees is someone who resembled her.
"Who...?"
Touka got scared for a moment before telling her,
"Mom...it's me. Touka..."
Hikari took a moment while standing up before realizing the person in front of her is her actual daughter, but now all grown up.
"Touka...?"
She started to cry as she realized that she missed out on her children growing up without her. Touka started to cry again as well, but this time in joy as one of the most important people in her life who she believed to be dead came back to her life. Up to a certain point, Touka was used to not having her mother around anymore. But in the back of her mind, when she engaged in the few memories of her, she held back the need to cry as she believed that since her pain was no different from that of her fellow ghouls, what right did she have to mourn for someone who she barely remembers. And yet, such feelings came roaring back when she sees her mother alive in front of her. The sight of Hikari just breathing again filled her with so much joy for the miracle that stood in front of her, and the sorrow for the time that was robbed by the doves. Touka still remembered the rage she felt for the doves but puts it aside in order to fully embrace her mother.
"Hi mom..."
"Touka..."
Both cried their hearts out as they kneeled to the floor. Hinami simply cried tears of joy as well as she looked at the both of them, thinking of her mother. Laura sees his as well and was reminded of the woman who was kind enough to break her out of the Transigen laboratory and get her to America. For Laura, she was the closest thing she had to a mother. For Yukio, this only reminded her of what she had lost and who she is trying to make up for.
This is our stop. I thank you all for reading this chapter. Don't forget to either leave a review or share this with friends who like this sort of X-over fanfics. I bid you all a happy holidays and a (hopefully) happy new year. What ever happens next, we have this community. For me, I think that matters. See you all next time.