[ Open ]

[enucleation]

WHO: Kaneki + Open
WHERE: Heropa, Nonah, Maurtia falls, De chima
WHEN: March 1st to March 15th
WHAT: Find Kaneki on the street because he won't tell you he is here otherwise
WARNINGS: Canon spoilers, mentions of violence, gore and cannibalism

[ His arrival back in this world was smoother than he expected. The government told him he was not going to prison for what he did, but due to his violent acts --even if he wasn't in his right mind and was being "controlled" by Hornets-- he had to be put on probation. He was requested to wear an ankle monitoring bracelet for a month and he will have to report to a Registered imPort who will act as his parole officer; the tattoo in his arm now says "criminal" and will remain so for a month. And during all of this, not once Kaneki argued or complained. He nodded and accepted every decision the government made about this situation, and at the end all he did was ask if he still had access to De Chima labs --they said 'yes' because it was necessary-- and requested to now live in De Chima --request accepted-- and that was it.

That's how he returned to this world.

He left an entry over the network, and went to his new place. he is not sure how to address others just yet, but he knows he has to apologize, though you can't really apologize for something like that, not so lightly. He will focus on what he can while he decides the best course of action: the Hornets, the Porter, he will focus on keeping his place in this world, that has been threatened so many times already, and he will protect everyone. He will find what is the better way to do that, since experience told him he can't just do everything blindly. He needs to think.

He will figure it out. ]

HEROPA : Bookstore

[ Even though Kaneki is no longer living in Heropa, he still walks around the city quite often. It's a way to make sure everything and everyone are safe and in case something happens, he will be there to help and protect the people he cares about. He is now working at De Chima bookstore, but he decides to drop by his old workplace; here, only few days passed after he was sent back to his world, but back home it was over 6 months.

He smiles politely at his ex-boss as he comments on the white hair, and he smiles kindly at the man. He also apologizes for leaving and apologizes for no longer working there. With a small bow, he buys three new books and an extra fourth is given to him for free. When he finally leaves the bookstore, he looks around for a second and decides to take off his eyepatch; white hair and black clothes made him pretty weird already, but he figured it was better to avoid looking THAT weird with an eyepatch too. ]

NONAH : Coffee shop

[ He never actually been to Nonah before. It's funny because he was 6 months in this world before, and he never found an excuse to go to Nonah and visit the city. Right now he is only doing so because he wants to know the city, the layout, to see the people, the natives, the imPorts and their locations. He is scouting, that's the only reason he is there. Annie and Reiner live there, so it's important for him to know the place and in case something happens, he can navigate through it.

After a whole morning of walking around, he eventually comes to a coffee shop - a petite and quiet one - and asks for their "best coffee, no sugar, no cream, just coffee". And he eventually sits by the window, looking outside. Doing this sort of things... drinking coffee at a coffee shop, taking a moment to look around without searching for an enemy... it has been a while. ]

MAURTIA FALLS : Streets

[ This was the second city Kaneki was set on getting to know. Like Nonah, he has never been there, but like Nonah, he needs to get to know it in case anything happens. Scouting, learning the layout, learning what you may need to face. If anything happens and he needs to go to this small city again, he will know the place easily. He is also interested in the rumored underground scene going on; these are usually good for information, but given Kaneki is currently a "Criminal" and under Government's observation he knows he can't approach it just yet.

He is carrying his eyepatch today, plus the black clothing and the white hair help a lot for people in this town not to be so suspicious of him. The ankle monitor also brought enough attention, too, but Kaneki politely asks them to go away -with a smile and everything!- as he grabs his cup of coffee and sits down at a public bench to drink it.

This is a really interesting place, actually. Ghouls would probably find it "homy" ]

HEROPA/DE CHIMA : Moving from a city to another

[ Now that he lives in De Chima, he will have to move there. It means going to his old apartment in Heropa and get his things and move them to a different city. At least Kaneki doesn't have much house utensils and necessities, but he has a lot of books and carrying those can be a feat. At least he has super strength and he isn't going to hide that anymore; in his hands, he carries bags full of books, some clothes, some other accessories like coffee.

He can be found carrying his items from Heropa Individual Housing back to De Chima Individual Housing, since it's where he will live from then on. ]

CLOSED : Will Graham

[ Kaneki was assigned Will Graham as his parole officer; he is to report to him and the man already has files on what Kaneki is, thus he doesn't expect having to explain it to him. Hopefully. Though he has a feeling questions and conversations will be had. In any case, Kaneki decides to visit him the second he can.

At least he doesn't bring cupcakes this time.

Kaneki is wearing black, and if Will remembers a gentle black haired kid who smiled and looked too naive for this world, he will now meet a white haired Kaneki who still wears an eyepatch and looks far too tired (and sad). He is still smiling, though. Once he arrives to Will's shop, "Hook, line, & tinker", the first thing he notices is the dog, but after he looks around ] Excuse me...?

Comments

[enucleation]

[ Kaneki won't bring himself to ask Nagachika to forget about Suzuya, nor ask him to realize it was necessary. Not yet, at least, since it's too soon for Hide, who just saw his friend's corpses a couple of days ago.

Kaneki is silent for a moment, letting Hide speak, watching his own hand - rough, callous - and Hide's hand together. Contact is... not usual. Hinami-chan asked to hold hands that one time, but how long has it been since Kaneki felt a hug or someone messing his hair? he hasn't seen Hide in such a long time. ]

No. It's not okay, Hide. "Stuff" doesn't just happen. [ there is no such thing as fate, there is no such thing as luck. There are situations you put yourself in, and Kaneki has put himself in them always. It was his fault, it was ALWAYS his fault. With Rize, with Yamori, with everything- it's his own fault. He should have eaten more often, he should have controlled his kagune, he should know what to do. It's his fault.

And that's why he will take it.

His hand moves to Hide's shoulder, the one he bit so viciously and in contrast to that, his hand is gentle when touching the place. Even without a scar, Kaneki won't forget everytime he looks at him. He can't forget. Never. He will remind himself of how weak he was, to the point he bit his best friend and pierced him with the kagune. ]

What I did was terrible, disgusting - don't turn a blind eye to that, Hide. [ he can pretend his friend doesn't eat people, he can insists on looking at Kaneki like that, but he can't pretend Kaneki didn't do what he did. ] You can't pretend I'm not dangerous.

[ but, he will also say this with certainty: ]

But this time- I won't allow it anymore. [ he IS dangerous. And he will use it. That power of his, he will use it ] I won't be weak. I'm not weak . [ he is strong, he became strong. He ate Rize, Yamori - he will eat his way through it. ] I will protect everyone, this time. You don't have to worry.

[nagachika]

I'm not pretending you're not dangerous. [Addressing this first, and a little bit despite himself, fingers are reaching up just a bit, clutching to his side where the others' kagune had driven through. He hadn't forgotten how it felt.] And I'm not turning a blind eye, either. [Even if I drove my fingers into yours.] I'm just saying that you weren't in your right mind when all of that happened.

So being personally angry with you ain't logical. [As if he could, in the first place.] ...'sides. Listen to yourself.

[He smiles gently, a little laugh escaping him as his fingers curl against his side, a little shake of his head.] I don't know what you've been through. But there's not even a shake to your voice anymore. Man, I remember a time when you'd be sobbing while talking about something like this. [A twinge of something in his voice--maybe a little proud--but maybe a little worried, too.]

...You've been through a lot, haven't you.

[enucleation]

[ he should still be angry. But after what happened in this world, how Hide never blames Kaneki, even if he should. It'd just be repeating himself over and over again and he is no longer going to insist. If Hide knew all that he has done... and it is justifiable! Kaneki thinks so; if the world is wrong, it doesn't matter. he will pluck bad coffee beans, he HAS to, as ruthless as that sounds.

Aha... How kaneki lost his pure-self. How he misses that person now that he is looking at Hide. If Hide only knew, the ghoul he has become.

He has been through so much.

Kaneki smiles drop because he no longer needs it, pulling his hand away from Hide's shoulder and letting it fall. ]

I.... want to protect everyone. You. Touka. Banjou, Hinami - I don't want anyone to die anymore. [ even if Hide doesn't know who died. He never met them, those people who died because Kaneki was too weak to save them ] I don't know what exact path I should take in order to achieve it.

But I think I may have done things wrong. I tried to push everyone away from the world of ghouls and live in it myself, plucking out interferences- [ Kaneki looks at his own hand, and his thumb reaches for a finger to pop it ]

In the end, it was probably not the right thing to do, Hide.

But I don't know if I can go back to what I was, either. The pure me... [ he has locked him up somewhere. How does he bring him out again, when there is so much within him already, cluttering it all up? ]

[nagachika]

[The sound Kaneki's hand makes when he pops that knuckle is nearly uncomfortable, his eyes immediately flicking down to it. What a strange little motion. His eyes flick up from the others' hand, and he's quiet as he listens to the other talk.

He doesn't ... understand most of it. But the tone, the way he's speaking, the grim finality to his words are heavy enough to weigh on the blonde's mind, and he's reaching forward, again, to take the others' hand in his own. He draws a thumb over the middle of Kaneki's hand, settling a thumb against the knuckle the other had cracked so uncomfortably.]

You're always doin' things like that, yanno. Dealing with things yourself, leaving others in the dark so they don't have to deal with the bad things. Man, sometimes I wonder how you even manage it all, by yourself.

[He laughs, a gentle sound.]

I don't know how much you've changed, other than your hairstyle here and the way you talk--you're so serious, it's kind'a worrisome, yanno? [He flicks his eyes up, looking at Kaneki fully.] But I do know one thing.

Even if you can't 'go back to what you were'. You're back here, after all. People can change real easy, dependin' on what they go through. Whatever it is you want to do from here on.

...I'll have your back through it.

[enucleation]

[ it's fine if Hide doesn't understand. he doesn't have to. He is not part of that world. But Kaneki has pushed him away as he could from it, and he knows he can't do that, not when he himself is technically part of both. He can't push his friend away. Not anymore.

When Hide takes Kaneki's hand, he doesn't pull away, either. He watches Hide's fingers carefully, the difference between his own and the other's, and the looks up again back at his friend.

What does he want to do from here on? Not be alone? He doesn't want to be alone. Touka was right; maybe he did all of this because he couldn't bare it, to be alone, because if--- no. No. NO.

No. No no no NONo nO noNononOno-

Protect everyone. Not struggling alone, but with everyone's support, to be able to protect everyone. That's what he has been doing, even with the wrong methods, but it's always what he wanted and still wants.

To protect this person in front of him. Always.

His head hurts. hat does he want to do here? Here is not there, here there is no Rize, no Anteiku, what does he want? Protect who from what? He is tired. It's the first time he has some time to rest for a long time now and he isn't sure what "now" has to offer.

Kaneki looks away for a second to rethink, and his hand squeezes Hide's gently. ]

I miss studying. [ he does. He misses enjoying it too. ] I miss your texts. I miss Disney World- [ they have only been there once and Kaneki forgot it when he went back to his world. But right now, he misses it ]

I'm sorry I left you in the dark for so long.

[nagachika]

[When Kaneki squeezes his hand, Hide's expression warms just a little. Was it just him, or are the others' fingers a little cold? Maybe it's just the weather, but those dark nails... it wasn't nail polish. That makes his stomach churn a little. Dark bruising, trauma. Brittle, like they'd been damaged over a long period of time.

White hair. Dark nails. Pale skin, eyes that don't focus, and the way Kaneki speaks now...

Marie Antoinette Syndrome? He nods his head once.]

Remember, a few weeks before you left. You said you wanted to go back to school; right? You can start studying again. If you want, I'll even go with you. [It was weird, going to school in a place like this, but. The other was desperate for normalcy. For life to be something to enjoy again. And he'd give the other that, if he could.]

I'll text you every day, too, if you want. Even if it's just to make fun of you, or show you pictures of my nerdy roomates doing nerdy things.

Stop apologising. I forgive you already, Kaneki. So let's...

Let's just get life back on track. Alright?

[enucleation]

[ No. he can't go back to school. It's no longer there, the kaneki that would fit well at school and who wanted to be normal and human and wanted to enjoy it. He doesn't know if he can enjoy it, it has been so long.

Right now, school won't happen.

A lot of things won't happen anymore. Kaneki said he wished to go back, to what he was at Anteiku, but even so he realizes it he can't just go back. After all he did, there is no going back. There is forward and there are uncertain paths, but those small things he did to be human, they aren't really part of it.

Kaneki smiles because it's a good thought. It's kind and gentle. And Kaneki loves Hide for it. ]

There is a lot I still need to do, Hide. Even here.

[ find a way to keep everyone safe. Learn about Hornets and what this government hides. The Porter, how all the pieces fit together and going back home. All of that stills needs to be done. ]

It's fine if you don't understand but-

[ kaneki's hand - the one Hide held - moves to the other's blond hair to mess it up.

Payback. ]

I won't be disappearing, alright?

[nagachika]

[Something tells him, already, that there's no possible way they could really go to school. A lot had changed with Kaneki. His apparent determination to protect people; he couldn't do something like that while he drifted into a student's life like that, could he.

No, he couldn't.

But still; just offering it, offering the idea of something--if it could make Kaneki smile like that; a natural expression that wasn't forced like it had been only minutes ago, then it was worth it.]

...This place is a mess. I do understand. [I understand that much.] I didn't... get to tell you. [You were dead, I didn't know if you were coming back.]

You were-- [He's silenced as Kaneki's hand runs up and into his hair, his train of thought broken as that already messy hair taking on an even more hedgepig-like appearance. And he can't help but to laugh, a bright smile moving over his face. That thought he had, it had drifted away in that moment of comfort between he and his best friend. That's fine.]

--You'd better not disappear on me again. Oi, I really will die next time.

[enucleation]

[ he knows he died and he knows the place was a mess. He still needs to talk about Suzuya, but right now is not the time. He isn't sure when it'll be the right time to tell Hide to just... ignore the whole matter, not get involved in it. Kaneki will be the one to deal with this, and it's fine - he is back, whatever happened is fine (for now).

Kaneki messes the hair up just a bit further, and finally pulls his hand away ]

I'll make sure to take care of you properly. Have you eaten your carrots? [ calling Hide a rabbit isn't offensive. ]

Hey, did you know I have a parole office?

[nagachika]

[He can't help but to be mad at Juuzou. Even if yes, he understands that the Dove was the one who stopped a rampaging Kaneki and he was grateful that someone did, dismembering his best friend and showing it off for all imPorts to see was just... wrong.

It still made him sick, the image of the others' head and hands completely dismembered and taken apart...

He shakes his head when Kaneki finishes messing up his hair, and he crosses his arms over.]

Of course I have. Carrots, and these special bars Wally had me order to keep up with this crazy metabolism I'm cursed with now. [It was never offensive.]

...A parole officer? No, I didn't.

[enucleation]

[ Doves or humans don't see Ghouls as "people". They do this because ghouls "can't feel" according to them. They are just monsters.

Hunting prizes like deer heads, end up not being so different from how Doves see ghouls, except instead of the head, the Quinque is the prize. Kaneki can understand where they are coming from, honestly. ]

Wally. A person with super-speed too, correct? [ should Kaneki look into him?

No. NO. Stop that. It's fine. Breath. Hide is fine.

Wally. he will just look up the name on the network.

It's fine. It's fine, he is not wrong for worrying and he just wants to see who it is. That's it. Just glance. Not go too deep. Just look.


He goes back to the parole officer issue without making a weird pause ]

For what I have done, I am considered a criminal for this month. [ kaneki pulls his sleeve to show the now glowing red tattoo that says "CRIMINAL". ] I won't be sent to prison for I wasn't in my right mind, however, they have me monitored in several ways. [ the parole officer and the ankle monitor, that Kaneki will also show to his friend ]

[nagachika]

[It was a bias, through and through. He couldn't see Ghouls the same way doves did anymore; not now that his closest childhood friend was one. Maybe it would be a bit of a downfall; but Hide didn't care.

Besides, if there were ghouls like Touka-chan and the manager of that coffee shop, too, then, they all couldn't be so bad.]

Yeah, that's right! Wally West, I think his superhero name is Kid Flash. He's pretty great, and he rigged my shoes up so they'd not melt, either, see-- [He gestures to his new shoes, and unlike the others he'd worn beforehand, they didn't have clear signs of wear and tear.

He looks at Kaneki a little solidly, wondering if it was just him, or did Kaneki seem to be... fighting with himself, mentally.

He'll tuck it away for later, and move to look at the others' tattoo. A frown already moving over his face at the word etched there. He understood why, but. ...It didn't sit right with him.]

I'm glad you won't be imprisoned. But they're aware that it was part in fault with the Hornets, right. Ah. Is that why your 'punishment' is one that's not so harsh? [That's what he'd figure.]

So what's your parole officer's name?

[enucleation]

[ there was a time when even himself saw ghouls like that. So, even if he is now a ghoul, he understands. He has felt the same, long ago.

In any case, he commits that name to memory. Wally West, Kid Flash. Just to have a look and know the face - it's not stalking or messing with Hide's privacy if it's only seeing Wally's face, right? Ken pls

Kaneki nods instead about the punishment ] Will Graham; we used to be roomates when I first arrived here.

I suppose they can't just let me go. Besides, I was killed before they "cured me", thus they don't really know if I was truly infected or not. [ he used the "killed" word with such ease and probably doesn't even realize it. ] Like this is fine, I don't mind it.

[ he just has to play along with the government for a little while longer ]

[nagachika]

[Please don't stalk all of my new friends, Ken. I promise I make good decisions like staying away from psycho crazies and stuff. ...Mostly.]

Can't say I've met him. But I'm guessing with your tone that he's a pretty decent guy. [TBH I don't trust your judgement of people that much.]

...I guess they can't. I guess, especially. Not after how your file was anonymously flooded all over the system while you were 'dead'. [Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you didn't know this already, bud.] I know from 'fighting' with you that you weren't yourself at all. But I doubt they'll take my word, as they'll see it as 'bias'.

[He shrugs a shoulder.] It's just a month. You can definitely handle that. Right? [He grins.]

[enucleation]

[ it's not stalking!!! Just... getting to know their faces and their ID's and their voices and you know NORMAL THINGS FRIENDS DO. ]

I don't know if he is a decent guy. I enjoy talking to him. [ he has a nice dog, too. ] But I enjoyed talking to Rize-san, as well. [ YEAH. Let's not even begin to mention Tsukiyama; not that he enjoys talking to that person per se. ]

I know about the file leak. I don't care. [ wow, right? Because before, he did. Like a lot. He freaked out about it, but right now, he is going to take a pragmatic leap here and possibly do what Annie and Reiner once did: tell everyone what he is. In his own words. Suzuya made sure to tell the world what he was, and it's Kaneki's turn to give a more sensible and less gore-ish explanation ] It no longer matters if they know or not. Not in this world, anyway.

And a month is nothing.

[ liar. With a month, he could be doing so much, instead of being under the government's telescope. And the next few following months, Kaneki still has to be under the government's thumb to show them he is not a threat. He knows he can't just cut off ties right after his parole is done - he has to show them he is going to behave even after that first month.

It's wasted time. it annoys him, but he will be gathering information some other way - that's why he has Nishi. That's why he will be trying to get more people than just Nishi, too.

And that's why he won't be telling anyone where he is living right now. Sorry, Hide. ]

Hide- you said I was missing few months, back home. How many months did I go missing? [ he needs to pinpoint Hideyoshi's exact time point. ]

[nagachika]

[...'I know about the file leak. I don't care.' above most else, it's these words that shock him. Before, Kaneki would have been devastated--no, traumatized that his personal dealings were spread all over public forum. For him to not blink so much as an eye...

It really hit Hide now, exactly how much his best friend has changed. The sheer amount he must have gone through, just to no longer care about something so dire as that. His fingers squeeze a little Kaneki's wrist, folding into the material of his sleeve to keep from pinching the other.

He doesn't even want to touch the bit about 'Rize'.]

It was going on perhaps four by the time I wound up here. You were gone for about three weeks--maybe a bit more before there was this big raid on Aoigiri Tree's hideout.

...My fault, by the way, that that happened.

I had a feeling you were in there for my own reasons, and I expected that once everything went down, you might re-appear. You... didn't. [There's... definitely more to that. But he's not sure how to tell the other straight out how he was on his way to worming himself into the CCG.]

[enucleation]

[ the biggest danger is Suzuya, and he already knows. it doesn't matter anymore, it's not something he can change, but it's something he can attempt to salvage. Suzuya's little display has helped him with that, too, all he has to do is to try to make the best out of this and address things with logic. An emotional response won't help him right now, or anyone.

Kaneki's mind races as he hears Hide. Three weeks after the Aogiri Raid and the Cochlea raid. Kaneki was searching for Rize's and Dr. kanou's whereabouts then? Shachi, he was getting in contact with the group of the 6th ward. The CCG- what cases were they working on, that time?

But he stops when he hears Hide saying it was his fault. Hide, what were you doing?

No, actually- ] I have to thank you for that, then. [ Kaneki smiles at his friend. He will never tell him what happened back then, those days he was at the Aogiri hideout, but it was thanks to that raid that Anteiku was able to sneak in and Kaneki was able to escape along with Banjou and everyone else without any other causalities on his part ] I wasn't there because I wanted to.

[ that's all he will say, but yes, Ken was kidnapped. He didn't go on his own accord. And the raid saved him in a way, even though he was the one plucking out Yamori by himself.

Kaneki already knows Hide was working with (for?) the CCG, but he is curious to how much his friend knew ] ... you told me before, there were rumors at the CCG about an 'Eyepatch' ghoul. Did you have any access to any case? [ he is sorry; he is not trying to use Hide to gather information but- he knows he shouldn't be doing this, he knows. Kaneki avoids looking at Hide for a moment and shakes his head after. Forget the last question, it doesn't matter ]

Do you know anything about Dr. Kanou? [ he hates doing this. He does. ] I'm not questioning you, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. [ as if saying this would make it better. ]

[nagachika]

[His smile is flickering upward, by just a bit. He doesn't have a clue-in to Kaneki's personal thoughts, but at the very least he's sure of one thing; and it's that no matter how much had changed, Kaneki was still his friend. The most important person in his entire life--he was still standing in front of him, despite all the hell he'd been dragged and running through up until now.]

Heeeeeh. Here I thought you'd scold me for it. But if you're thanking me for it, then I feel twice as good about it. [And it showed on his face, too.] That big blonde guy I stuck a tracker to. He just... gave me an awful feeling. And if you were in there against your will. As I now know for sure you were, then.

I guess It was a good thing my gut told me what to do, then.

[Finally, he's going to let go of Kaneki's hand. He seems almost hesitant to do so, but his fingers are reaching up to tap the side of his own head as Kaneki prodded him with questions. He didn't mind--he really didn't. He'd become a gopher for the CCG for the exact reason of helping the other; why would he hold back information now?]

I didn't have much access. But I'd be lying if I wasn't in the habit of reading over Investigator's shoulders and taking a peek at certain papers I was assigned to deliver. [Your best friend is an investigative nightmare.]

'Eyepatch' was on their watch list for a long time. Under a huge questionmark. They didn't have any idea who 'he' was. [But Hide did. And he hadn't told them quite yet that he knew, either.] As for Dr. Kanou... his name was one I was actually keeping an eye out for. Unfortunately, dealings with him were extremely hush-hush.

All I know is they were looking for a hidden lab of his. Furthur than that... I've got nothing. Sorry, bud.

[enucleation]

I do want to scold you. [ honestly, after all kaneki has done? Can he really complain? Well, he can- ] I told you it was dangerous before I was Ported out. I still think it's something you shouldn't have meddled with but-[ it helped. A lot.

Kaneki isn't very sure he if should congratulate his friend, though ] ... the reason why I kept away was so I wouldn't bring you into that sort of world, Hide. I want to protect you, I want to keep you safe. [ but Hide decided to go right to the CCG and get involved with it by his neck. Kaneki already knew from the time he spent in this world, thankfully, else his reaction would have been different. ]

You don't have do do that sort of thing anymore. [ Kaneki will handle it. He knows he can't do everything alone, but he has to keep Hide safe.

When Hide lets go of his hand, his eyes looks down. He realizes how warm it was.

Nevermind.

Kaneki nods at the information. It's not much, but it's still information he appreciates nonetheless. There are other questions he has and since Hide mentioned he peeked over Investigator's shoulders, he might as well ask ] Rize-san is a Ghoul they gave the name of "Binge Eater". [ this is Hide, he doesn't matter telling him this information, even if it's information he should give to most people. And yes, Kaneki is using present tense. "Is", not "was"; Rize is alive. ] What did they know about her?

[nagachika]

...Heh. There we go. [Despite being told he was doing something 'wrong', he can't help but to laugh. That's the Kaneki he knows. And it's just that much more comforting, hearing it in his voice.]

--I don't regret it. Doing what I did at the time. I'd... probably make the same move a thousand times over. [Even if he knew that it resulted in a lot of deaths on that day; both Ghouls and CCG members.]

I got you back, here. And I know where you're at, now, too. So long as I have a way of finding you, I won't do anything that'll endanger my life. [I won't do that sort of thing anymore.] You got that promise from me.

[There's no promise he won't return to it, however, if they ever go home.]

...Binge-Eater. There's a lot on that one, too. 20th Ward, mass-murdering ghoul that they'd suspected being female. Preyed mostly on young men. [It really did sound like Rize, after all. He notes the present tense, and makes a point of questioning it later.] She's also listed as 'inactive', as her pattern of killing had stopped... around the same time you got hospitalised. So that explains it. She got killed.

[A beat.]

Or rather, she 'disappeared.' [She's not dead, is she.]

[enucleation]

[ if Hide had been part of it, he would have changed his opinion on the matter. But thankfully he wasn't and thankfully Kaneki doesn't have to tell him about it. He never will. Only knowing the basics of it is just the right amount of information Hide needs.

Kaneki smiles and commits to memory this conversation. if necessary, he will remind Hide of it, because he has a feeling sometimes he will have to remind him. Or at least force Hide to membered it himself: getting in the way of a hungry ghoul possessed by a terrorist is NOT how you keep that promise, Hide. Don't forget that.

Rize is inactive because she was held by Kanou. Should he tell his friend about this? Kaneki opts not to because it's a ghoul matter and a world the other shouldn't be diving into. He will, however, confirm it: ] Rize is alive. I'm sorry, I won't tell you more than this. [ Hide doesn't really need to know that Kanou used her to make more hybrids. It's not a matter most need to know, either.

Because it's a completely fucked up thing. And again, it's a world Kaneki wants to avoid his friend getting into. ]

... what about the "Rabbit"? [ he has to ask about Touka. ]

[nagachika]

[Getting in the way of a hungry terrorist was not keeping any promises at all; but at least he'd kept one and got the hell out of there while he was still in pretty good shape. ...Other than having to hold his side to keep certain parts from falling out before his healing factor stitched him up.

His expression falters a little when his question is answered. Rize is still alive. How was that even possible, wasn't she used to...? 'I won't tell you more than this.' The frustration shows on Hide's face, but.

Kaneki wasn't going to tell him anything else; no matter how he pushed, Kaneki wasn't going to change his position on this, and he knew that.]

There was a report on the 'Rabbit' for sure. That's the ghoul that saved 'The Daughter' and was responsible for the death of Investigator Mado. [He'd overheard Amon speaking about his old boss a few times, after all.]

From what I heard from Seidou-san, Mado's daughter thinks that there are two different rabbits, though. Whatever that's supposed to mean.

[enucleation]

[ Kaneki knows it's frustrating not having every question laid out to you; after all, that's what has been happening to him. But he really can't bring Hide into this. And if Suzuya, for some reason, decides he can interrogate Hide under the basis that he is Ken's friend, Kaneki can't allow that information to escape. Even if, in the end, it wouldn't matter exactly because they forget everything once they are returned to their world.

But still. Who knows what might happen. Hide can't be brought into this, he can't.

The information on the rabbit is good, because it backs up Kaneki's own thoughts on it.Of course it wouldn't be Touka, Kaneki didn't believe it when Itori-san told him and he knew why now. A second rabbit made sense and it fit perfectly (though Kaneki will have to ask Touka directly for confirmation). Who was it, then...? Ayato-kun? Why? There are no leads to the rabbit (the original), so maybe Ayato is trying to keep CCG's eyes off Touka? It's possible.And "The Daughter" (Hinami-chan) is also safe, at least for now, since she is on the move with Kaneki's group.

Kaneki pauses again, thinking things through.

A thought crosses his mind. ]

... and the Gourmet? [ because he doesn't have an eye on Tsukiyama all the time and though Kaneki made it clear he'd kill him if he did anything unnecessary, he doesn't know the other's movements. In a way, he is giving Hide plenty of information - the ghouls he knows and the ghouls he deals with to some extent. Even if not downright saying "I'm working with these people", it's obvious Kaneki knows them and is, at least, keeping an eye on them.

It's fine if Hide knows.

And if they arrive... should Hide know who they are, as well? Kaneki has to think about that, too. ]

[nagachika]

[He wouldn't force anything. Not now, not after finally getting Kaneki back after being worried about him being 'dead' for good. He wants answers--but pushing them out of the other right now would not only be the wrong approach, but he'd just spook the other, wouldn't he. What with how quiet and avoidant he was already being, he didn't want to make matters worse.

Part of him wishes he had spent a little more time at the CCG before coming here, now, if only for the fact that he could have dug up more information for the other that he didn't already have. Akira had already started cluing into how 'intuitive' Seidou's Intern was, so poking around without drawing too much attention was hard.

All the same...]

All of the Gourmet's actions within the 20th ward have disappeared for a while now. With the emergence of a 'Ghoul Restaurant' being destroyed from the inside out, it was speculated that The Gourmet is either moved and in hiding, or he was killed.

[He's not hiding or dead, is he? He's one of your acquaintances. Otherwise, you wouldn't be asking about 'the Rabbit' and 'the Gourmet'.

He looks right at Kaneki, something of a smile on his face. He wished he had his notebook on him. Unfortunately, he didn't.]

[enucleation]

[ So Tsukiyama is no longer hunting around and being the obnoxious trash he is; at least three months ago. The pattern may have changed, but Kaneki can deal with three months, he supposes. Tsukiyama is a dangerous ghoul, but he won't get the rank Kaneki got from the CCG after he went kakuja on an investigator. He is silent, watching Hideyoshi for a moment, and ponders if he should tell him, how dangerous Kaneki got. he asks himself if he should tell him anything.

but right now he is also thinking, what if someone else shows up. What if it's an investigator, or Tsukiyama or Banjou? Kaneki will have to explain then what he wants to keep Hide out of. Does he have to explain, does he have to tell? telling Hide isn't bringing him into it, but he could try to get tangled in that world - Kaneki fears that the most.

He has friends and support and he has told himself he couldn't do everything alone, but Hide is still human.

Kaneki's eye moves away to look at the ground while his mind races. His fingers itch and he isn't sure what the next step is. Suzuya met him back at the laboratory, so Suzuya knows the ranking Kaneki got after that. Suzuya can easilly tell Hide that his best friend is a SS ranked ghoul and such ranking means most investigators wouldn't want to face someone like Ken. he is dangerous.

very.

Should he let Hide hear this from someone else? It's not wise, of course not, specially because whatever he ehars from others will be biased. Ghouls will tell him "Kaneki is strong, that's why he is dangerous" and CCG will tell him "He is monstrous, that's why he is dangerous". And Honestly, kanki wonders which one is right or wrong. Both are right, he supposes.

he should tell Hide ]

I'm from three months or so ahead of you. And the CCG no longer calls me "Eyepatch"; instead, I'm "Centipede". [ Hide might have noticed a post to the network under that name, recently ]

I'm a SS Ranked Ghoul, Hide.