Tokyo Ghoul/東京喰種トーキョーグール 1. Love story

Disclaimer: Don't own nothing

Chapter 1 – Love story

"Mama! Mama! Look! There are ducks in the pond!" Rize didn't have time to think as the small hand clutched between her fingers started pulling her towards a small pond.

She chuckled at her son's antics, "Just don't fall in Ken-kun!"

"Uh!" He replied enthusiastically as he ran to the edge of the pond. The yellow hood of his raincoat breezed back from his head to land on his back, revealing a cheerful young face with a white medical eye patch slashed over one eye.

Rize sighed at her son's enthusiasm. She never could have imagined that having a child would be so much fun. She always thought of herself as a type of wanderer, travelling around in search of her next meal. The idea of a family had never even crossed her mind. It would have been too much trouble as the CCG were not above killing child ghouls in order to get to their target. Her movements weren't going unnoticed either, with the CCG already issuing out warning flyers about the rising star 'Binge Eater'.

It was on one of her little ventures where she met the love of her life. Of course at the time she merely thought of him as her next meal. It was in ward 20 where she saw him, or rather smelt him. It was his scent that first lured her. A faint passing scent, almost smothered by the overwhelming smells of everything around it, but she caught it. Crisp and refreshing, like the dew you would find on grass after a cold winter's night.

**-Flashback-**

At first she only watched from afar, mildly intrigued by the human.

His name was Hiroki, a lean dark haired librarian with a preference of wearing those brown plaid vests that men decades older him wore. He lived a fairly ordinary life. Wake up. Work. Read. Sleep. Repeat. Wake up. Work. Read. Sleep. Repeat. It was after following the man for a week that finally something different happened in the cycle.

It was a Sunday night when it happened. Just after his dinner, instead of showering and reading in bed like he always did the days before, he changed into a large overcoat and left his shoebox of an apartment.

Rize was curious. What could have occurred that would have disrupted his schedule? She followed him as he walked through the park, easily concealing herself in the trees. It must have been 40 minutes before he stopped at the top of a small hill. Still hidden in the trees Rize watched as the human simply lay down on the grass, gazing at the stars for hours. _How_ _strange_ she thought to herself as she saw him leave.

She approached him the next day. Having already memorised his routine, she entered a small café 20 minutes into his lunch break. After politely asking if she could talk and receiving an affirmative, she easily slid in the vacant seat opposite him.

"So, uh how can I help you Miss?" He asked nervously, clearly not having much contact with girls.

She proceeded to tell him the same story she told all her victims. It was some cheesy tale about him being her childhood crush and with some encouragement from a friend she finally gathered up the courage to talk to her one true love. Of course it was immediately after her 'confession' that Rize realised that this human was different. Instead of eating up her story like others before him, he questioned her. Ordering her to explain exactly how she felt, what appealed to her about him and so on.

You see, she quickly learnt that he was interested in stories. Love stories to be precise. He described them to be inspiring, brilliant, stories where anything can be resolved because of the invisible and indestructible force of love. It was because of his declaration that he told Rize his dream. To be an author: the ultimate master of emotions, to have the ability to paint love onto paper with words.

She smiled and encouraged him to continue, her façade never failing. Inwardly she scoffed at the human sitting opposite her.

He was a fool.

No more and no less.

Love stories didn't help anyone in this cruel world of ghouls.

**-Timeskip-**

She never knew when it happened, but when she realised it all came down on her like a bucket of water.

Perhaps it was when he 'protected' her on that spring day from a bee. It must had been attracted to her sweet perfume. Hiroki, her self-proclaimed knight immediately tried to swat the bee away from her – with his hands – and ended up getting stung himself. She of course told him he was an idiot in which he only replied that it was worth taking the pain for her. Even she had to admit that it was somewhat sweet, a human trying to protect her against something so trivial was a first for her.

It didn't happen overnight, but somehow in the two weeks she spent with him, she gained just an inkling of feeling for him.

The notorious 'Binge Eater', feared for her mercilessness and brutality in slaughtering her food, was falling for a human? It was preposterous! Unprecedented! How could she ever show her face to the ghoul community again?

But even the mere thought of eating her Hiroki sent utter waves of revulsion and despair within her. It was just impossible, how could a man ever make her feel this way? She no longer saw his brown locks as a crunchy snack, but rather as soft silk or his eyes as chewy treats but as brown organs that he saw her with.

Her mother always warned her against playing with her food, but Rize never took any notice of the advice. Perhaps this was the price she had to pay.

Hiroki was just simply unlike anyone she had ever met before. He was nothing like the other ghouls: her brute of a brother Shachi for example or that idiotic ghoul from ward 11, Banjou.

To be frank, at times he was a moron. Yet at other times, he was an idealist who believed that the power of love could triumph over all the evil within the world.

**-Timeskip-**

Soon two weeks turned into two months. And two months turned into two years.

Rize had to admit, for the first time in her cursed existence, she was happy. Hiroki offered to share his apartment with her shortly after they announced their status as girlfriend and boyfriend and she gladly accepted.

Of course even though Hiroki was a scatterbrain, it was only a matter of time when he pieced the lack of food she ate and her immediate departure to the bathroom whenever she ate a tiny morsel of food together and asked her the big question…

…

…

…

…Did she have an eating disorder?…

…

…

…

Rize had sighed and wondered how she could had ever fallen in love with such an idiot.

Even though he hadn't figured her secret out yet, she decided to just come clean anyway and tell her boyfriend of her status of a ghoul, it would have done no good if he blatantly told anyone of his girlfriend's eating habits. It was as obvious as night and day to anyone who wasn't Hiroki.

As she had predicted, Hiroki wasn't bothered too much by dating a ghoul. In fact, he started yelling out that it would be a good concept for his new romance novel.

Rize only shook her head at her boyfriend's antics.

**-Timeskip-**

The couple married in the spring. Her favourite season.

When Hiroki asked her why, she stated that it was when the humans began to exercise and lose their winter fat, therefore giving humans the perfect muscle to fat ratio.

Her boyfriend turned husband started sweating profusely and vowed to never question his wife again.

It was almost a year later when the couple discovered that they were having a baby. The couple couldn't believe it. Babies were rarely even conceived between ghouls and humans. There were tales of a hybrid one-eyed ghoul but these were only considered to be rumours.

Well whether their son or daughter was the first of their kind or not, Rize and Hiroki assured themselves that their child would be loved and cared.

**-Timeskip-**

After numerous debates and arguments, the pair eventually decided on Ken for the name. For Hiroki it was because he wanted his son to dream big and by having an English name he would aspire do anything. Rize agreed with her husband, never divulging to him her real reason for approving.

_Ken_ – _to be strong and healthy_. It was a fool's hope, but perhaps that name would grant their child the strength to be born.

After talking to many other ghouls, Rize had learnt that the offspring of a female ghoul and male human would almost always be identified as a food source and absorbed in the womb.

But perhaps, just maybe her child could survive.

**-Timeskip-**

Their little Ken-kun entered the world on December 20th, one eye human and one eye with the kakugan.

**-Timeskip-**

It was four years after the arrival of Ken-kun that the tragedy struck the young family. Hikori had been suffering from a bad cough for weeks. The couple hadn't thought much about it until he collapsed on the floor.

Since then the writer had been bedridden, coming in and out of fevers.

The doctors' reports were grim. Saying that her husband only had weeks to live and asked if he was interested in donating his organs. Rize had to restrain herself from ripping them to shreds and stuffing them in her mouth only because of her beloved's weak protests.

Three weeks later Hikori was dispatched to the hospital after blood was found after a painful bout of coughs. Since then she and her little Ken-kun practically lived in the hospital with him.

This time even her ghoulish senses could smell that the end was near for her husband.

Rize walked into Hiroki's hospital room and examined her husband.

His cheeks were sunken with beads of sweat speckling his forehead. His mouth was clenched as if he had just sucked a sour lemon. She sat on a seat next to his bed, careful not to wake him from his slumber, and stared at the bland wall in front of her. Her mind was totally blank.

It was after 10 minutes that Hiroki opened his eyes. "Rize-chan? You're here…"

She affectionately looked down at her husband "Of course dumbass, where else would I be?"

"Where's Ken-kun?"

"He's playing with some of the other hospital kids downstairs." His hands slowly reached out from the confines of his blanket to entwine with hers.

"Good, I don't want him to see me like this."

"Che, stubborn old coot."

"Rize-chan can't you at least try to be nice until the end."

"Ha, who says it's gonna be the end?" She said snidely, hoping to bring some life back into her lover.

The ends of his mouth curved slightly to form a semblance of a smile. "I'm glad you're by my side Rize-chan." His hand strayed from their place in between hers and lightly caressed her cheek.

"You…gave…me…faith…in…this...dark…world." His eyes unfocused as his hand dropped from her face to limply hang from his bed.

She stayed by his bedside, her eyes bleak and downcast, never looking anywhere but her lap.

Faith? What was he talking about? She was Binge Eater, an S class ghoul who killed purely for sport. How could she ever make anyone happy? Hardened doves quaked at the mere mention of her name. Did she actually mean something to someone?

These thoughts plagued her mind as the hospital staff took her husband's body away.

She was unmoving, even with the nurses' pleas to get outside for air, the newly widowed ghoul continued to sit in the same position.

Rize rose from her vigil when the sun rose. Her eyes were dull.

It was stupid.

Totally and utterly stupid.

How had she ever been naïve enough to love something as fragile as a human?

**-End flashback-**

The ghoul was jolted out of her memories by a small shriek. Blinking her eyes out of their haze she focused on the source of the noise.

Even in drenched clothes in shallow waters of the pond and with a frown on his face, her little Ken-kun never failed to look so cute.

"Ken-kun what are you doing in there?" She lightly scolded with a small smile on her face.

"I was trying to catch the duckies." He pouted cutely, crossing his arms across his chest.

"Come on, silly, you're gonna catch a cold." Rize squatted down towards her son and lightly pulled him out of the pool. "Time to go home."

"But what about the duckies?"

"Maybe tomorrow, we can even go buy some bread to feed them. How does that sound?"

"Good!" As if forgetting his accidental fall in the pond, with renewed vigour the small boy leapt off the ground and ran ahead with his arms out like a plane, making engine sounds with his mouth. Laughing as he stumbled upon a small rock, "You comin' Mama?"

"Yes Ken-kun," She slowly rose from the ground, watching her little bundle run across the park.

_Oh Hiroki, if only you could see him now._

**AN**

AH YES MY READERS I HAVE RETURNED FROM THE FIERY DEPHS OF HELL. It's been almost a year since I have written anything. I know I know, my absence from writing is inexcusable, especially now that I am starting a new fic instead of finishing off my other ones. But oh well, as the French say, c'est la vie. Maybe starting this new story will inspire me to actually finish off my other stories…who knows?

Don't let this first chapter deceive you, it's not going to be a childhood fic, I'm just putting in a few childhood chapters to set everything up for the main storyline. I hope everyone enjoyed this first chapter, not a lot of Kaneki but next one's gonna be jam packed with him as well as our good old friend Hide. Also, I don't have a set direction that this fic is gonna turn, so if anyone has any ideas, don't be afraid to shout them at me. I'll at least consider them.

Oh yes and please remember to review ^_^

-Cifer66


	2. Friend

Disclaimer: Dun own nothing.

Chapter 2 – Friend

"Mum! I'm back from school." An eight year old Kaneki yelled as he slid off his shoes and placed them on a shoe rack near the door.

"Welcome home Ken-kun. Did you learn anything new?" Rize turned from her place next to the kitchen bench and strode over to the doorway to greet her son.

Kaneki was currently wrapped in a large, green puffy jacket, a blue scarf was wrapped around his neck, covering his mouth and nose and his black locks peaked out from under his blue beanie. In other words, he looked like a small ball of material.

Rize felt a small twinge of guilt nudge at the back of her mind. Her little Ken-kun had to walk all the way home in the snow, albeit their tiny apartment was two streets away from the school.

However, her caution was necessary. She was a famous S ranked ghoul, although this was the 20th Ward she just couldn't afford to be recognised and associated with her son. He was still at his most vulnerable age and couldn't fight for himself. This was the safest option she could choose.

The guilt slowly faded away the closer she reached Kaneki.

"Yeah! I learnt how to find the area of a bunch of things!" He held up two fingers, one from each hand and started drawing invisible shapes in the air with them and grinned.

"Ah, you're turning so smart Ken-kun, someday you might even know more things than me." She bent down to pick up the ball of energy and sat him on her hip.

"I also made a snowman with Hide. I didn't want to at first 'cuz it looked cold and I was reading my book, but he convinced me and it was really really fun!" He grasped some of her purple hair.

"Hideyoshi again? Don't you think it's time to stop playing with your food?" she lightly chided. Kaneki had lately been hanging around with a new human, Hideyoshi Naga something rather. If he was marking his food, he had to be careful, especially considering his inexperience. It would just be their luck if a dove put the connections together between a 'missing' human and her Ken-kun.

"He he, don't you remember? Hide isn't food. He's my friend."

"Oh yeah, that's right I guess Mummy was being silly."Rize mentally scolded herself for forgetting.

She never understood her son's connection to humans, nor did she ever understand why he didn't seem to like to indulge in food like she did. Perhaps it was his human half? She didn't know.

Although she had to admit it was strange how her son could stomach food better than she did. It wasn't as if he loved it, but it wasn't as inedible as many other ghouls found, he was just able to tolerate it.

It was a very useful skill for a young ghoul to have, especially when they attended school. Yes, that's right. Her poor little Ken-kun was going to school. Eight hours a day, five days a week. He had only started his first year 3 months ago.

Naturally ghouls would home school their children as mingling young ghouls with humans was always dangerous. The combination of school and ghouls screamed 'exposure'. Especially young eight year old ghouls like Ken-kun who has a much weaker restraint on his kakugan than normal.

Rize sighed, if it weren't for her Hiroki objecting to the idea of home schooling, little Ken-kun would be with her. Safe and sound.

Well perhaps she's just being too paranoid. It wasn't common for ghouls to attend school but it had heard of. Her Ken-kun above all had an advantage that helped him blend in as a human better than any other.

He was half-ghoul of course. Or rather half-human.

Rize looked at the little enigma sitting in her arms. Hybrid ghouls were unheard of. Yet here was one right in her arms. If people were to learn of his one eyed kakugan, he would be the target of many doves and ghouls alike for his rarity.

She would protect him. No matter what.

Seeing her son start to squirm in her arms she gently set him down on the ground. "Alright my little human lover, why don't you go have a shower. We can go hunt for some dinner."

"Okay." Kaneki yelled as he dashed away from Rize's sight, excited to finally hunt in what seemed like forever.

Rize merely sighed at her son's excitement. She rarely let him go hunting for food. Normally it was her that would do the hunting and then bring back little pieces for her Ken-kun to snack on.

Kaneki had already voiced his dislike for eating her 'scraps' but she only responded that he was still too young to do it.

If a ghoul was to hunt, especially in areas like the 20th Ward where one could get killed by the other ghouls for attracting doves, then they had to be careful.

Picking off the humans that no one cared for nor would miss, choosing areas where no one would take a second glance and disposing the remaining body parts discreetly were all necessary factors to take into consideration.

To be honest it went against Rize's policies to regulate the meals she took with the movements of the CCG. She should just eat whoever she wanted to, she was the feared 'Binge Eater' after all. But if it was for Ken-kun's safety then she would abide by the rules.

It was soon, she could feel it but she could feel herself getting restless. She wasn't a wanderer because of boredom, but rather because it felt safer to be constantly on the move rather than stay in one spot. There had been talk about something bad stirring up in the 24th Ward and she wanted no part in it.

As soon as her Ken-kun was old enough to protect himself and hunt they were going to move.

**-Timeskip- (3 years later)**

Kaneki looked up from his book to spy on his energetic friend throwing some rocks at a wall.

That's right. His friend. The human boy. Hide.

He wasn't stupid. He knew behind his mother's cheery façade she didn't like him hanging around a human. She probably thought that he might accidentally reveal their little secret. He would have liked to have told her that he had more sense than that but since knowing Hide for only a week he already knew that he had to be very careful when around his friend.

Tired after thoroughly pelting the wall with pebbles, Hide bounded towards his friend who was seated on a swing.

"Hey Kaneki, you want this juice box? It's good, a new flavour too!" Hide offered the beverage with a large smile.

"No thanks, my mum says they're bad for you" If Kaneki really wanted he could have taken a little sip of the juice. Human food to him, as he understood it, was not as bad as it was for other ghouls. It still tasted like something had died in his mouth, but in small portions, it was edible without vomiting.

Unfazed by the rejection, Hide loudly announced "Okay, suit yourself. But man you're missing out!"

As he took a big loud slurp from his drink, Kaneki's nose slightly scrunched up. How could humans like these things? They smelt like rotting garbage!

"Oi, something wrong Kaneki?"

"No…it's nothing, I was just thinking." Kaneki mentally sweat dropped. He had to be careful around Hide, even being as young as he was, he was probably more perceptive than some rookie CCG officers.

"So anyways you're just eating bread for lunch again?"

"Yeah, I like bread, it's my favourite food." Kaneki mentally cheered, for once he had told his friend the truth.

Bread was his favourite _human _food. Even though it had the texture of a sponge and tasted like cardboard. It was the softness of the bread that made it easy to swallow a whole bite whole, therefore making bread the easiest food he could fake-eat.

Kaneki watched as Hide enthusiastically dug into his bento next to him. He tried not to think of Hide as the meal he ate the week before. Perhaps in another world he would have been disgusted at eating humans due to the fact that he was half. But his mother was 'Binge Eater' and so some of her genes must have passed on to him. Although he could physically restrain himself to just one body a month unlike his mother who wasn't satisfied until she had gorged herself on numerous humans each night.

"So, what are you doing after school today?" Hide finally managed to say after swallowing the last of his bento.

"Nothing much, I'm just gonna go home." Kaneki mentally sighed, his mother had gotten very jumpy lately and was adamant he always returned straight home after school.

"Huh, again?"

"Yeah, my mum's been getting scared of the new ghoul sightings." He grimaced internally. He didn't like lying to his best friend but it was the only reasonable explanation, besides, he couldn't have told Hide that it was actually the doves that were giving his mum the jitters.

"Aww, life must be so hard for our darling, cute as a button Kaneki-kun. How will he ever get a girl with such an overbearing mother?" Hide waved his arms above his head melodramatically, spinning slowly in circles.

"Shush you, she's just concerned." Kaneki lightly reprimanded in response to his friend's antics. Tucking his book under one arm, he slowly stood up from his spot on the swing and shallowly dipped his head to his friend to acknowledge his departure.

"Huh, leaving already?"

"It is currently 1:52pm, the bell will ring at precisely 2:00pm. Our classroom is located on the South-West Wing of the school. We are sitting outside in the northernmost area of the school. Given the dimension of the school plus the span of our legs, it will take approximately seven minutes to return to our class at a leisurely stroll." Kaneki responded in monotone, staring at his friend's awestruck expression for a moment before starting to walk towards the direction of their classroom.

"Cripes! How could ever be friends which such a sticker to the rules!?" Hide yelled once he snapped out of his daze.

**-linebreak-**

In an office somewhere in the 1st Ward sat an old man at a large mahogany desk cluttered with papers and files. His face was pale with wrinkles that could have only be caused by an overabundance of frowning.

A knock resounded on the door which made the man look up from his desk towards the door in front of him.

"You may enter" he called out calmly.

The door opened with a squeak to reveal a young fair skinned, black haired man with dull black eyes.

"What is the matter that you would like to discuss, Director?"

"There has been reports of dead bodies. They appear to fit the modus operandi of one particular ghoul" The older of the men opened the yellow folder on his desk, revealing an array of mutilated bodies. He started to read aloud what was written, "Severed limbs, mostly uneaten yet shredded. Numerous mauled bodies…"

"But it can't be…there's only one ghoul who can do that." His forehead starting to sweat as his thought process reached the only logical conclusion.

"Yeah, I know what you're thinking."

.

.

.

"Binge Eater is in the 20th Ward."

.

.

.

**AN**

Dun dun duuuuuun. So doves will soon be appearing. How do you guys feel about that? I don't have much of a direction going with this fic so if anyone has any possible ideas or things they want to see just PM me or chuck the ideas in a review, I'll be sure to consider them. Anyways thanks so much to anyone who reviewed, read or did anything in between! I really appreciate all the feedback. So stay tuned for next chapter and please review!

-Cifer66


	3. Bloody Mistakes

Disclaimer: Dun own nothing

Chapter 3 – Bloody Mistakes

Blood.

Some call it the elixir of life. Others call it a person's life force.

Rize liked to think of it as the extra kick that really spices up her meals.

_'Hmm, this one didn't really put up a fight, but his blood just smells so delicious' _she thought as she looked down at the fresh corpse splayed at her feet.

The man was young, possibly in is late 20s or early 30s. He had been wandering around the streets for the past few weeks, taking shelter within the subways. That's where Rize first saw him. After establishing that he had no family or friends that would miss him she made her move.

Quietly humming to herself as she dug in to the corpse, making sure to save the softest limbs and 2

"HAH, so a ghoul's come out to play have they?" A booming voice interrupted Rize's meal.

Blocking the only exit to the alley was a large man in a black suit. His stance screamed 'over confidence' and immediately Rize felt a sickening repulsion to him. Within his meaty hands was a suitcase.

_'A dove huh?'_ Rize twitched one of her eyes, mentally cursing herself for her bad luck. Killing this dove would be as easy as squishing an ant under her foot. However, like ants, killing one would only cause more to come.

"Say, you're quite a looker aren't you? How about we make a deal, I'm looking for a ghoul under the codename Binge Eater, if you tell me everything you know I'll be sure to make your death as painless as possible." A repulsive smirk was painted on his face.

Rize's heart immediately quickened, some doves were looking for her? That must only mean they knew she was somewhere in the 20th Ward. _'Damn, I was so careful'._

With a small hiss, Rize let her kagune out. There was only one way to get out of this alive that was by killing the dove in front of her.

"Hah, so you've got a little fight in you I see." The dove in twisted his wrist holding the briefcase and smoothly took out a large quinque that resembled a sledge hammer.

"WELL COME AT ME" he yelled with glee and began to run forward.

"Hold it Kurosawa" A hand slammed across the charging man's chest.

A smaller figure dressed identically as the dove holding a briefcase stood next to joined the dove.

Rize analysed the newcomer with caution.

He was lean but she could tell that underneath his suit lay some muscle. His black hair and eyes accentuated his pale skin and a permanent scowl rested upon his face.

"Were you not listening during the debriefing?" The newcomer asked in which the bigger man only shrugged.

Sighing as if he had expected that answer he continued, "Well if you had you would have known that Binge Eater has an unusual six tentacle kagune. Exactly what this here ghoul has."

"Huh?" The man now known as Kurosawa looked up at the ghoul and pointed at each individual tentacles mouthing numbers to himself.

_'Four, five, six…hmm…WELL SHIT'_, Kurosawa looked up from his fingers to the ghoul in front of him. Despite being caught eating and dismembering a person, she looked delicate and gentle as if she couldn't hurt a fly. He readied his quinque and prepared to charge.

"Please just stay out of this Kurosawa, I don't know why the Director assigned you as my partner but this is an S-class ghoul. Way out of your league" The dove then activated his own quinque. A large spear appeared in his hands.

_'Akiba you cocky bastard…'_ The larger dove gritted his teeth in annoyance.

His thought, however, was halted by the sudden splurt of blood that splashed into his face.

Gagging, the man wiped his eyes to the best of his ability. What he saw in front of him made his blood turn cold.

Unfocused lifeless black eyes stared back at him. Impaled through his stomach upon a large red tentacle was the man that had constantly irritated him since they met at the CCG academy. Blood trickled out of the corner of the smaller man's mouth. His lips moved rapidly, as if trying to mouth something. However, before Kurosawa could work out the message, the speared dove was suddenly hoisted off the ground.

Rize chortled "Haha! Looks like the overconfident one was just trash after all!" she twirled with glee, taking the dove impaled on her kagune with her and splattering his blood everywhere.

"YOU BITCH" Kurosawa screamed and with all of his strength swung his quinque at the ghoul before him.

Rize only grinned as she unleashed directed one of her red tentacles towards the man and effortlessly crushed his weapon.

"My, my, for all your talk you are just trash" Rize smirked and raised her kakugan, bringing the one tendril with the body towards her face. "No, this meal I have right here is trash. You're lower than that, you're a worm".

She flicked the freshly killed dove off her tentacle onto the remains of her original victim.

"Now, let's see here, looks like I'm eating well tonight. Three blood bags. How fun~" Rize released a small chuckle.

_'Wait…there's two bodies over there…that must mean…the third…IS ME'_, stunned at this sudden realisation, the now weapon less dove frantically backed away.

However, with inhuman speed Rize wrapped her kakugan around the struggling man.

"Uh uh uh uh, now no running away and take your fate like a man" the ghoul chided in a tone not different to the one she used to get her son to brush his teeth.

"No, wait stop, please, I'll do whatever you want just let me go." The dove cried in a strangled voice.

Rize's playful smile suddenly washed off only to be replaced with a scowl. "You really are a disgusting worm. I'll be sure to savour the moment of ripping your body limb from limb"

She then bit down into his shoulder and jerked her head, twisting his flesh off the bone. The man bellowed out a loud scream of agony.

_'Wow, I've missed this, it's so much fun.' _Rize thought as she took more bites out of the larger man laying underneath her, his screams hypnotically pulling her into further bloodlust.

_'I'm sure one little binge won't hurt'_ she thought as she let out a little giggle.

**-linebreak-**

Kaneki arrived home to the smell of blood. Human blood.

Shocked, he hastily slid inside without bothering to take off his shoes and ran towards the source of the smell. Could it be? Had the doves already discovered them? But how? They were so careful not to leave any evidence of them behind whilst feeding.

He stopped as he reached his mother's bedroom. The door was closed but the brunt of the scent was located behind it. He could almost see the tendrils of the blood scent leaking out from the door.

He grasped the metal door handle and slowly turned it, hesitantly pulling the door open.

Inside he saw his mother, her usually pristine floral dress was in tatters and soaked in a red substance he immediately recognised as blood. She was sitting on the floor with her legs folded outwards to her body, her hands holding her body out in front of her. Kaneki couldn't see his mother's face as her head was face down, concealed by a mass of mattered purple hair.

Looking around Kaneki sighed in relief when it seemed that there were no dove corpses.

Turning back to his mother he questioned,

"Mum…?"

After gaining no response Kaneki took a hesitant step towards his mother

"Mum…?"

Again the boy was met with no response. This prompted Kaneki to close the gap between them.

However, just as Kaneki reached out to touch his mother's back, his senses spiked as his arm was placed steel grip.

Rize's head suddenly jerked towards him and Kaneki's ghoul instincts suddenly screamed at him to flee. He felt his right eye strain against his eye patch as his kakugan activated from the danger and bloodlust emanating from his mother.

Kaneki couldn't hold back his gasp as his mother's hair parted to reveal her face.

Rize's eyes were widened with bloodlust and contained no recognition for her own son. A rabid grin was painted on her face, showing off her jagged teeth and even some of her gums.

"A human? No, not quite" his mother crooned, "Well either way you smell absolutely divine, I'm gonna enjoy eating you."

Kaneki tried to back away, his instincts going haywire ordering him to flee from the danger. However, he was no match for his mother's iron grip on him that only tightened when feeling his resistance.

"Mum, it's me Ken-kun, your son. Please stop you're hurting me."

"Huh?" She responded in a shrill voice, her head tilting to the side. Kaneki's heart soared when a flash of confusion but then lurched when her it morphed into one of morbid understanding.

"This prey's trying to trick me eh?" Her grip on his arm tightened with her claw-like nails puncturing his skin.

Kaneki let out a small cry as streams of blood started to trickle down his arm. Rize's head lowered, eyes gleaming at the prospect of another meal. Bringing his arm up to her nose, Rize took a long inhale.

"Mmmm you're scent is just so delicious you might even be the best meal I've found yet."

An inhumanly pointed tongue slicked in saliva protruded from her mouth and lapped at the blood pouring down .

_'This can't be happening. Mother would never do something like this'_, Kaneki thought to himself. His mother had always been the picture of calm since he could remember. Even during the rare times she allowed him to hunt with her Kaneki never saw her bloodthirsty side.

However, just as the first droplet of his blood touched her tongue, she stiffened. Looking back up to Kaneki's face with horrified eyes, Rize immediately dropped her grip on his arm and hurriedly backed away to the wall of the room.

Relieved Kaneki cautiously approached his mother.

"No stop Ken-kun." Rize called out. Kaneki halted his movements, still apprehensive of his mother's sanity.

"Don't come closer, I might hurt you" Rize intoned.

"Mum…what happened?" He crept forward against his mother's wish.

"I let loose. I tried so hard to suppress it, for our safety, for you…but in the end I was too weak." After seeing her son's confused face she continued, "I ran into some doves today,"

Kaneki's heart lurched, _'Doves? In the 20__th__ Ward? It can't be',_ he looked over his mother, despite her disheveled state she appeared to be unharmed.

"Don't worry Ken-kun, they were quite weak. But their blood…it just brought back so many memories I couldn't hide it anymore… my inner ghoul came out. The one that loves to dine and eat until well over it's full." Seeing her son's horrified face made her heart clench.

"I didn't just kill the two doves, I massacred the entire suburb. I'm sorry dear, but it seems I've messed everything up. We'll have to move to another ward and I'll make sure never to taste dove blood ever again." Rize looked down at her bloodied hand, mentally chastising herself for ruining everything.

Rize looked up when she felt a small hand rest on her shoulder and could only see a blinding smile from her son.

"Don't worry about me mother, just train me. If I learn how to fight and protect myself you won't have to ever hold back anymore. We can take whatever we want, eat whoever we want."

Rize's gaze softened and suddenly all Kaneki could see was purple as he was engulfed in a hug.

"What did I ever do in my wretched life to deserve you? You're the best little boy a mother could ever have."

**AN**

So how about that folks? Anything you liked or hated? Just tell me! I'm open to suggestions/improvements. Anyways, SO SORRY FOR THE 3 MONTH BREAK but I have been up to my eyeballs in work. I know I don't deserve all the follows, favs and reviews I have but I swear I'll make sure that the next update is much faster! Anyways thanks to all you guys who have reviewed it's such a motivator to get me writing. Also kudos to bomberman4242 for pointing out some typos. Anyways that's all folks! See you next chappy!

-Cifer66


	4. Goodbye

Disclaimer: Nope don't own a thing

Chapter 4 – Goodbye

"Again." Rize ordered with an emotionless voice at the kneeling boy before her.

Mustering up all of his energy, Kaneki let out a battle cry and leapt back whilst simultaneously slamming his rinkaku kagune into his mother's, pushing her back slightly with the brute power and force he had packed into the blow. Smirking, his mother nimbly manipulated her six tentacle kagune into a crisscross snowflake-like formation with the claws facing outward for both offence and defence.

Without hesitating Kaneki folded and then hardened his four tentacles into a ball and smashed into the centre of his mother's defence. This packed enough force to even disassemble her defence.

Impressed Rize stopped and motioned with her hand for a break. Her son instantly fell to the floor panting.

It had been six weeks since the eleven year old half-ghoul had started his training and he had made staggering process. Unlike his pacifist father, it seemed that Kaneki had an innate talent for combat. His quick thinking and reflexes make for a devastating combo for his opponents.

Like his mother, Kaneki did not possess a great amount of strength, however in time his meagre amount of power would be able to improve. However with his lack of strength, he was able to regain with his agility and underhanded tactics. He was already able evade an incoming attack and use the momentum and power within it to easily use against the attacker.

Ever since Rize's impromptu feast doves had all but flocked to the 20th Ward.

News spread like wildfire of the S-ranked ghoul Binge Eater's massacre of two experienced CCG operatives and 36 civilians in one of Japan's more peaceful wards. Not only was it doves, but bounty hunters from all over the country took to the streets of the 20th Ward, all wanting to try their luck at getting Binge Eater's head.

Exhausted with his training, Kaneki didn't even notice his mother standing in front of his stationary form until all he could see was a light orange medical mask in his eyesight.

Instinctively grabbing the item in front of him, he looked up to his mother questioningly.

"You're ready Kaneki. Come on, let's go pack. Tonight we're gonna catch a train to Ward 11." Rize outstretched her hand to him.

Grasping his mother's hand, Kaneki slowly stood up. _'Leaving tonight? Why?'_

"But mum, why are we leaving? I thought we wouldn't have to hide if I learnt how to protect us." He allowed his mum to turn him around so his back towards her. She motioned for the face mask within his hand and he gave it to her, entirely baffled.

Placing the mask over his mouth and nose she started to tie the mask in place. Detecting her son's apprehension, Rize continued in a chiding voice "Silly boy, of course we won't have to hide. But it will be back in the 11th Ward. We've already attracted too much attention here."

Finishing off her knot, she turned her son around and knelt so she was his height level. Looking into only an eye she ran her hands through his inky black hair, "You do want to protect your friend don't you?"

_'Hide? What does he have to do with this?' _Kaneki looked questioningly into his mother's eyes.

Seeing her son's blank face Rize emitted a small chuckle, "The 20th Ward is becoming very active thanks to me. Not only doves are here but bounty hunters as well."

Kaneki tugged down the mask to his chin, "But why would they hurt Hide?"

Rize's eyes softened at her son's naivety, it was all too easy to read what was on his mind "Sure, the doves are obligated to terminate only ghouls, but ghoul sympathisers rare as they are won't just get off the hook freely."

"But Hide doesn't know I'm a ghoul," Kaneki responded adamant that his friend was no way in danger due to him.

"Oh Ken-kun~" Rize crooned, caressing the side of his face, "if they find out you're a ghoul they won't care whether or not he knew."

Kaneki froze, _'Hide's been in this much danger because of me? It can't be,' _He pleadingly looked into his mother's eyes, searching for any sort of deception. Resolutely finding none he hung his head. _'I guess there's only one thing to do…'_

Seeing her son's acceptance, Rize stood up, "Let's go home and pack up all our stuff. We've got a late train to catch."

"Alright." Kaneki started walking towards the exit of the sewer that they had been training in.

Rize sighed in relief, it was so easy to convince her little Ken-kun to do anything. Despite his diet of human and advanced abilities with his kagune, he was still much like his father.

So gullible and naïve, her son's human side was so easy to influence.

_'Ah well, I guess I'll train it out of him when we've settled down.' _

**-linebreak-**

Nagachika Hideyoshi.

Lovable. Funny. Goofball.

That's the impression most get after spending five minutes with the boy.

In all aspects this impression is entirely accurate, however, what many don't know about him is the fact that he is best friends with a ghoul.

Yes, that's right.

Nagachika Hideyoshi is best friends with a ghoul.

At first he only befriended the quiet boy at the back of the class because he was interested in his eye-patch. After all, it's not every day that you are treated to the sight of a real life pirate.

Of course after meeting said boy, Hide quickly realised that Kaneki Ken was nothing like a pirate or anything remotely interesting at all.

In fact, the boy hardly spoke anything and kept to his books at all time.

One would think that Hide would quickly lose interest and search for something else to satisfy his curiosity. However, there was just one thing that kept Hide attracted to the otherwise dull boy. It wasn't something so cliché as an instinct, but there just was something not right about Kaneki.

Unlike most other children Hide always noticed things. Whether it be when his mother lied to when his older sister was clearly out partying rather than studying with friends.

Hide always knew the truth.

Sometimes other kids would ask him how he always seemed to know everything.

Hide would always answer the same way: "I just watch".

That's why after spending several weeks with the one eyed boy that Hide came to the conclusion he was most definitely a ghoul. After all, despite Kaneki's attempts to eat naturally Hide was never fooled by the astoundingly small amount of chews per bite.

One would think that Hide would have immediately contacted the local police of this ghoul. However, Hide never accounted to actually be friends with the shy boy.

What once was a childish curiosity turned into a lifelong friendship. Or at least what would be a lifelong friendship.

Absently humming to himself, Hide swung his legs at his desk as he finished the last equations of his maths homework.

Hide could think of a ton of better ways to spend his Sunday evening but unfortunately his mother had forced him indoors to finish all his work. Perhaps he should've listened to Kaneki when his friend warned that the school calls home if homework isn't handed in a week past its due date.

Sighing as he leaned back in his chair Hide wondered what his ghoul friend was doing. _'Perhaps he's eating someone…nah…that goody two shoes probably eats the bare minimum.'_

Hide was jolted out of reverie by his mother's shrill cry, "Hide! There's a man here want to talk to you."

_'A man? It better not be a teacher from school checking up on me. I've nearly finished my homework! Although if he did give me a suspension I guess it wouldn't be that bad. Though mum will yell at me for sure.' _Shaking himself out of his thoughts, the boy got out of his chair and casually walked outside his room to the kitchen where he heard his mum's voice.

However, as he walked down the stairs, Hide's senses were immediately put on alert when he saw a bulky man situated at the family's wooden dining table. By his mother's flustering and ministrations it was obvious that the man was an important person. _'Perhaps a government worker? No but what would they want with me?'_

Seeing the orange and black haired kid's decent down the stairs, the man immediately stood up and gave a warm smile. This movement rustled the tablecloth just enough to reveal a hint of silver underneath the table.

Hide's heart lurched, _'Shit a CCG officer. Please don't tell me they discovered Kaneki.'_ Hide immediately wore an impish grin to mask his thoughts.

The man outstretched his hand, "Shinohara Yukinori, Special Class ghoul investigator".

Hide met his hand, "Nagachika Hideyoshi, but you can just call me Hide".

"Please take a seat Hide." The man in front of Hide pulled out a chair and gestured to the boy.

After the two sat down Shinohara clasped his hands together and began his questioning, "Now, tell me, I've heard from your teacher's that you hang around a boy called Kaneki Ken. Is that correct?"

Hide scratched the back of his head, _'Crap crap crap crap crap, he is here about Kaneki. What do I do?'_

"Well yeah, we've been best friends ever since I moved schools. He's a quiet one for sure, I can't believe he's ever gotten into much trouble."

The man in front of him 'hmmed' and wrote down something on his notepad. "Well, Hide this will come as a bit of a shock to you, but I've had concerns from some of your teachers that your friend might actually be a ghoul".

Faking a startled gasp, Hide widened his eyes in shock, "A g-ghoul you say? No, that's impossible, I've known him for three years. He could never be a ghoul."

"Yes, well, have you ever noticed anything strange about what he eats? From what I've gathered it seems that all he's ever eaten is bread." Shinohara tapped his pen on the table, coaxing the boy to respond.

"Well, I do admit I have noticed that but that's because his mother's a health nut. Also he has a weak digestive system so I guess he can't handle eat too much rich foods." The only response Hide received was the scratching of the CCG officer's pen on paper.

"Alright, that will be all for today. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Wait", Hide grabbed the man's sleeve, do you really think Kaneki's a ghoul?"

Shinohara mentally sighed as if knowing the boy's thoughts, "You're young Hide, so you don't understand that ghouls are brilliant actors. Ghouls love to play with their meals and 'friend' them, it's just their nature. From what you've told me today I am certain that Kaneki Ken is in fact a ghoul."

He paused to look at the boy, "Don't look so sad, we got this ghoul before he could get you. How many people can say that they've even seen a ghoul and lived? I bet all the kids at school will be jealous of you." Shinohara gave a cheesy grin, attempting to cheer the boy up.

Hide looked down, continuing his downtrodden façade, "Alright."

Shinohara gave a weary smile, it was always hard to tell people that the 'people' they had been interacting with were actually heartless murdering beasts. "You'll get over it. You're a strong kid," and with a heartfelt pat on the boy's back the ghoul investigator left, already organising plans to eradicate the ghoul.

Hide watched the man leave from the front window. As he finally lost sight of the officer, Hide raced up to his room.

Grabbing his mobile phone Hide quickly dialled a familiar phone number.

_._

_*Beep*_

_._

_*Beep* _

_._

_*Beep*_

_._

_*Beep*_

.

_*Click*_

_._

Hide almost jumped for joy when a weary voice sounded on the end, _"Hello?"_

_"Kaneki! You have to come here now." _The boy raced to the point choosing to ignore pleasantries and get to the point.

_"Hide? What?"_ Kaneki's obviously confused voice sounded.

_"No time, just come here RIGHT NOW!"_

_"I can't just go, I'm really busy right now." _Hide almost ripped off his hair in agitation. _'We're running out of time!'_

_"Alright fine, then I'll meet you at the park near your house."_

_"What? But why?"_

_"I can't say but please promise me you're gonna leave right now. It's really important"_

Sensing his friend's desperation Kaneki agreed, _"A-Alright, I'll head there right now."_

_._

_*Click*_

.

Hide sighed in relief at Kaneki's compliance and hastily put on his old runners. He raced down the stairs in a flurry, calling out to his mother on reflex that he was leaving. Without waiting for a response the boy sprinted out of house and towards the park.

_'Just please let it not be too late Kaneki.'_

-**linebreak**-

Kaneki sat on a wooden park bench absently wondering what on Earth his friend wanted. _'What am I doing here? I should be at home with mother, the train leaves in two hours.'_

Nervously tapping his foot, the half-ghoul checked his watch, _'6:17, mother told me to be back in half an hour.'_

Sighing, Kaneki leaned back into the bench reflecting on all that had happened that day. _'I can't believe I'm leaving already. Mum can't just tell me to just pack up and leave everything behind.'_

Kaneki's thoughts were halted by the sounds of panting. Looking towards the source of the noise, the young half-ghoul saw the exhausted figure of his friend.

"Hide? Did you run all the way from your house to here? That's crazy!" He steadied his friend by looping Hide's arm around his neck and helped him to the bench. However, his efforts failed when Hide grabbed his shoulders with surprising force.

"Kaneki…" Hide panted trying to catch his breath, "There's not enough time, you have to leave now…they're coming…"

Confused Kaneki looked at his friend, "What do mean? Who's coming?" He gently sat his friend on the park bench.

After calming his breathing down, Hide looked up at him with wide eyes, "The CCG…they found out."

Kaneki suddenly froze, "What? Hide, you aren't making any sense at all. What would some doves want with me?" He closed his eye and smiled, his hand unconsciously reaching up to touch his chin.

Hide looked up at his friend and grinned, "You don't need to pretend anymore Kaneki, I already know what you are, I've known for a while now."

Upon hearing those words Kaneki's world suddenly crumbled. _'He knew? So he reported me? But why would he warn me then? I didn't even know the CCG were on my tail.'_

As if reading his friend's thoughts Hide reassured him, "I didn't tell them. An investigator showed up at my house saying that some teachers were suspicious of you."

"But if you knew, why didn't you tell anyone? Didn't you think I'd eat you?" Kaneki glanced down at his hands, visualising the blood that had already stained them over the years. However, a hand on his shoulder got him looking up to his friend.

"You're my best friend Kaneki. There's absolutely no way you'd eat me." Hide smiled showing off his teeth.

"So you're okay about it? About me being a ghoul?" Kaneki's voice shook, revealing only a tiny shred of his hope.

"Of course, I've known for years," suddenly Kaneki felt a hand ruffle through his hair, "but seriously you've gotta go. They're probably tracking your address right now."

Kaneki released a light hearted laugh and looked back at his friend, "actually it's funny because I was actually packing all my things before you called. Turns out I'm leaving for the 11th Ward tonight."

"Huh?!" Hide gasped, "I knew you probably would have listened to me but I never thought you'd be this fast!"

"Nah, it's actually my mum's idea. She's a bit paranoid by all the doves frolicking about this ward lately. So she just booked a train for tonight."

"Wow, that's some timing huh?" Hide's cheery smile suddenly faded into an expression almost foreign on his face: sadness, "So I guess I really am losing my best friend".

Mentally sighing at his friend's mood swings, Kaneki stood up from his seat on the park bench and placed his hands on Hide's shoulders, forcing himself to plaster an uncharacteristically cheerful smile on his face, Kaneki reassured his friend, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be back before you know it! It's just until all the hype about the massacre dies down."

Kaneki winked his eye, although it could also be interpreted as a blink, "Just you wait Hide, before you know it we'll be back together."

Turning away from his first friend, Kaneki wasn't expecting a large weight to ram into his back.

Sniffling Hide yelled "I'll never forget you Kaneki Ken."

Stifling his own tears, Kaneki turned to face the brown haired boy, "We'll definitely meet again, I know it."

With that parting statement Kaneki ran, ignoring his friend's shouts of desperation.

Memories surfaced of the years the two had spent together. The good. The bad. The _memorable_.

Shaking his head Kaneki cursed himself for letting his human side get the better of him. _'Why did I ever befriend a human? All of them are just meat bags waiting to be eaten. Mother was right in warning me about my relationships with humans. I should have listened to her.'_

For how could a friendship between a ghoul and a human ever end in happiness?

So caught up in his thoughts Kaneki rushed into a not so solid wall and then unceremoniously fell on the muddy ground. _'Eugh, what did I run into?' _he thought as he grabbed his head.

Looking up into a kind wrinkled face, Kaneki suddenly got a whiff of coffee and the bitter but not unpleasant scent of a ghoul. Kaneki immediately recognised the elderly man in front of him as a ghoul.

"Why, what's a young man like you running around this late at night?"

"It's nothing Mister, I was just thinking." Kaneki scratched the back of his head giving the ghoul standing before him a sheepish smile. He slowly clambered to his feet and forced himself to walk away at a sedate pace.

He could feel the elderly man's gaze burn into the back of his form. _'Just walk away, don't bring the old man into this'._

After turning a corner and finally out of sight of the elderly ghoul, Kaneki broke into another run, eager to finally get home to his mother and leave the only town where his humanity ever took hold of him.

**-linebreak-**

Yoshimura started at the retreating form down the dark alleyway. _'What a peculiar scent that boy had...where have I smelt it before.'_

Suddenly the elderly ghoul was bombarded by images of a little girl flashed before his eyes. _Eto? That scent is unmistakeable. A hybrid. To think that there would be more half-ghouls in the world. Things have indeed gotten a lot more interesting.'_

Securing his hat to cover his eyes, Yoshimura began to slowly walk towards the café, lost in his memories of a blonde haired woman working at a café.

**AN**

So how about that? Anything you loved? Hated? Just tell me!

It is the midst of exams and I have come out with a slightly larger than average chapter…it is clear where my priorities lie.

Anyways to those who haven't read the manga yet, Eto is Yoshimura's half-ghoul daughter and the blonde woman working at a café that he was reminiscing about was his former wife. Also I have put up a poll on my profile to determine whether characters from Tokyo Ghoul: re or OCs should make a debut in the next arc. So please visit! (Btw, did anyone read that last chapter with Haise's kagune? Absolutely mind blowing). As always, my eternal gratitude to reviewers, you guys really make my day!

So I guess that's it!

Until next time my faithful readers,

-cifer66


	5. The Train

Disclaimer: Nope still don't own nothing.

Chapter 5 – The Train

_"The train will be arriving at Hamiji Station shortly. Please ensure all personal belongings are taken before exiting the train. Thank you for your cooperation."_

Kaneki let the monotonous announcement wash over him and breathed a small sigh of relief. He and his mother had been riding on the train for five hours in non-stop tension and paranoia that the CCG would intercept their train.

However, it seemed as if all their worrying was for naught as they finally would be arriving at the 11th Ward.

Two ghouls travelling from the 20th Ward to the 11th Ward was no small feat. Although security was much tighter when travelling the other way around due to the larger population of ghouls that live in the 11th Ward, there still were Rc cell detectors in addition to the bag checks.

Thankfully due to Kaneki's status of a half-ghoul, his Rc cell reading was low enough to pass for a human with an unusually but not unheard of high reading. His mother, on the other hand, snuck past the Rc detectors by using her charm on the border control officers, claiming that she was going to miss her train and didn't have time to wait in the long queues.

The guards never stood a chance against his mother's pity card.

"Ken-kun," Rize nudged her son out of his thoughts, "I'm just going to clean up in the bathroom, you should too alright? You had some cup noodles didn't you?"

"Okay Mum", Kaneki looked away from his mother and gazed out the window. Even though he was part human and could keep down small amounts of food, his mother always emphasised on the need to 'dispose' of any human food if he could. Her paranoid nature was already starting to appear with their arrival at the 11th Ward. Despite the fact that the food that Kaneki in took would gradually be processed by his innards and excreted. Unlike other ghouls whose bodies would not be able to process human food and instead have to repel the foreign substances out of their system, the half-ghoul would usually be left slightly weaker for a day or two.

Analysing the images in front of him, Kaneki saw that already the prosperous greenery of Ward 20 was replaced barren and rocky terrain of Ward 11 with their approach.

Kaneki inwardly sighed, _'So it really is happening. We are leaving the 20__th__ Ward – home.'_

Try as he might, throughout the whole debacle of learning that Hide knew his deepest most well-guarded secret to the train ride, it had only just struck Kaneki that he was leaving his first ever home and friend.

So caught up in these morose thoughts, Kaneki did not even notice the two men who took the cushioned seats opposite him.

"Eh hem", one of the men grunted, pulling the half-ghoul out of his thoughts.

Surprised with the sudden additions in front of him, Kaneki looked up at the men. They fit the exact profile of those his mother had told him to beware of: grey trench coats, silver brief cases and thick combat boots.

_These men were doves. _

Reigning in his terror Kaneki smiled sheepishly. "Ummm…can I help you?"

_'Play clueless Kaneki. Stall until Mum comes back, she's been gone for 5 minutes already, it shouldn't be long now.'_

The larger of the two with scraggily, greased, brown hair who had grunted rummaged his hands through his coat pockets. "Yeah, actually…" he spoke languidly, as if he was not a man responsible for possibly killing hundreds of Kaneki's own kind.

_Murderer. Danger. Run. Flee. _Kaneki's conscience screamed in his head. He had heard tales from his mother of the numerous doves she had ruthlessly killed and devoured, but never did he ever imagine that he would come face to face with one.

The CCG officer's hand slowly pulled out of his pocket what looked like to be a crumpled picture out of his pocket and placed it directly in front of Kaneki's face. "Have you seen this ghoul?" the man continued, "we have sources to believe that he and another are currently on this train".

It took all of Kaneki's self-control to coax his facial expression into one of utter cluelessness and steady his hammering heartbeat. For in front of him he saw a younger version of himself smiling back to him.

_They were looking for him. He was officially a target for the doves._

The picture the man opposite him held was a fairly recent one probably obtained from his school's data base. It was his school photo from a year ago before everything he had ever known started to crumble. Back when all he cared about was if he had enough spare change to use an arcade machine or if he could secretly hang out with Hide after school without his mother knowing, nowadays all he cared about was his and his mother's secret being discovered.

Kaneki's thoughts instantly zoned to the man sitting opposite when he realised that he was still waiting for a response. _'Be cool Kaneki', _his inner voice told him, _'they don't recognise you under your face mask. Just play it cool and they won't suspect a thing.'_

He would later chuckle that the pressure he had felt at that moment had caused him to overlook the fact that he was the most suspicious passenger on the whole train due to both his eye patch and face mask.

Recalling the acting lessons his mother had taught him, Kaneki morphed his face into an expression of alarm, "A ghoul you say? On this train? How? What? Are we all gonna die?"

Seeing the boy's obvious panic the dove shook his hand in order to stop his ramble and scrutinised the possible ghoul. The boy in front of him genuinely looked distressed over the mere mention of the ghoul, however, it had been ingrained into all CCG operatives that ghouls were excellent actors. It's a known fact that at a young age all ghouls were taught every trick in the book to avoid suspicion and to blend in with their food.

But what was this boy? Ghoul or human? Friend or foe? Predator or prey?

It was scary how easily the lions could hide with the lambs. They would eat the same foods, have the same mannerisms and appearance, all in order to get closer to their prey until the deciding moment in which they would finally strike. It was the CCG's duty to act as the shepherd to protect the lambs even if it is by hunting down the cubs before they learnt to roar. It may seem cruel, but these ghouls are not human.

It is either them or us – that is the world's one true truth.

"Don't worry, a ghoul as young as this doesn't pose a real danger. However, it is the CCG's policy to be vigilant and nip all potential problems in the bud." The dove's previously silent partner reassured him in a low voice.

Kaneki nodded and skilled his body to relax. _'Did they buy it?'_

The brown haired dove languidly pocketed the picture and stood up, nudging his partner to do the same. "Alright, well thank you for your time and sorry for alarming you."

The half-ghoul inwardly sighed. It was over. He had done it. They were safe.

"However," Kaneki froze, tensing at the almost smug look in the brown haired dove's eyes, "if it wouldn't be too much trouble, perhaps you would be able to take off your face mask."

Kaneki was speechless. What could he do? If he took off his mask they'd easily be able to identify him. The dove had him at a stalemate.

Sensing the boy's reluctance the dove's haughtiness intensified. "After all, your face is rather well covered up even for a germaphobe."

_'Think Kaneki THINK!'_

"No that's not a good idea, sir. I'm contagious with–"

"No, no that's quite alright, it's nothing I'm sure I can't handle." The dove cut him off, "Just let me see your pearly whites and then we'll be off and out of your hair."

Kaneki's heart rate quickened. They had caught him. There was only one way to save himself now. If he had learnt anything from what he had just experienced with the doves, it was that they underestimated young ghouls. Despite the two against one disadvantage, if he attacked first he would gain the upper hand.

He slowly raised both hands behind his head towards the knot of the medical mask. However, just as the doves lowered their guard at his compliance, he unleashed his kagune and lashed them straight at them.

The two doves swiftly dodged the four appendages that slammed into the opposite side of the carriage and promptly activated their quinques. The quinques were of the standard type: thin, extendable metal rods with a red clipper at the tip*. These were the ones that the CCG sanctioned out to newly minted Level 2 officers who were not in the possession of any weapons.

_'Che, so these guys really are amateurs. I guess the CCG really do underestimate young ghouls'_. Kaneki looked up at his opponents who were no doubt sizing up his potential threat level, _'although I've never fought anyone but my mother before and she was just going easy for training.' _The feeling of fluttering filled his stomach as Kaneki tried to swallow down his nervousness, '_I guess I'll just have to see how strong I really am.'_

Planning end the fight quickly, the black haired pre-pre-teen manuvered his kagune to strike their quinques. However, the ever skilful doves evaded his attack by swiftly dodging to the side and simultaneously extended their weapons in his direction.

Foreseeing this action, Kaneki quickly leapt backwards and perched himself on the edge of a seat. Despite being created en masse and looking flimsy, the quinques packed a surprisingly dangerous force as they dug into the place where the pre-teen had previously been, launching clouds of rubble and debris.

The screams of other passengers as they fled to other train carriages washed over Kaneki's head as he stared down at his two opponents. Without warning, he launched two of his red appendages at the doves, this time aiming for their arms.

The doves, however, anticipated this attack and intercepted the kagune with their weapons. Kaneki smirked as he immediately launched their way his other two tentacles combined into a hardened ball. With their quinques already in use defending themselves from his first attack, Kaneki's kagune smashed into their bodies, effectively knocking out the brown haired investigator who flew several meters above the ground until he crashed into the wall of the carriage with a thud. His partner, however, due to his more advanced reflexes had quickly moved his weapon in the nick of time to block off both attacks was instead pushed back several feet with some grazing.

Upon seeing his subordinate's unconscious state, the remaining dove bellowed a mighty roar as he retracted his quinque into staff form and focused the brunt of his power within his next blow. Racing up to the masked pre-teen with almost inhuman speed, _'crap'_ was Kaneki's last thought before he felt a searing pain in his shoulder as the man stabbed through him.

The boy toppled to the ground, still impaled by the dove's weapon which effectively pinned into the ground. He felt a great weight on his chest as he realised one of the dove's foot was situated on top of him.

"I've gotta hand it to you ghoul, for a young one I didn't expect you to be strong enough to even touch me, let alone knock out my partner. Though I guess it was his own fault for being careless." The man sneered, "I read your file you know, they're starting to call you Eye-patch. Now don't get ahead of yourself and think you're some kind of big shot just because you've got your own wanted name from the CCG. It's ghouls like you who really disgust me.

"Wha– "

"Don't play dumb," the man interrupted him. "You know what you did, or don't you remember?" He paused to look down at the ghoul beneath him, after seeing no recognition from the boy, the man's anger increased. "That poor boy you corrupted. Can you believe he tried to help you escape? What did you do to him to turn from his own kind? It's disgusting. You fiends just sink your claws into anything innocent, especially our young. Heartless bastards."

"Don't talk about Hide like that! I didn't do anything to him, he's my friend!" Kaneki's outburst was cut off by an immense amount of weight being pushed into his chest.

"Friend? Impossible, your kind don't have feelings."Kaneki sighed in relief as the pressure on his chest subsided and he was able to breathe with more ease. This, however, did not last as suddenly a foot landed on his head.

"Enough talk vermin. It's time to die" The pre-teen cried out and momentarily closed his eyes in agony as he felt the quinque pinning him to the ground retract from his body. Opening his eyes Kaneki was faced with the quinque, dripping with his own blood aimed right at his forehead. _'This is it.' _The boy thought to himself, _'there's no time to dodge…goodbye Mother, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise Hide'. _He closed his eyes, resigned to his fate.

A moment ticked by…and then another…and then another until Kaneki heard the clattering of what he presumed to be a quinque on the ground.

Confused, Kaneki opened his eyes only to see bedraggled face of the dove suddenly cough up blood and then collapse. Sticking through his chest were four red tentacles exactly identical to his own.

"Don't touch my son you filthy meat bag." His mother's voice echoed throughout the carriage and was laced with white hot fury. The body of the dove was unceremoniously flung off her limbs and crashed onto the side of the carriage, leaving a trail of blood as it slid down to the ground.

_'That was too close' _Kaneki thought to himself as he felt his mother gather him in her arms.

"Oh Ken-kun, I leave you for ten minutes and this is what happens" He heard his mother coo at him and felt her gentle hand strokes caress his chin. "Just go to sleep, you've done well, now let your mother do the rest." Kaneki didn't even have enough energy to nod as his world promptly faded to black.

**AN**

*Think of the William T. Spear's death scythe from Kuroshitsuji

Hiya there!

Sorry about the one month absence, but boy was that action scene hard to deliver! I really hope it was satisfying…

To my readers, be sure to tell me what you liked or hated or just any comment that crosses your mind whilst reading, knowing what my readers think about my work really motivated me to write ya know? Anyways, we are finally heading towards the next arc of this fic. Hooray? As many of you probably deduced from the poll, the next arc will contain more…permanent…members of the CCG that won't die as easily as the previous ones. Therefore I am pleased to announce that the poll tallies have come in and it seems that some Tokyo Ghoul: re characters will be making an appearance. Thank you to all who voted by the way!

Next chapter will be one I have planned for quite a while. It will introduce a personal favourite character. I am so excited!

Make sure to tune in next time and please remember to review!

-cifer66


	6. Rize

Disclaimer: Dun own nothing

Chapter 6 – Rize

Rize gazed down at the prone figure of her son. Despite the gaping wound within his shoulder, it looked like her Ken-kun would be relatively okay. Already she could see the shoulder wound slowly knitting back together as Kaneki's advanced healing took effect.

"Oh Ken-kun, what am I going to do with you?" She muttered to herself. It seemed that all her attempts of giving her son a relatively normal childhood were for naught. But alas, it was impossible for a ghoul to completely stay outside of the CCG's radar forever.

Rize absently stroked a dark lock of her son's hair and gently removed his face mask. He had done well to fend off two doves at only 11 years old. She shivered at what could had been if it weren't for her intervention. Despite the intensive training regimen she had put her dear Ken-kun, it seemed that there still existed a heavy reliance on her for protection.

Perhaps it was time to give her son some space? He would never grow strong with all her coddling. Most ghouls grew up without their parents, whether it be because their parents were dead or abandoned them.

It was cruel, but in this world of kill or be killed; eat or be eaten, only the strong survived.

The sound of worried murmuring broke the purple haired ghoul out of her train of thought. In the corner of her eye she could see the other passengers on the train watching her as if she were a cage-less lion – careful and without any obvious and distinct movements for fear of unleashing her wrath upon them. It was true in a way, for what could they do against her? They were but mere rats trapped in the claws of a hungry cat, their lives completely at her mercy.

Rize's mind gleefully cackled at the utter power she possessed until she felt a brief…stirring in her stomach. The sensation was one she was very familiar with, in fact for most of her life she had ruled by it. It was after she had met Hiroki that she had forced herself to ignore the tingling urge until it dulled down to near nonexistence. However, with her son's growing age and lessening interactions with her due to school, the once mellow impulse had grown more frantic until it was screaming at the purple-haired ghoul to gorge on more food. It did not matter if Rize was hungry or not, there was always a small part of her that kept telling her to eat more and more. It was her nature, plain and simple.

Rize's gaze was instantly drawn towards a particularly lean young man standing protectively in front of a teenage woman, attempting to cover as much of her as he could. _'Fool, nothing gets between me and my food'. _The sight of the two almost prompted the ghoul to eat the girl just to see the pretty features of the human's face morph into horror. _'He is quite handsome' _Rize thought absently, _'I wonder what kind of noise he'd make if I ripped off his arms.'_ The stirring in her stomach grew louder and more intense, urging her to take what was rightfully hers.

After all, she hadn't indulged at all since she was training her son, and it was good to have a treat once in a while. A small voice of rationality at the back of her mind was all that prevented her from taking her meal then and there. _'What about Ken-kun? It's likely that there will be hordes of doves when we reach the station. How can I make an escape with an unconscious young ghoul?'_

Rize's eyes darted around the interior of the train, her intelligent mind calculating all possible escape routes until her gaze locked on the already partially cracked glass windows which displayed the grass hills that the train was passing by. It would be easy to fully break the windows and simply jump out of the moving carriage, both ghouls' advanced healing in addition to the cushion that the grass would proceed that would ensure that no major harm would come to either her or Ken-kun, and walk the short distance left to the 11th Ward.

Satisfied by the ease of her escape route Rize grinned fiendishly at her target, gleeful as a look pure horror was directed back at her from her prey, and without any more hesitation succumbed to her insatiable appetite.

**-Linebreak-**

Walking along the streets of the 11th Ward almost seemed like a dream to Rize. It had been over a decade since she had even been outside the 20th Ward. Rize released a large sigh of contentment as a large gust of wind rushed through her hair, bringing with it the scent of humans and fear. She had forgotten over her years of motherhood of the underlining scent of fear precent in every ward except the 20th.

The 11th Ward was stark contrast to the ever peaceful 20th. It was nearing 10 pm and already the dirty and unkempt streets of the 11th were desolate with only the occasional sound of street dogs rummaging through garbage to remind the female ghoul that the city wasn't abandoned.

"R-Rize? Is that you?" Rize swiftly turned back towards the source of the voice to a dark figure standing in an alleyway. She tensed her muscles and prepared to unleash her kagune, ready to fight whoever stupid enough to challenge her. A slight upwind breeze in her direction quickly relaxed her muscles as she caught a whiff of an all too familiar scent.

The figure stepped from the shadows into a pool of light provided by a street lamp. Under the light stood a ghoul taller than Rize by at least half a head, wearing loose jeans and a yellow and grey hoodie. His hair was styled in a combed back fashion but surprisingly his beard was relatively normal. Rize inwardly scoffed, his appearance hadn't changed even after the decade of her absence.

"I did not expect you to find me so soon," Rize responded with her trademark sickly sweet smile by tilting her head slightly to the left and closing her eyes to slits, only the slightest twitch of her thin, dainty eyebrow revealed her irritation for dealing with this particular ghoul, "Banjou-san."

"It wasn't hard. The whole Ward's buzzing about you", the newly identified Banjou quickly closed the gap between them. "It's all over the news; one dove and four civilians dead in a ghoul attack on a direct train from the 20th to the 11th Ward, over 20 eyewitness accounts of a ghoul matching the description of notorious S-ranked Binge Eater." He paused to gauge her reaction, upon seeing no denial he continued, "The whole 11th Ward is bracing for the worse; they've placed a curfew from 12am – 5am of total lockdown, the humans have been cautioned to walk only on busy streets with at least one other person. Even the ghouls are stocking up on food before it becomes too hard to hunt."

"Why Banjou, it is good to see you too." Rize responded, already bored with the male, and turned fully intending to leave. However, just as she took a step away from the other ghoul, she felt a large calloused hand clasp around her wrist, "Banjou, what do you think you are doing?" Her voice was stilted and cold – a sure warning.

Banjou gulped, dealing with Rize was always like walking on eggshells, "You don't seem understand, the ghouls don't want you here. A ghoul of your reputation… they all think you'll bring nothing but trouble." Rize jerked her hand out of Banjou's hand. He, however, was unfazed, "Hagi, our leader, has demanded your death, he's even offering some of his own personal territories. Every ghoul within ten miles of this ward is on the lookout for you – please Rize, you must leave, you're not safe here."

"Don't underestimate me, Banjou. It's quite unflattering." Rize's voice was soft yet contained all the menace of a barely concealed threat. "I can handle any of the second rate scum your ickle leader can possibly send me. At least try to have some faith in my abilities."

"But what about your son?" Banjou sweated nervously as his query was met with a large concentration of killer intent and elaborated, "The news also said something else apart from the killings…that travelling with Binge Eater was a young ghoul wearing an eye-patch – presumably her son." Banjou paused, waiting for a confirmation or denial, after accepting that he would not receive an answer he continued, "Is this true Rize?" He saw her silent nod, "So you have found someone else." The larger ghoul clenched his hands to fists, it seemed no matter how much he showed his affections to Rize she would never return his feelings. He jerked in surprise as he felt long, slender fingers brush down his cheek.

"Oh Banjou, you always wear your emotions on your sleeve." Her hand didn't stop caressing his face and he almost leaned in to the touch of his lifelong crush. "To be honest, I liked your beard before. Now it is just boring." Banjou blushed, mentally cursing himself for thinking that a normal styled beard would show his maturity and please Rize. He quickly added a mental note to grow it out again into its usual curl. "And you shouldn't worry too much about my son. Kaneki Ken is his name, it's a strong name. He'll turn out to be strong, just you wait and see."

"Rize", the bearded ghoul grasped her hand and gently steered it from his face. "I know I've lost my chance with you, but please tell me. Who was it that finally stole your heart?"

Rize smirked, the ghoul in front of her was still as love struck with her as the day they'd met. She tip toed and leaned in close to him so her mouth was right next to his ear. "I'll tell you a secret: the one who finally caught my attention was a _human_." She heard his audible gasp before deciding that it was time to finish up with him, he was disturbing her night after all. "You shouldn't worry too much about me Banjou, I know how to protect myself and avoid detection. Now isn't it time for you to report back to that weakling Hagi?"

"That weakling?" Banjou questioned at the not so subtle jab at the leader of the ghouls within the 11th Ward, "I wasn't aware you two had met."

"We haven't but anyone stupid enough to send others after me must be anything but strong." She glanced up at the ghoul in front of her, it was pathetic, even as he tried to control it, Banjou still wore the same love struck puppy look he always adopted when in her presence. It was cute that even after all these years and knowing that she had a child with someone else he was still irrevocably in love with her. The next words poured out of her mouth before she even realised it. "Now go, leader."

_'Leader? Did Rize just…?' _Banjou left swiftly towards the location of the hideout, thoughts of leadership and pleasing the love of his life swirling in his mind. _'I'll show you Rize, I can be strong enough to provide for you and protect you and your son.'_

Several minutes after Banjou was out of sight Rize narrowed her eyes. What was it about the 11th Ward that kept attracting so many _damn_ flies? Was one night of peace and quiet too much to ask? "You can come out now. You may be able to hide your presence from that idiot, but you can't fool me."

Rize heard footsteps behind her and turned. She was suddenly faced three ghouls, one female and two males. The two males had slick, oiled hair and were dressed in black suits with bowties, their identical white half masks covering anything distinctive about them.

However, it was the female standing in between them that caught Rize's attention the most. A grotesquely obese ghoul far too large for the scarlet dress she had chosen to wear that night stood in front of the purple haired ghoul. Her large face, overflowing with excess fat and caked in make-up was surrounded by a nest of artificial blonde straw-like hair. Hiding her two shrivelled pig eyes were red circular glasses, giving her the impression of a fly. However, the most notable feature of this ghoul was in fact the steel braces lining her large teeth.

Rize inwardly grimaced, out of all the ghouls she could have met in the 11th Ward why did it have to be this colossal train wreck? The ghoul in question was in fact an old acquaintance of Rize, a _very _old acquaintance. It was with that very ghoul that she had shared her childhood with. All that history between them and Rize knew with acute certainty that the ghoul standing in front of her was in fact a nutter. "Big Madam, what brings you to the 11th Ward? Last I heard you were happily settled down in the 7th Ward owning a ghoul restaurant of all things." Rize's voice was light and conversational, it would not do for a ghoul like Big Madam to catch wind of her dear Ken-kun. There was no doubt in Rize's mind that she could kill a ghoul such as Big Madam with little effort, however, after years of knowing the ghoul, Rize knew that she had powerful allies.

"Oh why Rize dear, I believe the better question would be what are you doing here? It surprised us all when we heard you had taken a liking to lurking around the 20th Ward. Of course, most of us just assumed that you wished to create havoc over there. It was curious how we didn't even hear of one massacre over there until just a few months ago." The large ghoul crossed her arms, almost demanding an answer with just her body language.

"Yes, well a girl's gotta have a little holiday once and a while." The purple haired ghoul shrugged as if her time in the 20th was just a decision based on a whim.

"Hmm, we all thought that as well, or maybe all excess meat had gotten to your head and you had finally lost it. Although now after overhearing an interesting conversation, I think I might have to reconsider that observation."

Rize narrowed her eyes, she had sensed a presence near the end of her conversation with Banjou; could it be that her childhood friend had gotten better at masking herself? "How much did you hear?"

"Enough to know that you have a delectable little half-ghoul son." It was with that statement that Rize unleashed her kakugan and restrained the obese ghoul, holding her off the ground by her neck and flicking her two body guards into a building.

"Big Madam, I always found you so repulsive, always flaunting your knowledge to everyone else. But this time you made a mistake. I know you won't stop until you get your hands on half-ghoul so I think I better put an end to you now." Rize grinned, she was going to enjoy this kill.

A sharp screeching noise pierced the night silence. Distracted, Rize had no time to do anything but watch as several large metal beams crashed down directly upon her. Pure and undefined agony ran down her muscles as the metal beams rained down on her body; impaling and crushing her until she could no longer move. Black started to line Rize's vision as she slipped into unconsciousness, her body attempting but failing to heal the extensive damage caused by the construction materials.

_._

_._

_._

_'How…could…this?' _

_._

_._

_._

_'…Ken-kun…..'_

_._

_._

_._

And with those perishing thoughts she succumbed to the black void.

**-linebreak-**

Big Madam watched the proceedings with emotionless eyes. She had been lucky that Rize had held her out of the direct line of fire. _'Oh Rize, you always were too quick to jump for the kill.'_

A tall, lanky figure dressed in a plaid suit wearing a clown mask over his face jumped down from a nearby building. "Operation: Capture Binge Eater is complete." He concluded resolutely. Big Madam eyed the ever so innocent looking shears he held that gleamed from the moon's light.

"I didn't think that ordinary garden shears would be sharp enough to cut seven steel cables."

"Yeah, well the trick is all in the arm movement, it also doesn't hurt to have super ghoul strength." He responded, flexing his bicep despite it still looking like a stick.

"I just sold out my first friend to The Clowns. That means there won't be any future troubles in my restaurant right? You will tell me of any unexpected visitors?" She watched as the ghoul named Souta approached the wreckage, pulling the debris aside in order to grab the main prize. She didn't bother to send her own men to help him, dealing with The Clowns always left a distasteful feeling in her gut. However, it was necessary for the good of her restaurant.

"Yes, yes it's all been agreed on. We get even the slightest sniff of a dove and we'll be sure to tell you before they even get out of their pyjamas." Souta let out a pleased hum as he released an arm from the wreckage and began tugging.

Big Madam nodded in relief. The Clowns were dangerous; they had rats and spies in just about every organisation that existed, it wouldn't even surprise her if she heard that they had men in the CCG. The Clowns were collectors in a sense, collectors of information and facts. They were the biggest source of information in the whole of Japan, possibly even the world. Most ghouls didn't even know of their existence which just made them all the more effective. "What are you going to do about her son?" Big Madam queried.

"Nothing." Souta responded resolutely. "Our orders only state that we obtain Binge Eater. Though the prospect of a half-ghoul is intriguing, the big bosses will have our hides if we don't follow their orders to a T." There was a pause as Souta no doubt processed her train of thought. "You want him." It was a statement rather than a question.

Big Madam smiled as she pictured having Rize's _own son _bend to her will. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and was too good not to take. "Well you can have him, we aren't interested. I believe he's currently sleeping in room 213 at the Sakura Apartments."

The female ghoul grinned, The Clowns may be rats but there certainly were benefits in working with them. _'So…Kaneki Ken…how about a visit?'_

**AN**

Hey! How'd everyone like that chapter?

So I am back from my summer hiatus and I am ready to write this fic to oblivion! (I said I was going to update this in early Feb and I can't believe I was actually on time!) I'm really happy how this chapter turned out, it's quite Rize-centric because unfortunately we won't be seeing her anytime soon.

To those who have not read the manga Hagi is an actual character that was the leader of the 11th Ward but was killed by Rize shortly before she left to the 20th Ward, thus leaving Banjou to take leadership of the ward. Big Madam is also a canon character but I won't divulge too much into what she is like for that will be quite clear in the next chapter.

Okay I know I promised the entrance of my favourite character but this chapter was just getting so long I decided to split it in two. Kudos to anyone who guesses who it is! Although it's probably obvious to those that've read the manga.

I have also taken the liberty of deleting the last chapter, sorry but I find chapters with just an author note quite distasteful, but just to summarise, it was about my hiatus as well as the possibility of a new title for this fic. Basically if anyone has I will be making a poll of possible new titles any good ideas, just PM me or state it in a review and I'll put the ones I like the best in a poll and then the rest is up to you guys!

I've also gotten some questions about Kaneki's age throughout this fic so here's a little reminder for everyone:

Chapter one: 4-6 years old

Chapter two: 8-11 years old

Chapters three – six: 11 years old

Anyways thank you for all the lovely reviews and keep it up! I absolutely love to hear what everyone thinks.

-Cifer66


	7. Repulsive

Disclaimer: Nope don't own nothing.

Chapter 7: Repulsive

Kaneki winced as he was pulled from unconsciousness and sat up, groaning as the sudden movement elicited a dull pain in his right shoulder. His left arm immediately reached over to clutch his stiff appendage. "What on Earth?" the exhausted half-ghoul murmured to himself as he looked around at his surroundings and leant on the headboard of what was certainly _not_ his bed.

His usually sturdy wooden framed bed was replaced with a flimsy bed made of metal bars covered in flaking, white paint. The room was devoid of any furniture and sported large amounts of cobwebs in the corners of the ceiling. "Where am I?" he questioned to the empty room, unsurprised when he did not receive an answer. It was then that memories of what had occurred flooded to his head. The train, the doves, the quinque in his shoulder, his mother…

Kaneki hurriedly unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and sighed at the sight of a pale, unblemished shoulder. _'Looks like I'm okay. Thank god for my advanced healing or I'd already be dead from blood loss or infection.'_

His mother had always told him how lucky they were for their healing abilities as it was not a common ability, even among ghouls. It was strange to think how this one ability probably saved his life. Quinques were not ordinary weapons made from different metals or alloys, they were all made from the kagune of a ghoul, a material more detrimental to his kind than even the finest crafted of metals. No doubt a lesser ghoul would have died by his an injury. The half-ghoul solemnly gazed down at his upturned hands, thankful for his mother's appearance. It would have been bad, _very _bad if she had appeared even a moment later.

As Kaneki's thoughts turned towards his mother, a bulging question appeared at the forefront of his mind, _'Where is Mother?'_

It was at that moment that the pre-teen heard footsteps, they were too heavy to possibly be from his mother, but he chose to remain as he was. He did not smell the scent of a human but instead a female ghoul. _'An acquaintance? Perhaps they know where she is.'_

Several moments later, the wooden door of his room creaked and a ghoul more than twice the size of his mother walked in. If it were not for the size of the ghoul that rendered the boy speechless, then it was the face of the newcomer, which donned rounded shades with a white border and red lens and a heavy caking of makeup. The far too extravagant red dress that the ghoul wore was only aided in highlighting the plumpness of her unsightly figure. _'Who is this?'_

The woman suddenly walked towards Kaneki's direction, stopping as she stood beside his bed. "Ah, you must be Kaneki Ken, right?" Kaneki winced at the obviously low voice attempt to be high pitched and sweet. He nodded.

"Do I know you?" He queried, he could smell a variety of scents upon the larger ghoul. Mostly a sickly sweet floral scent with a heavy underline of sweat. However, underneath all that he could just smell a tiny hint of the familiar scent of his mother. "You were with my mother." He stated.

"Oh, I see you have a good nose on you." The woman replied with an almost greedy expression on her face.

"Where is she?" Kaneki asked immediately, not waiting for her to continue talking. The ghoul beside him tutted.

"Straight to the point I see." She paused, "Well I suppose that's how the youth are these days, always so disrespectful."

Kaneki remained silent, urging her with his silence to hurry up and answer his question. Seeing his that he was not going to say anything, the bigger ghoul sighed as if in defeat. "I guess there's no point in avoiding it any longer." She eyed him, waiting to gauge the younger ghoul's reaction at her next few sentences, "My name is Big Madam. Your mother, Rize-chan, has put you in my custody."

Kaneki froze, his one visible eye widening as he took in the information. "You're lying." He stated resolutely. There was no way his mother would just leave him.

The now named Big Madam expelled a large sigh as if it were tearing her heart to deliver the next bit of information, "Oh if I only was," she looked towards the ceiling, not that Kaneki could see, "but unfortunately I'm not." Her eyes returned back to him, "Your mother is Kamishiro Rize. We've been friends since childhood. I was surprised when I got a call from her out of the blue about a week ago. She asked me to look after you for a bit, naturally I said yes. After all, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her and she for me. We agreed to meet up in the 11th."

The black haired ghoul merely stared at her as if she had grown a second head, "That's impossible. Mother wouldn't want to get rid of me. We're happy together."

"Oh Kaneki-kun," She crooned, pitying him as if he were but a naïve child. "Your mother has been under a lot of stress lately. A family life? A son? A life of simplicity and inconspicuousness? That isn't Rize. I've known her for years, longer than you've even been alive. I know the true Rize. She lives to hunt and eat. I'm sure you've seen it too."

A picture of his bloodied mother about to attack him like prey flashed before Kaneki's eyes and he visibly flinched. "But she would have told me that she was going. She wouldn't just leave me without an explanation."

Big Madam sighed in exasperation, "I knew it would be like this. I told Rize to be here to send you off because you would never believe me," She wiped a hand against her forehead, "but my good friend was just too torn up to see you leave. She thought the best way was to just rip the Band-Aid off and go so no tears or heart wrenching moments were involved." The bigger ghoul leaned down so that her face was level with Kaneki's. "I'm sure you know your mother. She does not like showing weakness even to her own family."

Kaneki closed his eye, it did sound a lot like his mother. She wasn't one to consider the thoughts and emotions of the people around her. The boy opened his eye, but there was no way that his mother would leave him with such a vile character, "Why should I believe you? For all I know you could have just been sprouting lies. Sure you say you know her, but so does a lot of people. For all I know you could have just met her down the street. Where's your proof that she doesn't want me?"

Suddenly he felt her portly fingers brush past his face and unhooked his eye patch from behind his ears. "She told me to tell you this if you still didn't believe me. Your deepest secret. _Half-ghoul_."

Kaneki looked back at the ghoul in front of him. Since he was young he always tried to have an open mind when meeting new people, after all, who was he to judge another person when he himself was a half-ghoul pretending to be a ghoul acting as a human? However, upon spending ten minutes with Big Madam, he was certain that in one word he could sum up her character: repulsive.

If it weren't for her jiggling fat which would jostle at even the slightest movement, then it had to be her pungent breath which was so foul it made his nose hairs curl.

Why would Mother send him to live with her? He knew for a fact that these were the type of ghouls his mother would immediately call trash without a second thought. Although…perhaps if she knew this ghoul from her childhood then there could be another side to her? Kaneki observed the ghoul still situated uncomfortably close to him and shook his head as he inhaled just a slight bit of her rancid breath.

It was horrible. Why would his mother do this to him? Just the fact that she knew that he was a half-ghoul was proof enough that Rize must have personally told the bigger ghoul. Kaneki's heritage was top secret. Until now, he thought only two people in the world knew that he was a half-ghoul – his mother and himself. If Big Madam were to know about it that meant Mother trusted her…right?

Seeing Kaneki's obvious distress, Big Madam smiled and put her large arm around his shoulder. "Don't worry Kaneki-kun. I know it must be hard, but your mother just wants a small break to organise her thoughts. I own a restaurant down in the 7th Ward, you are welcome to stay as long as you like. I have no doubt that Rize will pay us a visit sometime in the coming weeks."

Kaneki shivered, it seemed that he had no choice. He must have been unconscious for hours, there was no way that his mother would ever just leave him alone unguarded for more than an hour or two yet her scent around the room was so faint he could tell that she hadn't been around for at least five hours.

Perhaps she really was gone. Could it be that all the hours of sweat and pain he put into his training still wasn't enough for her? Kaneki looked down at his surprisingly still hands, he felt nothing. Nothing at all.

It was strange.

A year ago he imagined that in the face of abandonment, he would have screamed and cried. Desperate to stay with his mother, clinging against all hope that they wouldn't be separated, begging anyone to help him.

But now? His heart was beating evenly and his hands were steady, not even clammy with sweat.

Was this acceptance? Kaneki pondered. Deep inside, did he already know that this would happen? That this was the inevitable? Perhaps this was why he had always pushed himself to the max whilst training, trying to prove to his mother that he was strong; that one day he could stand on equal footing.

No wait.

What if this was a test? Maybe his was just another training exercise? After all, his mother said that she would be stepping up his training once they made it to the 11th Ward.

It was impossible that his mother would just abandon him. She had spent too much time caring for him just to throw him away. Maybe she wanted to see how he could interact in an unstable environment? Big Madam was definitely a dangerous ghoul, but there was no way she'd ever let her best friend's kid die.

Relief rushed through Kaneki. _'So Mother still wants me.'_ He gazed back at the now visibly grinning ghoul. _'Of course if I want to survive this training to see mother, I will have to make a solid impression.'_

With his mind made up, the black-haired ghoul looked back to the expectant face of Big Madam, his face expressionless as he settled in to his now stoic persona. "When do we leave?"

**-Timeskip (3 days later)-**

Kaneki struggled to restrain his gasp as his mind processed what he saw before him.

Guarded by a black, sharpened, steel fence was what could only be referred to as a mansion, for how could a mere house ever be that big? Luscious green grass covered the ground around the house and cream coloured gravel streaked across it, intersecting at times to form an intricate pattern. Rows of trimmed hedges and rose bushes outlined the border of the area, serving to further isolate the ghoulish residence from outsiders. A magnificent gold and marble fountain of baby angels marked the centre piece of garden.

He quickly approached the four white pillars that marked the entrance mansion, lugging behind him Big Madam's large rabbit fur purse.

Shortly after he, Big Madam and her two guards left the 11th Ward by limousine, the female was quick to inform him that he would be living with her free of charge and would have to 'earn his keep'. Kaneki wasn't surprised about this new revelation and accepted whatever job she proposed. It seemed that he would now be serving her as a butler-in-training of sorts, for the current butler was elderly, constantly forgetting things and in need to be replaced. He did have a trainee for a time, but she was proved to be incompetent and was swiftly dealt with. Kaneki didn't even bother asking what happened to her.

In most of the books he had read, it seemed that the most powerful of characters were always the emotionless and cold. Therefore, Kaneki reasoned that if he possessed an air of indifference, perhaps he could pass himself off as someone not to be messed and his strength would not even be questioned.

"Welcome to my manor." Big Madam announced, her two hands clutched together. "Do you like it Kaneki-kun?"

"Yes, my lady." Kaneki said curtly. His new caretaker had stressed the need for manners, especially if he was to be her future butler and had instructed him to always address her as 'my lady'. Kaneki inwardly scoffed at how foolish and in the past she was.

"Come then, there is lots to do." Kaneki merely bowed his head and followed her inside.

**-Linebreak-**

Kaneki sighed as he walked up yet another glass staircase.

Already two hours had gone by since he had arrived at the mansion and he was still on the tour. How he would remember where every room was let alone what he would need to perform for his butlering duties was beyond him.

"And beyond this door is my room." Big Madam waved her arm dramatically with gusto, stopping in front of two white double doors with two half-masked men standing guard at either side.

"Pardon me, my lady. But didn't we already see your room?" Kaneki asked, remembering the lavish room covered with red silks and furs that the ghoul and fondly called her bedroom.

"Oh don't be silly, that room was just for sleeping. This is _my special room_." Big Madam raised her hand in front of her face with three fingers pointing upward, "Only three people have permission to enter inside. "Myself, my butler and of course, my little doll." Her fingers lowered as she listed off the names, as if speaking to a child.

"Your doll, my lady?" Kaneki queried, any curiosity that he could have possibly possessed was carefully hidden under his a blank face.

Big Madam immediately displayed rows of steel as her mouth curved into a smile. "Oh you will absolutely love her. She is the light of my life." The ghoul immediately clapped her hands and the two men standing stationary at the doors reached out to open the doors with their gloved hands.

Whatever Kaneki was expecting to see in his wildest imagination; be it a grand room that could rival the very emperor, or a room brimming with treasures that would make the most passionate archaeologist weep.

It was certainly _not _this.

The walls were made of stone bricks and were caked with moss and slime. Instead of the chandeliers which were present everywhere in the manor, this room was lit up with medieval torches that dotted the walls. Rusted chains hung from the ceilings and the walls, unused for years due to the amount of cobwebs on them.

"W-What is this place?" Kaneki stuttered, forgetting about his act due to the sheer amount of shock he had for this room.

"This here, is my _special room_. I like to call it my chamber." Big Madam boasted, walking towards the back of the room, towards what looked like to be a large cell. Kaneki followed, struggling to retain his emotions.

"Hi there my little doll~" He heard the ghoul in front of him coo to a curled figure in the corner of the damp cell. "I've got someone that wants to meet you~"

Kaneki approached the cell cautiously. The figure was tiny and dressed in a pale pink dress that was surprisingly devoid of dirt. Her face was hidden in her knees, but he could see the short, white locks that framed her face.

"Come on, let him see your pretty face," Big Madam prompted, her fingers were threaded through the crossed bars and her head was pressed against it. She looked back to Kaneki as the figure slowly got to her feet. "Kaneki-kun, I'd like you to meet my little precious. My Juuzou-chan."

**AN**

So that's it. I can die happy now. I have officially reached the Juuzou section of my fic. (Kudos to those that guessed it!)

Anyways, I'd just like to say a massive humongous THANK YOU to all you readers because I have reached over 100 reviews! Woo hoo! Wow I never imagined in a billion years that this little fic I started on a whim would ever get this much attention. So I'd just like to say again a big big big big THANK YOU!

Also for anyone that's is interested, I've changed the story description because I thought my old one was quite boring.

So please tell me what you liked or hated and remember I'm always open to new ideas if anyone has any. Reviews are always appreciated and again, thank you so much! I am just so overjoyed.

-Cifer66


	8. A Friendship Born From Juice

Disclaimer: Nope down own anything.

Chapter 8 – A Friendship Born From Juice

It wasn't long before Kaneki decided that the tiny figure crouched against the grimy stone wall was a contradiction.

Clad in a pick dress with a dainty face and short white hair, 'Juuzou-chan' looked to be just a frightened little human girl, unfortunate enough to have caught the attention of a ghoul like Big Madam. However, even as the little human visibly quivered, there was something irrevocably 'off' about her.

Kaneki initially thought that perhaps it was just his shock at the sight of such a sinister chamber existing within the bigger ghoul's grand mansion, or perhaps his unease stemmed from the very fact that it was his first time seeing a so called human 'pet'.

It was common knowledge amongst that there existed some eccentric ghouls kept human pets, chaining them up and parading them around the higher classes as a sign of wealth and status – there were even rumours that they would take young ghouls if they could get their hands on them. It was a tale that most mother's told their children at night, warning them of the big, bad ghouls would capture them and turn them into a pet if they were to be bad.

Observing the puzzle in front of him, it took Kaneki all several moments to realise what was so off about the scene – the lack of fear in the air.

Kaneki had always prided himself of his keen sense of smell. A normal ghoul could smell slightly better than a human, allowing them to scent a small drop of blood from far away or helping them distinguish between fellow ghouls and humans. Kaneki, however, had a nose much more sensitive than any others. He was accessible to a whole new palate of scents: emotions, illness and much, much more that even the most sensitive of dogs would never experience. His mother had always raved about how his half-ghoul status granted him better abilities than any ordinary ghoul. It seemed one of those abilities extended to an acute sense of smell.

Kaneki sniffed the air one more time, taking in as many scents as he could.

Mould on the walls – check.

The sweat dripping off of Big Madam – check.

The mouse droppings scattered on the floor – check.

Kaneki continued to analyse the barrage of scents in this method until he conclusively decided that there was definitely no fear. In fact, it was even more curious to note that instead of the slightly sweet tang that accompanied all females, he could smell a slightly bitter scent emanating from the white haired child.

_'Could it be? A male?'_ Kaneki thought.

"Juuzou…chan, my lady?" Kaneki questioned, emphasising the honorific with puzzlement clear in his voice.

"Yes. I see your confusion. My, you are perceptive." Big Madam smiled as if speaking to a naive toddler, "Her stage name's Juuzou, her real name is a secret that only those I deem worthy may know. After all, who knows what could happen if the humans find out about her. To you, she is only Juuzou."

"Oh…I see…" Kaneki replied, slightly vexed at not receiving the answer he wanted, but also intrigued over the insanity of his new employer. What was the importance of hiding a name? Especially of a no name human kid whose family was most likely dead. If one thing was for sure, Big Madam really was a nutter, that fact alone only solidified his certainty that this 'Juuzou-chan' was actually a young boy.

The bigger ghoul suddenly turned towards him, her face steely and serious despite all the blubber that surrounded her features that would have been comical to a child. "As new to the household, I expect you to always be accompanied by the head butler or myself when inside this room." She instructed, her voice laced with ice and malice. "It is only reasonable to know that I cannot fully trust you yet, after all you could just be trying to steal my little treasure." A rusty, old key appeared in Big Madam's hand and she promptly started unlocking the barred door.

_'You were the one that wanted me here weren't you? Believe me, I don't trust you either.' _Kaneki ensured that the snark held in that thought did not appear on his face. He watched the rusted door swing open and the small, pink-clad boy scurry across and out of his cell into the arms of an expectant Big Madam.

As she placed him in front of her, weaving her arms over her pet's shoulders and clasping his two petite hands with her meaty ones, Kaneki gained a closer view of his employer's plaything. He was young, perhaps even the same age as Kaneki but with a more wiry build. His skin was porcelain white, as if he had never experienced the sun. The same could be said for his messy shoulder length hair that was startlingly starch white with several pink, glittery clips scattered around to hold the stray strands back from his face. Kaneki heard a small chink and saw a thick, rusted, metal collar clasped around the other boy's slender neck. He winced at the old, healed over scars that marred the skin near the collar. However, what was most surprising to the dark haired teen were the white haired boy's eyes; they were big and round, still possessing a touch of childish innocence.

_'How do your eyes still look like that?' _Kaneki wondered, only God knew what Big Madam was capable of doing to a tiny little human like him.

"Though I suppose once your training is complete and my butler has retired you will have free reign of the whole household – including this room." The bigger ghoul continued, ignorant of Kaneki's thoughts. Kaneki felt the air thicken as Big Madam's hackles tensed, "But just know, the consequences for crossing me and harming my little Rei-chan will be unimaginable." The tension suddenly evaporated from the room as she proceeded to nuzzle her face into the crook of the small boy's neck, evoking a demented, clearly forced, high-pitched giggle.

_'This woman is crazy.' _Kaneki sweat dropped, mentally making a note to watch out for her seemingly 180o mood swings. It would not do to fail one of his mother's tests so early in the game. Big Madam gently ushered the small boy back into his cell before proceeding to lock the heavy door, carefully placing the large, rusted key in a steel box that was bolted onto an adjacent table in the chamber. He watched Big Madam lock the box with a smaller silver key that she had pulled from her purse.

"Alright, that's it for the manor. I expect you to have all the whole vicinity memorised by sunrise tomorrow so you can start working. Until then I believe you can start your training." Big Madam cupped her hands together around her mouth and bellowed "Terada-kun!"

An elderly man suddenly appeared in the doorway, he was immaculately dressed in standard butler attire complete with a black tailcoat. His grey hair was gelled back, revealing his squinted electric, yellow eyes. A diagonal scar ran across his wrinkled face started from the left side of his scalp and stopped shortly after slicing through the left side of his lips. It was by no means a grotesque scar, instead had aged well with the man, adding to his character. Kaneki internally winced, despite his relative age, the man looked like a force not to be taken lightly._ 'This is the man that has supposedly been forgetting things? That needs to be replaced? He looks like he could kill me just with his stare.'_

"You called my lady?" The newly arrived ghoul questioned subserviently, his upper body slightly bowed with his right arm resting over his left shoulder.

"Terada-kun, this here is your new apprentice. I have high hopes that he will perform better than the one. Be sure to have him ready for the next _party_." Big Madam smiled, her beady eyes gleaming in anticipation. Kaneki didn't even want to guess what this party was that got her so excited.

"I will do my best, my lady." The older butler responded in a reserved manner.

"And, Kaneki-kun. This is Terada-kun, my head butler and your new superior." Big Madam turned to him, "Terada here is the best of the best and I will not settle for anything less than his standards. Be sure to learn well."

"Yes, my lady. I will not disappoint." Kaneki responded already trying to mimic the more experienced butler. The hidden threat was as plain as day. If he didn't perform up to par in the coming weeks under Terada's tutelage then he was sure to meet the same unfortunate fate as the previous trainee.

Satisfied with his response, Big Madam gestured for the two to exit the room, leaving her alone with her treasure. Kaneki didn't have enough time to concern himself over the fate of the little human boy before he was cornered by Terada in one of the nearby corridors.

"So you are to be my new apprentice huh?" The man still spoke softly yet also threateningly. Kaneki simply stared directly ahead of him, choosing to not focus upon the older ghoul's piercing eyes which would no doubt frighten him out of his stoic persona.

"Yes. I will do my utmost to fulfil all requirements of the training as quickly as possible so that my transition to the role of sole butler will have the least effects upon the lady."

"Hmm, I see that the lady has chosen well." Kaneki could feel the older ghoul's eyes burning onto him as they analysed his body. He paced around the black haired at a languid pace. "An able and young body, perfect for moulding. Respectful and aware of their place in this household." Kaneki remained frozen under this man's gaze. "I can see why our lady has such high hopes for you. You are a much better candidate than the other. Although…" He stopped pacing as he stood directly in front of Kaneki and hooked his finger under his eye patch, "this will not do," and with that statement he pulled back his arm, tugging the eye patch from the younger ghoul's head and onto the floor.

Kaneki was astonished. _'When did he unravel my knot? Was it while he was walking behind me? But how could I not have felt it?' _

"You keep so focused on what is in front of you that you aren't even aware of what is behind you." Terada looked down on him, "We will have to rectify this if you are to be taking my place. As head butler your duties extend far more than serving our lady's needs, you will serve as her shield and dagger should the need come. "

Kaneki gulped. Thankfully the surprise of having his eye patch removed was not great enough to activate his kakugan so he still possessed two normal eyes. It was then that he looked up at the taller ghoul and nodded, morphing his surprised expression into a mask of indifference. "However, before your training can commence, we must first fix your clothing. It is far too unfitting for any servant of this household to wear anything so utterly colloquial." Terada turned away from him and started walking down the corridor.

Kaneki just watched him, stunned at the elder ghoul. He was strict and proper, nothing like the vision of a retiring butler. Kaneki shivered, it would be hard to keep up masks under those all seeing eyes, but he would persevere. He was going to endure this test so he could show his mother just how strong he was. "Well are you coming?"

Snapped out of his thoughts, Kaneki saw the elder butler had stopped halfway down the hall, his back still turned on him. Kaneki hastily replied, "O..Of course" and briskly walked towards the other ghoul, unable to shake away the feeling that he had somehow just sold his soul.

**-Linebreak-**

Kaneki nervously paced outside two, thankfully unguarded, lavish doors.

After spending the rest of the day training, Kaneki had gone up to his new room and promptly collapsed on his bed, not even bothering to take off his newly acquired clothes. True to his appearance, Terada was proven to be a real perfectionist and consequently slave driver. After picking out his new vest, shirt, dress pants and shoes, the older man had admonished him over the inappropriateness of covering a perfectly good eye. Kaneki was only able to wear an eye patch by claiming that one of his eyes wasn't able to focus as well as the other, making it hard for him to visualise far away objects, to which the man reluctantly handed over a black eye patch decorated with gold stitching.

The man had drilled into his mind all of what was expected of a butler in Big Madam's manor. He was to be punctual, never late nor early, always precisely on time. He was to always to be alert at all times, for no matter what he was doing, a soon as the lady of the house called for him, he would be by her side waiting on her orders. Terada had emphasised that all his work had to be fulfilled with the utmost care and perfection. Only today the elderly ghoul had forced Kaneki to make coffee for five hours straight, critiquing everything from the taste and presentation of the drink to Kaneki's technique, posture and timing.

Kaneki expected to succumb to sleep almost immediately after hitting the bed. His back ached from standing up so straight and his right wrist was sore from the hours of continued coffee brewing. However, as he lay on the elevated, western bed that Big Madam provided for all her servants, his mind would not stop wandering over to the pink clad human that he knew that was sitting in a cold, damp cell two storeys below him, clearly hungry from the rumbling Kaneki's sensitive ears could pick up.

And thus was how Kaneki was currently situated outside of the room containing possibly Big Madam's most prized possession, a juice box in hand, and berating himself profusely of his impulsive idiocy.

The juice box was one of many that Hide had always given Kaneki when they were younger. It was almost a ritual between the two boys that during lunchtime at school, Hide would bring an extra juice box for Kaneki to supplement his bland lunch and Kaneki would always put that juice box in his bag, saying that he was saving it for later. Thus Kaneki had quite a collection of juice boxes in his room, never knowing what to do with the multitude of human drinks as he felt too guilty to just throw away Hide's presents yet not willing to drink the liquid motor oil that humans called juice. Kaneki had only brought one juice box along with him as a memento of his friend, but that seemed redundant in the face of a human in need of it.

It seemed that the guards that were stationed in front of the chamber earlier in the day must have run off to have a break or play cards. Kaneki didn't blame them, standing out front a caged human for hours on end wasn't the most interesting of jobs, especially at night when the whole house was quaking with Big Madam's thunderous snores.

Figuring that it was too late to back out now, Kaneki held his breath and slowly pried a door open. It was heavy, but his ghoul strength ensured that he could manage to open it quietly, without a squeak. Upon entering the room, Kaneki calmly walked over to the cell at the back, the white haired boy was against the bars, curious at the entrance of someone other than Big Madam. Kaneki smiled at the boy and sat down in front of the grated bars, the square gaps were wide enough to fit half a head, giving him a good view of the boy. "Hi there," He did his best to sound cheerful, it would do for him to scare the boy so that he would tell his 'master'.

Kaneki held out the juice box through the bars and the boy flinched, clearly expecting to be struck. However, upon seeing the bright red carton, the boy looked at him with an expression close to surprise. "Here, you must hungry, I could hear your tummy rumbling from all the way up in my room." The boy still didn't move, gluing his black eyes to Kaneki, as if evaluating his intentions. "Humans like this kind of stuff, right?" Kaneki asked in an attempt to coax the boy into taking the juice.

The white haired boy stared at the package in his hand and then back up at him. "Mama says I'm not allowed to eat anything without her."

Kaneki merely scratched the back of his head giving a sheepish smile. "Well, I guess this can just be our little secret."

The boy hesitantly took the juice box out of his hand, as if it were made of glass and then promptly, started gnawing at the corners with his teeth. Kaneki hurriedly pulled the boy's arm away to stop him from doing any more damage to the carton, it was going to explode at the rate Juuzou was tearing at it. Seeing Kaneki's displeasure at his method the pink dressed boy asked, "How do you open it?"

"Hmm..." Kaneki absently scratched his head, remembering to back when Hide had drank one. "Ah…I know!" He took the juice box out of the lighter haired boy's hands and peeled off the bendy straw at the side and puncturing the top of the box.

Handing the drink back to the smaller boy he smiled as Juuzou hesitantly sucked at the unknown mixture, as if frightened that it might be poisoned. However, after the tentative first slurp he started furiously downing the drink. Not stopping until the box had been crushed in his hands. "Well, how is it? I hear from my friend that humans find them tasty." Kaneki asked, taking the rubbish back from the boy. There would be serious repercussions if Big Madam ever discovered he had fed her prized pet.

"It's good." Juuzou concluded, eyeing Kaneki's clothing as if trying to spot more food, looking downtrodden once he realised there wasn't any more to come. Kaneki just patted his pockets and promised he would come back with more food in the future, but only on the condition that Juuzou didn't tell anyone about him. Satisfied with Juuzou's nod, Kaneki started to stand up. He couldn't however, as he felt a tug on his shirt. "Before you go…what's your name?"

Kaneki saw the desperate look in the other boy's eyes. Could it be that no one had ever shown him any compassion in this place? Was he so lonely that the mere action of offering him some old juice made Kaneki a saviour in his eyes? "My name's Kaneki Ken, Juuzou-san." He made to stand up once again, but this time as he turned around he felt a tug on his pant leg. He turned his upper body back to see the white haired boy lying on the ground, his arm stretched through the bar in order to stop him once again.

"I'm Rei. Suzuya Rei." The boy said and Kaneki nodded.

"It's nice to meet you Suzuya" Kaneki greeted and started walking ahead as soon as he felt the pressure leave from his leg. He had just gotten a sudden feeling that perhaps he had made things much more complicated for himself.

AN

Heya!

Sorry for the slightly longer delay, life has just been so busy, but alas! I come bringing a slightly longer chapter.

I hope everyone was satisfied with Kaneki and Juuzou's meeting. I know there's been a lot of hype for it so I really hope I didn't disappoint.

Shout out to a certain reader who actually predicted the next big plot of my fic correctly (you know who you are). Also big thanks to thesky448 who has really helped me with sorting out all the nitty gritty details of the fic.

So I guess that's it for me, thank you to all readers and reviewers. Also don't be scared to mention any ideas, theories or just grammatical errors. I am sure to read everything!

Until next time!

-Cifer66


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