Just got done with another chapter!
Yes, it took a long while this one.
Author's note at the bottom.
Beta read and co-written by NimtheWriter and D-Quarter05
-Tokyo-
"Everything seems to be perfectly fine. Her temperature is normal, and she hasn't shown any symptoms to make me believe she is suffering from any illness. Our other tests have come back negative. Blood tests show that she is not lacking any kind of vitamins either. The only remark I would give is for her to maybe exercise a bit more."
Within a white room facing a middle-aged man vested in a long white coat, Shirou calmly listened to the report given to him by the doctor after checking up on Illya.
"She's been feeling a bit more tired than usual lately."
"That can be attributed to multiple factors. Maybe she's not sleeping enough, or she's feeling a bit too stressed lately. The only kind of treatment I can recommend for this is a good period of rest. If it continues to linger, then I can do some additional testing and prescribe the right treatment."
Even though the report sounded positive, it had the opposite effect in Shirou's mind, making him feel more helpless than anything else. What he hoped to hear, at the very least, was that they found something odd happening within her body which could be treated and extend her time.
Walking outside the hospital, both held different expressions on their faces. Unlike his troubled expression, Illya had a look of resignation. She'd expected this kind of answer before they even arrived. Despite the bad news, Shirou's eyes still held a stubborn fire in them that refused to die out.
"I'm sorry…" he said, firmly holding her hands as if trying to instill some hope. "But I promise you we will find a solution. This is only the beginning."
"I know you'll try your best. I'm not hoping to live until I am a hundred or anything close to that; I just want to live happily with you and Sella. Compared to the life I had with the Einzbern, this is a dream come true for me."
She put on a gentle smile when looking at him. While he tried to give her some hope, the latter soothed his mind. He appreciated her effort, but ultimately, her words wouldn't sway him whatsoever.
He was going to make it possible for her to live out this dream she wanted for decades.
That was his promise to her.
"Let's eat outside today. I'll tell Sella to join us," the girl said to uplift the somewhat down mood. He smiled at her efforts and merely nodded without any objection.
That evening, all three of them ate at a traditional Japanese yatai food cart — a new experience for both girls. It was a new experience for him as well, given he usually avoided fast food in the past. Afterwards, the group returned to their apartment with satisfied smiles.
"Good night, Shirou."
"Good night Illya, and you too Sella." He waved at the two and watched them return to their respective rooms while he went to his. His prior expression melted into a frown as he stared at his monitor. He was searching various forums and obscure websites for any information he could find concerning what he'd heard at the hospital. "Gourmet Ghoul… there's hardly anything." Any kind of information about this ghoul was scarce, but he found less than a handful of interesting stories related to this entity.
There was no way he could judge what was fabricated from what wasn't, but he took a plunge anyway and treated everything as the latter.
This ghoul was thought to be linked to various kidnappings and disappearances of individuals whose remains were never found. The only pattern he could see was that many of the victims were rather well-off in society in terms of wealth, status, and/or looks.
That said, he couldn't find anything concrete that would give him any lead. Even the supposed "pattern" could just be speculation or coincidence as there were likely other ghouls targeting such individuals as well. After spending a couple hours searching the web, he decided to call it a day, turning off his computer to head to bed.
'I'll continue later,' he thought as he got under the covers. 'Best I get plenty of rest while I can.'
He needed to be at Kamii University early the next day to finalize his transfer. Even though it was just a cover story, he still wanted to leave a good impression. The thought of what Taiga might do if she found out he was slacking off was enough to make him cringe.
{Break}
"How's your first day going for you?"
A few days had passed since his arrival in Tokyo. Most of the matters related to their move had been sorted out, along with his paperwork as a presumed student at the university. Most of his remaining time was spent doing research online, becoming familiar with the city, and looking after Illya along with taking her to her appointments. So far, none of the medical facilities he'd tried had any more luck than the first. Thus, in the blink of an eye, the first day of his official debut as a student started, and the first one to greet him on this day was Hideyoshi.
"Nothing noteworthy at the moment. I managed to follow along with everything the teacher went over and I've already looked over some of the future subjects I'll be studying. It doesn't look like it will be that hard for me if I keep studying on a regular basis." He answered honestly, still needing some time to get used to the place.
"What do you think of the people here?"
"They're polite and helpful. Someone even mentioned that I could ask for any kind of help the moment I stepped into class," Shirou replied with a small smile. "It's the same like in my hometown, which is helpful."
The place was crowded, to say the least, the class jam-packed with students, making him wonder just how he managed to get a spot. But the overall atmosphere was more relaxed and quiet than his high school life. Most people didn't speak to one another like in Fuyuki; they just stayed within their groups, and he didn't mind that, as it brought him a sense of quiet and comfort.
"Glad you're settling in well. The teacher is kind of an ass, but as long as you don't forget to hand in your assignments, you should be good. Heck, he won't even care if you don't attend his class as long as you hand in your assignments on time."
As the two continued to converse for the next half an hour, Shirou couldn't help but notice something odd.
"Kaneki is absent today, I see."
"He is, isn't he? Kind of strange for him to not be present, as he's not someone to skip classes without a good reason. I tried to call him before coming here, but he didn't answer. I'll try again later."
Perhaps it was due to his late-night research on the Gourmet Ghoul, but Shirou found himself starting to worry that something may have happened to the young man. That thought lingered in his mind, even when he tried to push it away.
'I'm overthinking this. He's probably sick or just had other matters to attend to. I can't go making assumptions just because a single person I barely know missed class.' With that conclusion, he pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind and focused on the lecture. While it wasn't his main goal for coming to Tokyo, he was still determined to make the most of his time here.
More time passed, and before he knew it, class had ended, with the professor leaving the room after giving them an assignment. He gave his goodbyes to Hideyoshi before walking back to his house. Taking a different road due to some construction, he ended up stumbling back onto the path leading him to the café he visited a while ago, which was recommended to him by Kaneki.
He remembered how that boy in particular was absent today, and his mind once again started to wander. 'If he was busy or sick enough to not attend classes, then I doubt he would have enough energy to go to work as well.'
That was the logical conclusion he reached — something that made sense.
But despite that, he found himself walking toward the establishment, opening the door, and walking inside. His arrival was noted by the elderly man, who was once again in the middle of cleaning up some glasses, as if he hadn't moved from his spot from last time. The overall ambiance of the place remained the exact same.
"Welcome! Oh? I see we have a returning customer. Please have a seat," the old man said with a gentle smile. "We have a new batch of coffee beans that came in from South Africa, would you like to give it a taste?"
"Sure, I would love to," he said while taking a seat in the same place as before. He looked around and found the place to be mostly empty, with a single customer, other than himself, sitting on the other side of the room, working on his computer while drinking some coffee.
He waited for a good while, drinking his second cup of coffee till the sky started to turn orange with night time being just an hour or two away. The entire time, he waited for a certain person's arrival, occasionally looking at the door hoping to see him walk-in ready to start his shift as a waiter and relieve his growing concern.
'He's not going to show up, is he?'
Looking around, the only people present were Touka and the owner, Yoshimura. He waited a few minutes until his third cup of coffee was delivered by the girl.
Thanking her, he took a sip and was once again pleasantly surprised by the enhanced flavor that was both bitter and earthly. Savoring the taste for a few more seconds, he decided to take a gamble and try asking the blue-haired girl a few questions, despite her aloof behavior.
"Um, can I have a few moments of your time?" He stopped her before she left. The latter was confused as she turned around to face him.
"Your name is Touka, right?"
"Yes," she answered curtly with a straight face.
"How long have you been working here if you don't mind me asking?" An attempt at a conversation that was started with a simple question. Initially he'd wanted to ask Kaneki these questions, but since the latter wasn't here, he decided to approach Touka.
At first, the girl stared at him strangely, as if wary of him. It was enough to make him wonder if he had been too direct or intrusive.
"For a long time, I don't remember." Her answer was short and simple, without any extra details he could use, and her tone remained as cold as ever. This made him truly believe she didn't trust him.
"I'm sorry if that seemed too sudden. It's just… I've been hearing some troubling rumors lately that had me concerned. I was hoping to ask Kaneki about them, but I haven't seen him all day. You two seem close so I was hoping to ask you instead."
Touka didn't give him an answer immediately, instead going over to serve other tables, leaving him without any response. After several minutes, she finally came back and took a seat in front of him, much to his surprise.
"What do you want to ask, exactly?"
Honestly, he was prepared for her to ignore him for the rest of the day, but since she was here now, he wasn't going to let the opportunity pass. Calming himself down first, he gathered his thoughts.
"Just a few days ago, I was at the hospital and overheard some nurses mention cases of people going missing and blaming it on an individual called the 'Gourmet Ghoul.'"
He observed her body language carefully, noticing her movements becoming more rigid for a brief moment, her eyes widening ever so slightly before she reverted back to her calm self. That was all he needed to know that she knew something, at least.
"Why are you looking into such things? You sound like someone associated with the CCG trying to investigate me."
Suddenly, her voice sounded much colder and quieter, and Shirou felt as though he was being sized up like a potential enemy by the girl. There was a hint of hostility that he hadn't seen before, which made him involuntarily swallow.
Quickly waving his hands, he replied, "Ah, please don't misunderstand. I really mean it when I say that I just happened to hear these rumors floating around."
"..."
"I came here to seek medical treatment for my sister, and for a large part of the day, she remains alone in our apartment. If there are dangerous people around, then I need to know the whole picture for her sake. So please, if there's anything you know that I need to be aware of to help keep her safe, please tell me."
He bowed his head as he finished, fully sincere and with a confident tone that even caught the girl in front of him off guard. Not knowing what to say, she remained quiet for a few seconds as he sat there with his head still bowed.
"All right, you can stop bowing down to me. It's attracting too much attention."
Sure enough, people around them were staring at them. Even Yoshimura seemed to be looking at him strangely.
"Why even get yourself involved with ghouls when you're not a ghoul investigator? They're man-eating killers, all of them. You're basically begging for death if you try to meet one face-to-face."
"I must disagree with you on that I'm afraid," Shirou argued, thinking back to his past experience and what Illya mentioned. "I don't believe all of them are evil as painted by the public. Just like us, they need hum—mmph!"
Touka stepped forward and put her hand over his mouth, giving him a stern glare. "Are you an idiot? Don't say such things in the open like that, it will only invite more trouble for you."
After saying that, she turned around and started walking away. Just as he was about to call out to her, he heard her whisper, "Let's continue this conversation somewhere more private. Go upstairs, I'll join you in a few minutes."
Relieved she was not walking away, he did as he was told and silently went toward the stairs. Yoshimura just gave him a silent nod, which he returned before starting up the stairs. Near the top of the stairs, he found what looked to be a sitting area with a small table and a couple of chairs. Past this area was a long hallway with a number of doors on either side and one at the end.
Taking a seat, he waited.
'She called me here, meaning she must be willing to share something at least.' He thought, as he casually glanced out a nearby window overlooking the street below. As he waited, his thoughts drifted towards a second set of stairs leading down that he'd passed on his way up here. It was probably just his imagination, but for the briefest moment, he could have sworn he smelled blood. It was enough to give him an uncomfortable feeling.
After several minutes, he heard the sound of footsteps coming up to the second floor and turned to see Touka arrive. Although she still had the same stoic expression, her body language seemed more calm and relaxed than before. "Follow me, we have a meeting room here."
Nodding, he quickly followed her as they made their way down the hallway. "Eh?"
For a brief moment, he spotted a pair of brown eyes staring at him from the gaps of one of the doors. They belonged to a child, and as soon as she noticed his gaze, the door was instantly closed with a low thud.
'Who is she?' Shirou found himself wondering. 'What's a girl that young doing up here all by herself?'
"Does Yoshimura have a granddaughter?" he asked the blue-haired girl ahead of him, causing her to turn and stare blankly at him for a moment before shaking her head.
"I don't believe so, why do you ask?"
"There was a brown-haired girl just now looking at us from behind one of the doors. I was wondering if she was related to him or one of the employees."
"Oh her; no, she's not related to anyone who works here. She's just… a friend you could say. Her parents are away and we're taking care of her."
"Is it okay for her to be up here by herself?" Shirou asked out of concern. "I don't think I saw her in the cafe earlier, has she been up here all day?"
"What are you getting at?" Touka challenged coldly with a glare. Shirou wisely chose that moment to keep quiet as he could tell he was about to step on a landmine.
A moment later, they entered the room at the end of the hallway, which turned out to be a meeting room of sorts with tables, chairs, and even a couch. Touka took a seat at one of the tables where he joined her.
"You spoke about your sister — was she the girl that came with you last time?"
"Yes, her name is Illya. She has a unique medical condition that's partially genetic. None of the doctors in Fuyuki could help and it's slowly becoming terminal. That's one of the reasons why I came here — to find treatment. But I didn't take into account just how potentially dangerous it was with ghouls. And while I don't believe that ghouls are inherently evil, I don't want to make mistakes because of my beliefs either."
Interestingly enough, his answer seemed to pique her interest. "You really mean that? About not all ghouls being evil?"
"I don't know much about them since I've never encountered one. But from what I've learned, they need to eat human flesh to survive. It isn't by choice, and there's very little they can do about it. If there was a way to help them, then I would. Some may be evil, but I believe most are just like us — just trying to live as best they can."
The silence between them was suffocating. What felt like an eternity passed before he heard her release a sigh.
"If you truly want to keep your sister safe, then ignore anything related to the 'Gourmet Ghoul' or ghouls in general. They're very dangerous, and getting involved with them, for any reason, will only end in tragedy."
"Then that's all the more reason to learn more, so that I have a better chance at keeping my family safe and, if possible, stop this group from causing even more harm."
For the first time since the conversation started, Touka looked directly at him and scoffed. "Are you even hearing yourself? Stop them? Unless you're a ghoul investigator and a high-ranking one at that, you'll just get yourself killed. But last I checked, you're a university student who's new to Tokyo. What exactly do you think you'll be able to do against a regular ghoul, let alone a high-profile one?"
Her words were harsh and blunt. But, he understood she wasn't saying them out of spite or malice.
He could see that, from her point of view, he was just a normal person trying to get involved in things beyond him. She wasn't aware of his abilities or anything about his past. If he were in her place, he would have done the same.
"You're right, I'm not a ghoul investigator, nor am I someone who can mobilize a team of them. But I'm not completely powerless either. I have my ways, and I know when to retreat if things are far beyond my capabilities."
He could already imagine a certain twin-tailed master laughing maniacally if she heard his words, along with the mocking comments from a certain white-haired "bastard" who would call out his lies on the spot.
"So, you can trust me. I just want to learn a bit more about this particular ghoul. If you don't feel comfortable sharing anything more with me, I completely understand and I'm sorry for forcing you into this uncomfortable conversation."
Seeing her silence, he realized staying any longer would only make things more awkward. Discreetly, he placed a few yen bills on the table and began to rise from his seat. If this was a dead end, he could find other ways to gather information. Just as he was about to stand, Touka extended her arm and grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait."
Surprised by her action, he turned his attention to her, wondering what was going on.
"I'll tell you what little I know. But in exchange, I want you to do a favor for me."
"If it's within my abilities, then consider it done."
She gave him a skeptical look. "You already agreed and didn't even ask what my request was in the first place? That's pretty risky."
"I don't think you'd ask me to do anything heinous or illegal."
"This is the first time we've spoken more than a few words. I don't know where you got that much confidence that I'm not that kind of person."
"Because you've been worried about me the entire time when I'm the one who's been harassing you with all these questions. You could have just told me off or made something up on the spot, but instead you've gone out of your way to dissuade me for my own safety. I can tell that you're a good person, who doesn't like seeing others suffer."
"You…" She struggled to say something but, in the end, stayed quiet. "Alright, change of deal. I'll just tell you what you want right now, and you'll decide whether you want to listen to my request or not."
"Eh, why?" He was caught off guard by her sudden change; it benefited him far more than her, and he was unable to understand why she had a change of heart.
"Do you want the information or not? I don't have all day, so just give me your answer right now."
He ended up nodding his head.
"First of all, I want to know just how much you've learned about the Gourmet Ghoul."
"Not much, but I have come across a few disturbing rumors about them being related to some kind of secret society that hides from the eyes of the authorities, which is why they're so successful as capturing so many people."
"That's true," she confirmed immediately. "But that's merely the tip of the iceberg. Word on the street is that this society is a place where humans with certain traits or who fit certain tastes for ghouls are dragged and butchered. Fed to everyone like some sort of banquet."
Even though he did not show it, Shirou felt his stomach churn in revulsion, growing sick at the mere imagery conjured up by his mind.
"There's not a lot I know about the Gourmet Ghoul. I rather not get myself involved with such things and put my life in danger — I hope you understand. Just don't go out in the middle of the night by yourself, that's when people tend to disappear."
"Thank you very much, Touka. Please tell me, what do you want in exchange for this information? I'm willing to listen."
"Can you… make sure that Kaneki is safe?"
Shirou's eyes widened, so he was in trouble after all. "Lately, I've seen him hanging around someone troublesome. Or rather, that person in particular has some kind of an interest in Kaneki."
"Who is this person?"
"...Shuu Tsukiyama, he's actually a regular customer here and he's always been known for his eccentric personality. But he gets especially weird around people he finds 'interesting,' obsessive even. Normally, I wouldn't think too much on it, but some of our past customers disappeared after he started showing an interest in them and they haven't been seen since."
Shirou raised an eyebrow. "If you think he's behind it in some way, why haven't you gone to the police or at the very least, kicked him out?"
Touka shook her head. "The Tsukiyama family is one of the wealthiest in Tokyo if not all of Japan and he's their rightful heir. They own all kinds of businesses and have connections all the way up to the prime minister. Even if I did say something, without solid proof, all I'd end up doing is making things bad for everyone else here," she finished with a bitter smile.
Part of Shirou wanted to argue, but he understood her point. Without evidence, all she'd likely end up doing is causing more pain. It reminded him again of how truly unfair the world could be for many people.
"I understand. Is there anything else about him that you can share?"
Touka hesitated before continuing. "There's one more thing. He's known to frequent the 7th Ward a lot and I've heard he's part of a dining society there along with a number of other members of Tokyo's 'elite.'"
"A secretive dining society…" was that no different than admitting he was a ghoul?
"I'd go there and look for Kaneki myself, but Shuu would recognize me in an instant and if he was involved in Kaneki's disappearance and thought I was on to him…"
Shirou knew well enough where she was going with this. If Shuu spotted her and thought she'd ratted him out, it would put her and Kaneki in danger.
"I'm sorry to ask this of you, but I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen with Kaneki, so please, if you can, help him."
"I will," he promised without any hesitation. No matter what, for both Touka and Hideyoshi's sake, he'd make sure their friend came back safe and sound.
"...Send me your LINE contact, I will text you the addresses of places Shuu is seen frequently attending. Message me if you find any information or you end up finding Kaneki."
Though she'd been careful with her choice of words and how she brought up certain subjects, their conversation had hinted that she knew far more about ghouls than a girl her age had any reason to unless she was a member of the CCG or a ghoul herself — and he doubted it was the former.
All the same, her concern for Kaneki seemed real and that was enough. As long as he didn't have reason to believe she was out there slaughtering innocent people, he could keep a secret. It made him wonder if the rest of the people working at Anteiku were ghouls.
Shirou thanked her before she left and finished his cup of coffee, sorting out the bill before walking to the entrance. He heard Yoshimura's voice behind him:
"I advise you to be wary of the 7th, especially at night. Ghouls are the least of your worries in a place like that."
"I will, thank you," he answered before leaving, now finally knowing what his next move would be.
.
.
.
(Late at night.)
"Are you going somewhere?"
It had already been a few hours since Shirou had returned home, having taken care of a few things before preparing to head back out. His sister noticed his movements and curiously asked what was going on.
"Just some event held by the university students. They invited me to a get-together, and I didn't find any reason to decline. It'll only last an hour or two, I'll be back before your bedtime."
"I don't have a bedtime! That makes me sound like a little kid!" Illya pouted.
Shiro couldn't help but chuckle at her cute reaction. On the inside, though, he was worried about telling her the truth. Although she was powerful and capable as a magus, her small body and frail constitution put her at a dis-advantage if things became up close and personal. Combined with the fact that overuse of her magecraft could potentially worsen her already deteriorating health, and he didn't want her to get involved.
'It's better to keep her out of this, if possible,' he thought to himself. 'I'll think of a way to make it up to her later.'
"I'll be going now. Don't stay up all night watching TV — it's bad for your eyes."
"I already told you that's not true!" her voice shouted from behind as he closed the door to his apartment, leaving while carrying a small bag with him.
The boy failed to notice the white-haired girl's smile diminish into one of slight annoyance and later amusement. 'He really sucks at lying."
"He is an honest individual." Sella agreed, shaking her head slightly at how bad he was at such things. But it wasn't exactly a bad thing as well.
"Does he really think I didn't notice all that research he's been doing on his computer?" Whatever the subject that caught his attention has been distracting him a lot lately.
Unlike a certain twin-tailed mage, she was no longer inexperienced when it came to technology. Yesterday, out of curiosity, she snooped a bit on his computer to see what he had been working on so intently for the last few days. Of course, to no surprise, he was going to play hero once more.
"Sella."
"Yes, Miss Illya?" Her maid appeared behind her in an instant. Unlike before, her expression was serious and even slightly cold, mirroring that of her lady.
"Make sure he is safe. If someone or something annoying tries to bother him, then make sure he doesn't do anything stupid… you know how stubborn he can be."
At the end of the day, no matter how cutesy or loving she behaved around the boy, Illya was still a magus at her core. Eliminating undesired factors through brutal means — even killing — was nothing new to her.
Things might have been easier in some ways if her brother shared a similar sentiment. However, if that were the case, she probably wouldn't be here. Not to mention, his kindness was one of the things she loved most about him — even if it was annoying at times.
Though Sella wasn't a combat maid like Leysritt, she could still accomplish much when needed. Illya had no intention of sending her into battle and risking the loss of her last remaining maid.
"Understood."
Just as much as he wanted to protect her, so did she.
.
.
.
There were many aspects of Tokyo that differed from Fuyuki.
The densely packed area was filled to the brim with towering structures, dozens of floors high, with an equally high number of people bustling down the streets. It was, in a way, both an awe-inspiring sight and a suffocating one. These contrasts already made him miss Fuyuki, even though he had only lived here for a short time.
But at least tonight, these differences worked in his favor.
Woosh!
His hair fluttered as he leapt from one rooftop to another, high in the sky where even the slightest misstep could send him plunging into a near-death scenario. Thankfully, the gaps were small enough for him to travel great distances seamlessly until he finally arrived at his destination.
'So this should be the 7th Ward… it's quieter than I imagined.'
It was hard to imagine a place as crowded as a pack of sardines suddenly turning this empty at night, with not a single soul walking down the streets. Another aspect that worked in his favor, as it helped him avoid accidentally involving any innocent bystanders in the worst-case scenario.
"Maybe they're worried about getting kidnapped and eaten," Shirou whispered, sitting at the edge of a building with a map spread out in front of him. Various parts of Tokyo were circled, marking the different wards.
Taking out his phone, the boy flipped it open to view a series of messages exchanged between him and Touka. She hadn't even bothered with a hello, starting the conversation by sending him an address and a warning: "Don't get eaten."
He smiled to himself as he gave her a quick reply — a simple flexing emoticon he had recently started using, thanks to Illya and Taiga's influence. It was his attempt to lighten the mood and reassure her that everything would be alright.
The only response he got, however, was just three dots.
"A bit awkward," he muttered with a faint chuckle.
Pushing the brief exchange to the back of his mind, he refocused on the task ahead, determination settling in.
His mission was clear: find the missing Kaneki and, if possible, put an end to this Gourmet Ghoul situation.
From his elevated vantage point, he surveyed the land below, carefully observing the area to map out the surroundings in his mind. The darkness of the night cloaked his figure, blending him into the shadows, while the occasional glow of streetlights illuminated the roads below.
Getting closer to the address Touka had sent, Shirou made his way downwards until his feet touched the ground, landing softly in an alleyway. "So this is the place."
The restaurant, in question, honestly did not appear to be a restaurant in the first place. The building was situated in a rather opulent neighborhood, surrounded by similar gothic-style structures. There was no sign, no posters, or anything to indicate that it was a restaurant. For a brief moment, Shirou had to wonder if Touka had sent him the wrong address. He would be more inclined to believe this was an office than anything else. Still, after double-checking the address, he confirmed that it was indeed the place he was looking for.
'No light, no sign of anyone around... but she seemed certain that Shuu would be here.'
"Let's wait and see," he muttered, taking a moment to find a secluded spot where no one would spot him. He remained hidden, watching the scene unfold. A few minutes passed before the sound of a car approaching caught his attention.
Turning his gaze to the end of the street, he saw a luxurious vehicle pull up and stop right in front of the building.
The car doors opened, and a couple stepped out. Their faces were hidden behind stylized masks, and they were dressed in opulent clothing. The pair walked up to the entrance, and as the door opened, Shirou caught a fleeting glimpse of the inside. The interior was extravagant, with a lavish ambiance. Several other individuals, all wearing different kinds of ornate masks, wandered the halls. Some held glasses of what appeared to be red wine, further enhancing the sophisticated yet eerie atmosphere.
That was as much as he could observe before the doors closed, leaving the atmosphere quiet once more.
'There's definitely something going on there,' he thought to himself. 'Going through the front entrance isn't an option. It's far too risky, and I'd get discovered sooner or later. I'll need another entry point.'
Now certain this was the right place, Shirou made his move. Deciding to enter through the second floor, he circled around to the back of the building. He quickly found a fire escape leading to an open, second story window, surrounded by a locked fence. Within seconds, he'd traced a dagger, sliced through the lock and made his way up through the window.
Once inside, he found himself in what appeared to be a bedroom. The room was modestly furnished, but its gothic decor matched the overall theme of the building. Shirou's eyes darted around, scanning for anything out of place, but everything seemed untouched, as if it had been prepared for show rather than use.
A faint light shone from beneath the door leading out of the room. He crouched low, the muted glow casting faint shadows across the wooden floorboards. Through the stillness, he picked up on muffled voices on the other side of the door.
"…Dull lately. Though I have heard rumors that Mr. MM will bring along an interesting offering for us to taste."
"No wonder you've been chipper lately."
"Can you blame me?"
It was a woman's voice, smooth and tinged with excitement. Accompanied by a man, both sounding excited about what was to come today.
The topic of their conversation further cemented Shirou's suspicion — he was definitely in the right place.
"We can always trust his taste," the other voice chimed in, this sound belonging to the man. "His past meals have been exquisite. Every few days, I find myself craving the flavors of the dishes he served before. But no matter how much I go out searching for fresh meat, I simply cannot find that level of quality anywhere else in Japan."
"With how stubborn the doves have been lately, I can understand how difficult it must be to run a proper business and secure high-quality ingredients," the woman replied with a sigh.
"It's such a shame, though," the man lamented. "We'll only get a sample taste this time. The feast may be exquisite, but with so many people here tonight, it'll be impossible to get a satisfying portion."
Shirou froze, his grip tightening on the hilt of his dagger. Their casual talk, laced with such grotesque implications, sent a chill down his spine. This wasn't just some high-society event with peculiar rituals — it was something far darker.
"I need to find out what they're planning… and fast," he thought grimly, his gaze fixed on the light seeping under the door as their conversation continued.
"It's better than not experiencing such a taste ever again," the woman said with a wistful tone.
"I suppose you're right," the man replied.
The duo continued their conversation as they walked down the hallway, their voices growing fainter. Meanwhile, a pair of golden-brown eyes peeked cautiously through the crack in the door, paying close attention to every word they said.
"Doves…?" Shirou murmured under his breath.The term was familiar. During his research, he'd come across the word frequently online — apparently it was used extensively by ghouls and others to refer to ghoul investigators based on the CCG's seal. For these two to casually mention doves in the same breath as "food" only deepened his suspicions.
After ensuring the hallway was clear, Shirou quietly slipped out of the room, careful to tread lightly as he followed the same path the duo had taken.
His steps were measured, his senses on high alert to avoid being discovered.
'Everyone here has masks… can I use that to blend in?' he pondered, glancing at the lavish decor and recalling the luxurious masks he had glimpsed earlier.
As he considered his options — either projecting a suit and mask or stealing one, hesitation took hold of him. If the place really was filled with ghouls, wearing a disguise likely wouldn't help. He recalled how Illya mentioned their acute sense of smell.
'Better not take the risk. I'll need to hide myself instead…' he thought, scanning his surroundings rapidly. Several possibilities came to mind, and he settled on one. With the sound of footsteps approaching, he quickly found an open door leading to a supply closet. Seconds after the door closed, two women turned the corner into the corridor where Shirou had been standing.
"Hm?" The blonde, dressed impeccably in gothic attire with sunglasses resembling oversized goggles, abruptly halted.
"Is something the matter, Madame A?" her companion asked curiously, her voice soft and inquisitive. The second woman wore a sparrow-themed mask, its intricate feathers shimmering faintly in the light.
Madame A didn't respond immediately. Her nose twitched as she caught a peculiar scent. Slowly, a predatory smile spread across her face.
"A human?" she murmured, her voice dripping with intrigue.The sparrow-masked woman stiffened as the same aroma reached her, delicate and sweet, carrying the unmistakable allure of prey. This was no ordinary human — it was a scent that teased at the edge of their instincts, more fragrant and tantalizing than anything she had encountered before.
"Oh my, my mouth is already salivating," she said with a giggle, licking her lips behind the mask.
"This must be a special occasion, Madame A. Do you think we'll get to taste a mage tonight? Your Taroo will have quite a bit of fun, won't he?"
The blonde's smirk widened, her crimson eyes gleaming faintly behind her tinted glasses. 'Perhaps. If that scent is what I think it is… tonight might indeed become unforgettable.'
Hidden on the other side of the door, just a few feet away, Shirou gritted his teeth. 'They can smell me, even from here…' He tightened his grip on the dagger, every muscle in his body coiled and ready. He needed to act carefully — one wrong move and the situation could spiral out of control.
Instead of continuing down the hallway, the blond haired woman started to look around as if searching for something with a confused expression.
"Is something the matter?" the woman in the sparrow mask asked.
"…I don't know if my nose is playing tricks on me, but if I didn't know better, I'd say there was a human with us in this hallway right now or nearby at least. The scent is too fresh, wouldn't you agree?"
Inside the room, Shirou mentally prepared himself to make his move if they started searching for him. While he was fully confident that he could take them both, his main concern was if one of them called for help. He wasn't sure how many ghouls were attending this "event," but it sounded like a lot.
That and he still needed to look for Kaneki. Sounding the alarm too early would make it that much more difficult to look for the young man — provided he was even still alive at that point.
Her friend sniffed the air once more before shrugging her shoulders. "Most likely, the main courses were brought through here to have some drinks and clean themselves. They need to be presentable for the feast after all. The host most likely also collected some blood to verify their quality."
"I suppose you're right…" The blond woman replied, staring at the supply closet door a while longer before she heard the voice of the announcer reach her ears from the main room. "Never mind, perhaps I've been overworking myself lately. Let's go to the banquet quickly! I want to see my Taroo perform his best for his mama!"
With that, the two women entered the main area to spectate the new, exquisite offering brought by one of their most trusted members for tonight's feast.
{Break}
-???-
It was just like with Rize all over again.
He had been led astray and deceived once more by someone who acted kind, only to reveal they wanted to feast on his flesh in the end. At this moment, Kaneki felt an immense wave of rage — directed not toward Shuu, but toward himself. How could he have been so easily lured into such a trap, even after multiple warnings from Touka?
Now, he was stuck in some kind of arena, surrounded by upper balconies filled with guests. All of them wore masks to conceal their identities, gazing at him as though he were nothing more than a form of twisted entertainment. Their voices carried down to him, discussing how he might taste. The comments turned his stomach, filling him with a sickening mix of anger and nausea.
"Just smell that amazing scent from the mage, even after being dismembered, his presence still lingers in the air! I hope you have all enjoyed the delicacy. Since getting one this tasty was no small feat for Mr. MM!"
When he had arrived in this space, there were three of them. Himself, a woman named Ami and an old man whom Kaneki saw, with his own eyes, create some kind of fireball from his hands. A mage according to the announcer, one that managed to hurt the scrapper but for some reason fell to the ground soon after.
Getting mutilated by the angered monster.
The scent of his blood was far stronger than anything Kaneki had experienced before so he started to realize why the audience were so excited to eat him.
But that was not important, they needed to stay alive.
And when he tried to help Ami, the woman had kicked him in the back, using him as a decoy to buy herself time to escape.
'But escape to where exactly…?' A bitter part of his mind scoffed in despair. It wasn't long before Amy collapsed to her knees while attempting to flee, the poison they had ingested taking hold. Her movements became sluggish, just like his own.
The scrapper caught up to her, slamming her body against a hot table. The sizzle of flesh seared his ears, followed by Ami's agonized screams, begging for mercy. The scent of burning flesh filled the room, and something deep within Kaneki stirred. His other half began to awaken, saliva pooling in his mouth just like the others around him. The realization filled him with self-loathing and disgust.
'How can I escape? How can I escape?!'
His thoughts spiraled into desperation as he turned to face the towering mountain of muscle before him — a predator wielding a quinque, intent on dismembering him.
"The effects are delayed… but those who didn't drink the coffee have inhaled the gas," the announcer's voice rang out, further fueling Kaneki's frustration. "It slowly inhibits motor skills. Soon, he'll be unable to resist. Please enjoy the climax of the show!"
So this was why the old man was unable to move.
With death staring him in the face once again, Kaneki felt anger boiling inside him. He wanted to kill the scrapper standing before him — to cut the monster into pieces for trying to take his life and devour him. The large disgusting figure raised the red saw-like quinque, but as he swung, Kaneki's left eye began to shift, the sclera darkening while his iris turned a brilliant crimson. A retching noise escaped his mouth, a guttural sound that reverberated through the arena.
"What is this!? A single kakugan!?" someone in the crowd shouted. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the masked audience.
A one-eyed ghoul.
The realization spread like wildfire.
But Kaneki didn't care. His body felt heavy, barely able to move, yet he was determined. He would make it out alive — somehow. Or, if death was inevitable, he would drag these people into hell with him. He was terrified, no better than a rabid animal backed into a corner.
Until—
Woosh!
A piercing sound came from above, and everything around Kaneki came to a complete standstill. He absent-mindedly gazed at the waterfall of blood spraying into the air, a surreal scene unfolding before him. Out of nowhere, a large hole appeared in the middle of the scrapper's chest, exposing parts of his still-beating heart.
"Taroo!" A woman in the audience cried out in despair. Before Kaneki could process the scene, something resembling an arrow pierced the scrapper's head, killing him instantly. His massive body crumpled to the ground with a loud thud, causing the arena to tremble slightly.
Several screams erupted from the crowd above, mingled with blood-curdling gurgles and the overwhelming scent of blood. From the corner of his eyes, Kaneki saw a man in a suit fall from above, his body riddled with arrows, one of which pierced cleanly through his skull sending brain matter flying. The man's mask lay shattered next to where his body hit the ground, no signs of life remaining.
Kaneki was speechless, his mind spinning as he saw a figure land beside him. The red hair instantly reminded him of a certain newcomer to Tokyo.
'It couldn't be him…' he thought, struggling to get a better look, but his body barely responded, and he clung to what little consciousness he had left.
In the next moment, he felt a hand grab his collar and pull him up. A calm voice reached his ears.
"Don't worry, you're safe now. Touka sent me here."
An immense avalanche of relief and joy flooded Kaneki's heart. A tear streamed down his face as, for some reason, he chose to believe this person's words completely. He felt as though he had truly been saved. He owed Touka both an apology and a debt once more.
"Thank you." He whispered, summoning the last vestiges of his strength before blacking out completely.
In that fleeting moment, his mind hoped that this person had backup, and together, they could successfully escape the arena surrounded by dozens of ghouls.
But then again, he didn't need to worry — what kind of madman would throw himself into such a dangerous situation alone?
.
.
.
Shirou had to move quickly. Even with magical energy circulating throughout his body, he didn't want to remain in an environment filled with paralyzing gas. His initial ambush had gone perfectly. He had taken down the large scrapper who was torturing people, dismembering them, and throwing their limbs to the audience.
Then, he created chaos by shooting as many arrows and traced swords as he could, reducing their numbers before landing to save Kaneki.
He stared at the dismembered corpse of the magus, the first victim. He wondered if the Clocktower would notice his death, or if he had family who might take action? He didn't even know the man's identity, so perhaps his death wouldn't matter. Still, Shirou wished he had arrived sooner to save everyone.
Carrying Kaneki on his back, he tried to leave.
But as he moved, a sense of danger washed over him from behind. Reacting quickly, he jumped just in time to dodge an organic-looking purple ribbon that pierced the ground where he had stood. The figure who had released it wore a crescent moon-shaped mask.
"Where do you think you are going with my possession?" he spoke gleefully, with a hint of madness in his tone.
He immediately knew there was no point in negotiating with this person, nor in seeking a peaceful escape. That option had been discarded the moment he realized the true nature of this place. From the way everyone praised him, it was clear that this man was most likely responsible for bringing these people here.
The crescent shaped mask that hid the Gourmet Ghoul's identity showed a calm smile. "It's considered polite to introduce yourself. It's not every day we have a mage ambush our little party."
Shirou kept silent as the man continued.
"You must be an Enforcer sent by the Clocktower. I know you people aren't tasked with saving those of your kind, but either killing them to prevent secrets from leaking or bringing them back to dig up the crests within them. Therefore, I have a proposal for you."
"..."
Not minding his silence, the ghoul continued to speak. "If you leave that precious delicacy behind, then I will hand you over what remains of the old man over there. His limbs may be gone but his crest remains intact. You can grab him and leave with no one stopping you."
To let this anomaly disappear was far more heartbreaking than giving away a single mage or even two for that matter.
Even Shirou was taken aback by this offer and quickly shook his head. "No, I'm not associated with the Clocktower nor am I an Enforcer."
"Hoh… interesting." A hungry grin formed on Shuu's face. "In that case, I don't have to worry about any repercussions! Nevermind then, I'll have you both for myself."
The ribbon spiraled around him like a drill, and in the blink of an eye, he lunged forward, aiming to pierce Shirou. His superhuman speed closed the distance between them in seconds, forcing the redhead to drop Kaneki and quickly trace Kanshou and Bakuya to block the incoming attack.
As soon as Shirou's weapons met the kagune, a burst of sparks exploded outward. Shiro felt his arms buckle under the overwhelming strength.
'So strong!' he thought, gritting his teeth at the sensation, his grasp on his weapon almost breaking. 'Had I been even a second too slow, he would have killed me easily.'
Though the strength was inhumanely powerful, it wasn't as extreme as that of a servant. It was comparable to facing another mage using reinforcement — or perhaps somewhat stronger than that.
Knowing that now wasn't the time to show weakness, he launched into a fierce assault. Shuu retaliated instantly, his kagune whipping forward in rapid, piercing strikes-far faster than what any ordinary human could perceive. Shirou remained on the defensive, deflecting or blocking each attack with precision, occasionally swinging back with calculated strikes meant to wound his opponent.
The arrogance in Shuu's expression began to falter.
His initial confidence wavered as the tides of battle turned. His relentless offensive gave way to a desperate series of defensive maneuvers. Shirou's calculated movements forced Shuu to block more frequently, his earlier dominance slipping away.
Crack!
"—!"
As he continued to force his opponent into a corner, the redhead discovered an incredible sight of his weapons cracking upon impact before shattering apart.
"...What?"
All of this happened so suddenly that it caused both parties to momentarily freeze with confusion. Even Shuu wondered what just happened.
"Hah! So much for your mystic code! You should know better than to use such a cheap, flimsy weapon against our ki—more of them!?"
Unfortunately for him, this odd incident failed to handicap the boy who just traced another pair and resumed his attack.
One of Shirou's strikes bypassed Shuu's defense, slicing through his shirt and flesh. Blood sprayed across the floor as a deep wound opened on his side.
"T-That's... what?"
The smugness in Shuu's face dissolved, replaced by shock. He stared at the weapon Shirou wielded, his mind racing. While it wasn't impossible for a mage to possess more than one of a particular mystic code, it was generally unheard of outside of certain mass-produced items.
'How many of those does he have?' he thought as his confidence continued to waver.
Such thoughts evaporated as the deep wound on his torso rapidly began to close. Within seconds, it was as though the attack had never happened.
"High-speed regeneration?" Shirou whispered, incredulous. The wound he had inflicted had severed bone and sliced through organs — a blow that should have been fatal. Yet the flesh knit itself back together in moments, as if mocking the damage.
"Hahaha!" Shuu's grin returned, confidence swelling. "Dangerous weapons, sure, but useless against me!" Emboldened, Shuu charged forward, attacking Shirou with renewed ferocity. This time, he didn't flinch from Shirou's blade, tanking cuts and slashes that healed as quickly they came. Shirou, forced onto the defensive, began to retreat under the relentless onslaught.
ВАМ!
"ARGHI"
Shirou managed to block an upper strike but immediately realized something was wrong. A sharp, burning pain erupted from his leg. Glancing down, he saw Shuu's kagune had pierced his left thigh.
"Damn it!"
Panic surged within him.
Drawing more of his magical energy, he focused on the image of a particular weapon that was once favored by the Church. The air shimmered as countless Black Keys materialized overhead, raining down mercilessly onto the battlefield.
"What kind of magecraft is this?!"
Shuu barely had time to react, using his kagune to shield himself. Though some of the blades were not sharp enough, leaving only shallow cuts, the sheer number of them overwhelmed his regeneration. Wounds accumulated rapidly, pushing him to his limits.
"Enough!"
With a furious roar, his kagune grew dramatically in size and whipped around him wildly, swatting the remaining Black Keys out of the air while leaving small fissures in the ground. Panting, he glared at the red-headed man who now stood a distance away from him.
Shirou tsked as he saw the numerous wounds on Shuu's body slowly begin to close. 'Black Keys barely seem to have any effect on his regeneration,' he thought. 'In that case…'
As soon as his wounds closed, Shuu started to advance forward — "started" being the key word. He hadn't even taken a complete step when he found himself frozen in place. A dreadful chill crept in as he sensed something behind him.
He barely managed to turn his head enough to see a single Black Key stuck in the ground, seemingly piercing the torso of his shadow. A brief tug confirmed that his body appeared to be pinned in the exact same spot as where the weapon pierced his shadow.
Multiple questions started flooding his mind, including whether the weapon was responsible for immobilizing him or if it was a form of magecraft. Such thoughts left him when an intense stench of blood filled the air, thick enough to be nauseating.
Rather than stimulate his appetite, the smell awakened a primal instinct within him that grew wary of this change — to the point of calling it actual fear.
A red light flashed within his opponent's hands and from the corner of his eyes, he saw what appeared to be a red spear start to materialize within the air.
'A quinque!'
That was the sole explanation he could come up with; only a weapon made from and to kill his kind could make him feel this way. The need to survive grew stronger than ever as he knew getting pierced by whatever that was would kill him for certain. "Aaaaaaaaaahh!!!!!!"
His kagune twitched, muscles bulging past their limits to the point of rupturing his inner tissue. Pouring every last bit of strength he could scrap up into breaking himself from this confinement.
His Kagune twitched and struck the crumbled ground with all its might, sending him hurtling backwards and retreating to the upper floors. His body was torn in some places from overexerting himself to the point of tearing muscles, and his breathing was ragged as he gazed down at the shattered ground below.
"Hah… hah… hah… Where… hah where is he?"
Shuu's bloodshot eyes scanned the area, but there was no sign of the mage or Kaneki. Madness flickered in his gaze as he searched frantically.
"No... no, no, NO!"
Any semblance of composure vanished. Pulling a remaining fragment of a blade from his body, he rushed toward the exit.
There, he found a grim scene. Several attendees lay on the floor, groaning and writhing in pain, impaled by Shirou's swords. At the far end of the room, a shattered window revealed their likely escape route. Shuu approached the window, his desperation growing. He sniffed the air, searching for any lingering trace of his prey. But the heavy rain outside had washed away all scents, leaving him with nothing.
"FUCK!"
His fist slammed into the wall, shattering it. Ignoring the wounded cries of the remaining guests, Shuu seethed. His mind was consumed by a singular thought: the escape of his prey.
"I will find you," he growled, his voice trembling with fury. "Kaneki, I know where you are, where you work. And that mage friend of yours — I'll find him too. And when I do..." His lips curled into a wicked grin. "I will feast on him as well."
Calling forth several individuals who worked for him, he ordered every single ghoul at his disposal to go out and find the two individuals who had just escaped.
"Sir, are you not coming with us as well?" One of them asked out of curiosity, seeing the blue haired man not move from his spot as he gazed outside.
Shuu could not give them a straight answer immediately, as the faint touch of death still lingered in his mind. Whatever that weapon was had made him feel a sensation he absolutely despised and filled his mouth with a disgusting and bitter taste. Sweat filled his palms and his heart was beating like a drum.
"Hah," But unfortunately, he had to make sure his prey would not get captured and eaten by another group. "Let's go."
{Break}
As the rain continued to pour over Tokyo, a shadow could be seen jumping from rooftop to rooftop heading away from the 7th ward.
Running at great speed whilst carrying another individual on his back wasn't easy with an injured leg, but he was managing.
As he was moving, Shirou's mind went over the events that transpired. He was still confused as to why his weapons broke during the confrontation; it was as if they grew weaker with each exchange with the ghoul's kagune.
'His regeneration only started weakening toward the end, likely only due to exhaustion.'
It was clear to Shirou that Shuu was not very used to prolonged fighting.
But the fact that Black Keys, a weapon designed by the Church to counter a dead apostle's regeneration, failed to work on a ghoul — or rather, a gallu, was still concerning.
Fortunately for him, Shadow Binding, one of the techniques used with Black Keys, was still effective. It bought him enough time to trace Gae Bolg.
A last resort option for it consumed far more energy than his regular weapons and could have left him drained afterwards. Thankfully, his reinforced hearing had picked up the sound of more ghouls approaching before he finished tracing it.
Even if it had killed the Gourmet Ghoul, being caught by a number of other ghouls while low on magical energy and protecting an unconscious Kaneki would have been one of the least ideal outcomes.
Escaping with Kaneki was his priority, not killing ghouls.
'Should I bring him to the cafe?'
Another matter was where to bring Kaneki. He didn't know where Kaneki lived, not to mention that was likely the first place the Gourmet Ghoul would look. Bringing him back to his own apartment was also out as he couldn't risk putting Illya and Sella in danger.
At that moment, he had an idea. Retrieving his phone he went through his contacts and called the person he made a promise to in the beginning.
"Shirou?" A feminine voice came from the other side, she sounded slightly tired but still energetic. "Did something happen? Were you discovered? Did they spot you? And Kaneki, is he.. is he…"
She asked him multiple questions which he had no opportunity to answer. "Please calm down, Touka. I'm perfectly fine."
Other than the wound on his leg, he did not suffer from anything else. Though it would be hard to explain to Illya or Sella how he got the injury. Hopefully, he could hide it until it healed.
"I have Kaneki with me. I don't know if I should keep him with me or drop him off somewhere."
"Where are you? I'll come over quickly."
"Around the train station near my university."
The woman quickly cut the call and he took this as a signal for him to wait for her arrival. It didn't take long; in less than ten minutes, he heard the sound of someone running and turned to see Touka racing toward them at an inhuman speed. The moment she saw him and the boy on his back, a clear wave of relief washed over her face.
"See? I told you I'd find him like I promised."
"... Thank you."
He accepted her heartfelt thanks, passing Kaneki over to her. The blue-haired girl proposed for him to accompany her back somewhere safe to get checked for any possible injuries, but he declined the offer.
"Shirou," right as he was about to leave, she called his name. He immediately noticed her gaze kept lingering over his bloodied trail where his bleeding had mostly stopped. "I'm… I'm sorry I asked you to do such a thing. You're not even part of the CCG and I… I…"
"I told you it's fine," he waved her worried away. "Just make sure he wakes up without any issues. There was some kind of knockout gas in the place I found him. We can talk more next time we meet."
It was clear that there was still a lot she wanted to say but held back. Having no choice but to listen to his words, she quickly gave him a deep bow and took Kaneki away.
'She is surpassingly strong.' Carrying a full grown man like that and running at such speed shouldn't be possible for an ordinary high school student. It reaffirmed his suspicions from before — Touka was, without a doubt, a ghoul. And it seemed Kaneki was a half-ghoul though he still found that part hard to believe. It made him wonder…
'No, that's not important right now.' Regardless of whether she's a ghoul or not, she wasn't his enemy.
And with that, he made his way back to his apartment. Reaching the place quickly, he quietly opened the door, hoping to avoid waking anyone up.
"—!"
Only to nearly let out a terrified scream when he came face-to-face with a smiling Illya and stoic Sella standing in the middle of the living room with the moonlight in the background creating a creepy atmosphere.
"Well would you look at that. Not even a month and you're already playing hero, Shirou~!"
"..."
Shirou really did not know what to say; a part of him forbad lying, knowing full well it wouldn't work.
He should have accepted Touka's offer back then!
AN: So, just a small reminder concerning ghouls since in this chapter we see more of them, especially during combat. For those unaware or may have forgotten, in Tokyo Ghoul, ghouls cannot be cut by regular weapons like knives or swords; their bodies are highly resistant to conventional weaponry, meaning a normal blade would not be able to pierce their skin, making them essentially immune to most standard weapons.In the manga, even a saw blade could not cut through Kaneki's skin.
As for why the black keys did not work against Shuu to defeat him is because the natural regeneration factor of a Ghoul was not slowed down by the weapon or nullified.
Which is why the CCG uses Quinque against them. As those weapons counter the regeneration and slows it down enough to kill em.
Also, the ghouls in this story use magical energy to enhance their already existing abilities.
As for the particular Kanshou and Bakuya scene, it did not happen because the world is nerfing his Projections or anything like that. This is purely fanon, Shirou's Traced weapons are capable of existing indefinitely as long as they don't get broken or he dismisses them. There is a reason for that scene which will be explained in the future.