Tokyo Ghoul : Rise of The Spider

[Lisianthus]

Seira

---

Location:CCG Building || Interactions: N/A

By the time Seira had finished the necessary reports and paperworks her superior had made her do, she was the only one left in the CCG building. She rubbed her eyes, and yawned and she looked up at the wall clock. She blinked in disbelief. Midnight. She had never gone back this late before.
She stretched her torso, loosening her muscles as she stood up. She cleaned her desk and placed the paperwork on her superior's before she slung her bag.
Not long afterwards, Seira stepped out of the building and took a deep breath, intending to inhale the crisp scent of night air. But what assaulted her nose was not what she expected. Blood. It was so strong that her nose crinkled. She raised a hand to cover her nose and she scanned the vicinity for anything out of place.
As her eyes adjusted to the night, she spotted a metallic shine near the side of the entrance. Head cocked, she made her move towards it, before she froze and paled. The coin. She would recognise it anywhere. She knew who it was. And she wondered why he'd do so.
Her fingers curled into her palm, nails digging into the skin. She breathed through her nose, her lips pursed. The events that happened years ago, when she was only 6 flashed in her mind. Her body began to tremble and shake. Her knees wobbled. She sank into the ground, burying her face in her hands.
Calm down. Calm down. Finally. He gave a lead. He wanted to play. She'll play. With a shaky breath, she looked up, having convinced herself that she could do this. She had after all, been trailing after him. This was the reason she became a dove in the first place. This was her only chance.

 

[The Morrighan]

CO-AUTHOR : @Phaedra

Ayako beamed at Akira - the first real smile she'd had in far, far too long - before her face even recognized the expression. Ever since she was a little kid, she'd always wanted to adopt a cat. She'd seen the precious little things roaming the streets in Osaka, and had begged her parents incessantly to bring one home. They'd never relented, much her her chagrin. Mom had been strict on the no-pets rule, and dad had agreed that animals had no place in their world.

But Ayako had never stopped loving them, or telling herself that she'd have one to care for some day down the road.

"I love cats! I've never actually been around one, or held one, but I've always thought they were just the cutest little things. Do you think I could pet one? Are cats scared of ghouls?"

That was when Akira laughed, and the sound of it made something inside of the ghoul - a part she'd thought long gone - wake up. Akira's laugh was breathy, light, and young. Ayako couldn't help but stare, couldn't help but move a little closer.

Seeing her come closer, Akira tensed the smallest bit, only to relax so quickly it might have been a trick of the light. She smiled, a soft little grin that held the remnant of her laughter.

"I'm sure they'll love you," her companion assured lightly, her voice softening almost to a whisper now that Ayako was standing so close.

So close, and yet she still couldn't see her face.

"Your mask," Ayako blurted before she could stop herself. "it looks like a cat. You must really like them, right? It's really cu - pretty! It's really pretty..."

Oh fuck that was awkward. Nice going, Ayako, you really nailed that interaction, you fucking useless sack of flesh.

But Akira only grinned and breathed out a soft, pretty little laugh. Then, with the barest pause of hesitation, she took off her mask and offered it to the taller girl.

Ayako took it without even really looking at it, her eyes fixated on the beauty in front of her. She'd expected a pretty face, but everything about Akira was just so...gentle? Her eyes were bigger than they'd appeared through the mask, and in the midnight light their color seemed chameleon. All of her features were poised, delicate, and yet she looked like someone alive. Someone with a hell of a lot more to promise the world than blood and fear and skin.

For a moment, she thought she'd run, but then she heard the sweet sound of the bells coming from her shaking hands.

Bells? Right, she'd noticed them before, but forgotten them almost instantly as soon as she'd heard the woman speak.

Unable to resist the temptation, she gave the mask a little shake, listening to the bells sing.

She smiled at the sound, albeit a bit sadly. The mask was beautiful, something her younger self would have loved. Her fingers traced the painted patterns lightly, almost reverently. To hold another's mask was to hold their trust.

"It suits you," she told Akira with the best approximation of a smile she could conjure. "Though I must admit that it doesn't do your true face justice. You're very pretty, Akira. Are...are you sure you wouldn't mind helping me? We've only just met. What if I were dangerous?"

Akira only shook her head, still wearing that little smile.

"You aren't dangerous, Ayako. I could tell the moment you first spoke. Now come on, it's getting late. We should be getting home, don't you think?"

Home. Was that what this woman - this stranger - was offering? Not a place to spend a night. Not some last-resort, but a home? A friend?

Ayako handed back the mask.

"I don't have one yet. I'll follow from the shadows."

With a wink, her companion donned the mask. "Let's hope you can keep up, Spider."

Then she summoned her kagune - which Ayako was only beginning to realize was beautiful - and sprang into the air with a giggle.

Ayako wasted no time in bringing out her legs and giving chase, following her through the city via shadows and rooftops, her laughter echoing through the darkness that felt - for the first time - far, far away.​

 

[Ariel]

Aoyama Retsuko​

Retsuko drank off the dregs of the broth before tossing the cardboard bowl into the trash. Combini oden wasn't the biggest taste sensation around, but it was cheap, it was hot, it was salty and it was filling. It settled her queasiness, the result of too many coffees and energy drinks on an empty stomach. She would have had a couple of bottles of sake too, if she hadn't been meaning to ride.

But ride she did. She had her commuter bike tonight, the Z650, rather than her beloved Ninja H2, but even the stripped-down Kawasaki streetfighter was a fun ride on empty city streets. In the middle of the night, the cops didn't bother lone bikers - too much trouble just to give someone a ticket. They might break up a bosozoku gang meeting if they got intel on it, but a single rider was beneath their notice. So as long as you stayed discreet you could recreate the Manx TT on the streets of Tokyo if you wanted to.

Riding was her release, the one thing that really made her feel at peace with herself. She could calm herself with booze, but it made her slow, sluggish. Only when she was riding did she feel really alive. Not even fighting a ghoul gave her that same serene tension.

And did she need that release right now. Old Man Kirosawa had called a morning meeting, and the agenda wasn't going to be a surprise. They were going to run some kind of op on the 13th Ward, and so Retsuko had called up every file available, every piece of intel that the CCG had gathered on every last ghoul in the 13th as well as all the adjacent wards. Reams of documentation, reports, enough to make your mind reel. Retsuko had devoured as much of it as she could, in her steady, unwavering manner. She didn't have the kind of brilliant analytical mind that would immediately see the big key to the cases - she had to work through them methodically, grind through it all, worry down every last detail.

The thing about Retsuko was that she would.

A lot of investigators would get turned off by the sheer volume of work, start trying to cut corners - go by gut feel or just start running around breaking things. It took a special kind of iron in the soul to simply sift patiently through all the reports until you actually built up the picture enough to nail your target.

But just going through the papers wasn't enough either. You had to process them, let your mind work on them, turn data into information, information into knowledge, knowledge into intelligence. Only when you had done that did you have something you could act on.

So riding was a part of that. It let Retsuko empty her mind, blow out the chaff, hone down everything she'd learned until she could focus on a single face, a name, a modus operandi. And then track it down like a hunting dog, to the ends of the earth if it was necessary.

That was how she worked, and why she kept a set of leathers in her locker.

She rode, and kept riding till the dawn. Until it was time to get back to the office, and hear what Old Man Kirosawa had to say. It wasn't going to be a surprise.

 

[RiddL]

Karuido
​

Karuido sat on the edge of a hotel rooftop, his mask atop his face as he enjoyed the quiet of the night, the distant sound of vehicles too far away to really disturb him, he took in a deep breath, catching the scent of someone he knew and didn't budge an inch, merely saying, "Well then, did they take the bait little pup?"

He slowly craned his neck to the side, his eyes bearing down on the ghoul before him, a youth of in his teens knelt down before him, not daring making eye contact with the Alpha, for fear of provoking the intimidating figure before him, though respect overcame the young hunters fear as he replied "Yes Chief, a young woman picked up the package you left for them, she appeared to break down into tears at the sight of the mark rather than the head itself. She seems to have a history with you sir."

Karuido kept silent as he thought about any young women in the CCG that he may have a history with before shaking his head with a bitter smile, he'd hunted hundreds of Doves, there was no way to know who the trigger for the young girls breakdown was. It didn't matter, he already had his plans now that there was a little lamb around.

He rose to his feet, looking down the many floors beneath him before a wicked grin flashed across his face, a chuckle came from beneath the mask, scaring his subordinate and making him back away slowly, before a voice came to him, the smile could be felt though the voice was no longer than Karuido, but The Hunter, the dreaded fiend of the 2nd Ward, the animal that hunted for the thrill, "Spread word to the Dominion, tell them that this ward is restricted to SS rated and above, the rest are to spread elsewhere, this is now my hunting ground, also inform the local ghoul societies of my arrival"

Without a reply, the ghoul bowed his head to the Alpha, turning and sprinting to the opposite end of the building, leaping off and disappearing, leaving The Hunter to calm himself back down and sit on the edge again, thinking that this might be more entertaining than he previously thought.

 

[The Morrighan]

Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Beep, Be -

He silenced the alarm clock with a soft grumble, peaking over to where Kyoko slept on. Careful not to jostle her, Takuya got up and walked over to the closet to grab his clothes. He owned three different types of shirts, all in various shades of grey or brown. For work, though, he usually just donned a simple button down, some good trousers, and his trusty long coat. A glance at his phone's weather app told him that a scarf might be in order as well, since they were getting into the meat of autumn.

Halloween was just around the corner - a ridiculous western holiday that had become increasingly popular with the public in the last twenty years - and he knew exactly what that meant for the CCG.

Chaos.

Another reason Ill be needing a partner.

With a sigh, the man got dressed, using the familiarity of the movements to ground himself before the events of the day. He couldn't allow doubt to creep in, not when there was so much at stake. People's lives depended on him keeping a level head, so he would do his job and do it well. Subject 13 needed to be recaptured, The Hunter was circling around the ward again, and The Jackal - or Gourmet - was causing a stir with all her recent killings. Things were heating up, and soon they'd be overwhelmed unless something was done now. Doubt wasn't an option.

So Takuya gave his wife the lightest kiss upon her brow, grabbed his things, and left for Headquarters.

The drive wasn't long, thankfully, from his home. He and Kyoko had moved closer to his work seven years ago, both for the convenience as well as the piece of mind he felt having her closer to him during the day. Their old house was in what had become Jackal's territory, and he refused to allow even the possibility of his wife crossing her path. With her safe, Takuya was able to focus on work and on protect the lives of the investigators under him.

As Takuya drove through the security gates, he greeted the guards posted at the various intervals, offering small waves to some and even exchanging brief conversations with others. They smiled as he drove past, towards the same parking spot he claimed every morning without fail. He was old, and therefore a creature of habit. He noticed a familiar-looking sports car parked across the way from him, and couldn't help but chuckle. These young people.

The office was already bustling with people, most of them pausing to greet him as he made his towards his office. He said his "good morning" s, but quickly. He needed to get everything ready for the briefing, and he was running a little late after last night. With a yawn, he unlocked the door to his office, shrugging off his coat to hang on the hook beside his door. His computer was up and running in minutes, and one of the junior Investigators brought him a cup of coffee. Not a bad morning. He made his preparations quickly, double-checking his files and the slides he'd prepared for the briefing.

Before he knew it, an hour had passed. It was time to get everyone together.

He got up and made his way into the briefing room, taking his place at the small podium in front of the large projector screen that took up most of the wall behind him. His slides and files were already ready to go. All that was left for him to do was watch the room fill up.

So why did he feel like everything was about to change?
​

 

[Lisianthus]

Flamenco

Miura Seira

Location: || Interaction:

Seira was unable to fall asleep. Nightmares plagued her. With the discovery that the Hunter was now in the 13th ward, She couldn't breathe. She sobbed, and screamed, an attempt to ease the restrictive feeling settling in her chest. For the whole night, she tossed and turned in hee bed, her pillow soaked with her tears and sweat.
Deciding not to waste anymore time, Seira took a quick shower and headed straight for the CCG building. She dropped off the head at the forensics, to let them run some tests and confirm the identity. Whilst she waited, she called security to gain footage of what she suspected to be the timing the head was dropped of. She spent hours on the computer to try and retrieve information of the ghoul from the second ward well till dawn. It was only when the meeting was called did she stop.
Driven by her vengeance, Seira could not stop now. He haunted her all her life. She needed to end this.

 

[Phaedra]

Akira POV​

Once Akira and Ayako had made it back to her two bedroom apartment, she had laid out a new bedroll for her before they'd eventually hit the sack. Akira wasn't sure if Ayako awoke some mornings, but she did, having a small paying job to keep this roof over her head. Today was one of those days she needed to work.

The female ghoul stretched her body like a cat, letting out a soft groan as her hands curling into fists, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she groggily dragged herself out of bed, making sure to neaten it up before sluggishly making her way to the kitchen. First things first, feed the cats and then a cup of hot coffee. She reached into the cupboards of the kitchen, pulling out two tins of wet food as well as a box of kibble to place healthy amounts into each bowl, half wet and half dry for the mornings before placing them into the floor as the cats alerted her immediately of their presence, once again thanking her with their delicate cries. No matter what, your pets would always love you, that's what she liked about them, they cared not for what she was but simply that she took care of them, and honestly? They took care of her too sometimes. They were great for morale.

Akira soon turned on the small electric kettle, boiling the water inside of it as she grabbed her favourite mug, which was covered in little doodles of cats. It was cute. She made her instant coffee before rummaging around her living room, the apartment being open floor plan, save for the bedrooms and the bathroom.
Once she found what she was looking for, she sat down to sip at her piping hot coffee, a free hand grabbing the pen and pink sticky notes as she wrote a small message to Ayako. 'Help yourself to the coffee, I've gone out to a job. Be back soon. If you need to contact me for any reason, my number is ***********.' She peeled her finished note from the pile and proceeded to slap it against an empty and bare fridge. Hopefully when, and if she woke up, she'd see that and just do whatever.

Once she had finished her coffee, she'd move to the bathroom to get ready for the day, a lavender colour turtleneck sweater along with a grey pleated skirt adorned with black thigh eye socks and some thick black ankle boots. She tied her hair up into a messy bun, a few strands resting on the sides of her face like a delicate frame before heading out into the world, with nothing but herself and a phone. She locked the front door behind her, leaving a spare key on the kitchen table just in case Ayako wanted to leave. Thank God she always kept one just in case.

It didn't take her long to walk the streets and make her way to a small antique store, owned and run by a little old lady who was nice to her overall, despite being able to have hired her own flesh and blood, she allowed Akira to help her in her old age. The woman and herself would chat about mundane things for the majority of the day whilst Akira kept the place clean and pristine so that customers would be welcomed into a warm and comforting place filled with beautiful and unique antiques. It truly was a lovely place to work, even for a Ghoul.

 

[RiddL]

Karuido
​

Karuido sat at one of the ghoul affiliated coffee houses, enjoying the strongest brew that they had, rolling the black nectar around his tongue before letting the hot liquid go smoothly down his throat. Watching as human walked by on their meaningless tasks.

His eyes constantly darted to the CCG agency across the street, the main reason he chose this cafe was because it was in such a dangerous location, plus the odd agent would come in and accidentally spill information that would in turn be used against them, but for now he sat there, enjoying his coffee with a soft smile on his face, looking nothing like the killer he was at night.

 

[The Morrighan]

Something was on top of her.

The moment Ayako's body became aware of it, her eyes shot open - her actual eyes - to see a black, furry face nose to nose with her.

"GAH!" Ayako sat up with a start, causing the small creature to jump back with a viscous little noise and bolt out of the room. "Ah, wait! Shit!"

A cat. She'd gotten scared of a cat. Now the poor thing was likely terrified. Her first day in Akira's home and she'd already made a mess of things by scarring one of her pets for life. Fantastic.

She guessed she'd better find the other girl and apologize. Maybe she should find the cat as well and try to make peace somehow. If that was something people did. Fuck, she'd figure it out one way or another. Either way, she owed it an apology for freaking it out when it had only been looking at her.

Ayako stood from her little bedroll, her eyes taking in the room Akira had given her. It was huge compared to her cell, and even had a window! Of course, there wasn't much of a view, but having the easy exit, as well as a source of natural light, would be invaluable when she had nightmares. It didn't have much furniture yet, only a small table and an old rug that was still rolled up in the corner. She'd need to get a bed, and probably a dresser since the tiny closet was already full of Akira's summer clothes. Of course, that would mean finding some way to make money, which would be a bitch considering that any record of her could lead to her being recaptured. No, she just had to work under the table or through some local ghouls.

Maybe Akira could help.

With that thought, the ghoul ran her fingers through her hair to tidy it as much as she could before venturing out into the apartment.

She hadn't really seen much of it the night before, both because of the dark and because she'd been too tired to bother looking around. However, in the daytime she could tell that Akira really hadn't been there long. There was practically no furniture, and what few things she did have were practical and held little personality. The walls and floors were bare, and the only room that had much in it was - ironically - the kitchen. There were a few litter boxes in one corner of the empty living room, a single cat tree that looked close to falling apart, and a beat up TV that was switched onto the local news.

Still, it had potential.

"Meow?"

Ayako looked down to find one of the cats - the one with the pretty patches of orange and black - staring up at her inquisitively. Careful to move slowly, the girl sat cross-legged on the floor and stared back. She had no clue how she was supposed to greet a cat. Was she supposed to pet it, or let it come to her? Would it be offended it she stared too long?

The cat - male judging by the scent - merely meowed again, moving a little closer to sniff at her bare toes. Unsure of what to do, Ayako sat completely still, watching the creature with wide, red eyes. She'd never been this close to a cat - excluding her freak-out before in the bedroom - and had to resist the urge to reach out and feel his soft fur.

"Please don't be scared of me, precious," she murmured. "I promise I'm friendly."

The cat looked up at the sound the her voice, and Ayako realized that he wasn't afraid. She was so used to humans seeing her red eyes and fleeing in terror, but this little creature saw them and did not mind one bit.

Ayako smiled down at her little companion, and then watched with awe as he rubbed up against the ghoul's leg, a soft noise coming from his throat. It was the strangest sound she'd ever heard, but very soothing for some reason. With nervous fingers, she reached out and ran her hand along the cat's spine, marveling at the soft fur. For a long while, the two sat enjoying one another's company, but eventually Ayako realized that she hadn't heard Akira at all since waking up.

She stood up with a soft apology to her new friend, then padded into the kitchen where Akira's scent was the strongest. That's when she saw the little note, which she read with only a small amount of horror. Ayako didn't have a phone. She didn't have much of anything. No mask, no phone, and no money.

Nothing to offer in exchange for Akira's kindness.

"Fuck..."

She needed to figure something out, some way she could make money. He face was all over the news, she bet, and all the Doves would be looking for her in no time once word got out she'd come to 13.

"-released a description of the escaped inmate ; a young woman with long, black hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen in downtown Shibuya wearing dark clothes and carrying a grey backpack. If found, do not approach her, as she is believed to be armed and dangerous. As always, we will update as the police released more information about this dangerous drug-dealer."

Ayako couldn't help but laugh at the woman on the TV screen, despite the fact that this meant the CCG were on her trail.

A fucking drug dealer? That's the best the cowards could come up with?

Ayako shook her head and made her way into the only bathroom to clean herself up. She'd gotten herself a toothbrush shortly after escaping, thankfully, so she'd already had one in her bag. As for toiletries, she'd showered when and where she could the last three months. Having the freedom to bath in an actual tub was beyond amazing. She'd love to take one now but...

Now that people were going to be looking for her, she needed to do something to throw even the smallest stone under their feet. Frowning, Ayako looked at her self in the mirror, blinking her red eyes away in favor of the hazel ones the whole damn city now knew to look for. She could get contacts, maybe, or wear sunglasses. As for her hair...

It would have to go.

There was a pair of scissors in the kitchen, and a mirror to use so she didn't totally fuck herself up.

So Ayako got the scissors and used the brush she'd stolen a while back to smooth her hair. Then, keeping the scissors as straight as possible, she started cutting and watched as the girl who'd rotted away in that cell fell to the floor in a dark pile.​

 

[Phaedra]

Akira POV​

Akira worked for several hours at the Antique Store with the elderly woman called Yoko, who was sweet and kind and most enjoyable to be around as she told her stories from before she ever came to Tokyo, let alone was born. She had human wisdom to share and it intrigued her, listening to her every word with interest as she kept the store clean and running for whenever Yoko got a new customer. Sometimes the shifts could be boring when she was by herself, but on days Yoko was in tending to her store, those were the most fun for Akira.

Once her shift had ended it was late afternoon, waving her goodbyes to Yoko before closing the store door behind her, leaving the little old lady to her own devices, which were books and polishing trinkets. Akira walked back to her home with a slight spring in her step, whistling softly to herself as she made her way back to their apartment building, climbing the stairs until she finally reached her numbered door, 203. She'd pull her keys from her small bag, the metal rustling together as she fidgeted with the dodgy lock for a moment before letting herself in, being greeted by a few cats as she called out with a smile upon her face. "I'm home!~"

 

[The Morrighan]

Seeing the room fill up with investigators, most of them pausing to say their hellos before taking their seats, made Takuya feel a bit more at ease. Ward 13 may be on the rise in ghoul activity, but he was confident that these men and women could handle it. After all, it was their job.

"Alright, everyone," he began, pulling up his slides on "As many of you may already be aware, this ward has been seeing a steady increase in ghoul activity over the last six months. Jackal - aka The Gourmet - has already shown herself to be a real threat to the population since she began expanding her territory. We've received reports of another two victims just a week apart, both having only certain organs or muscles removed before being dumped. I want a pair on this one, and no rookies either. I haven't decided yet on who should be assigned this case, so if you think you've got the guts come find me when we're done."

Agents took notes, nodding to one another as a few people murmured softly to one another about the case.

Takuya pulled up another slide that showed an image of a young woman with long black hair and hazel eyes, their depths utterly empty even as she smiled plaintively towards the camera in her plain white uniform. She held a slate that read "Subject 13" in bold, black letters.

"Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, are the reports on an escaped subject from the research facility in Ward 7. She is young, healthy, and very, very dangerous.This is her second successful escape, and the last time she managed to evade capture for nearly 11 months before investigators caught up with her in the 9th Ward. She was last seen at a train station in downtown Shibuya, and no reports of her leaving have come down to us. This means that she may be intending to stay here, as she usually makes her way into the neighboring ward within 12 hours. I have decided to handle this case myself, but I want Retsuko with me. As for the rest of you, keep up with your assignments and bring any intel you find on our S+ residents directly to me. That is all."

Takuya watched the room empty out, leaving only a few Investigators left to watch him approach Aoyama.

"Meet me in my office in ten minutes, we have a lot to talk about."

Then he turned and walked away without another word, his expression hard even as he felt his hands shake in his pockets. He hoped this one would be better.​

 

[Ariel]

Takuya pulled up another slide that showed an image of a young woman with long black hair and hazel eyes, their depths utterly empty even as she smiled plaintively towards the camera in her plain white uniform. She held a slate that read "Subject 13" in bold, black letters.

"Secondly, and perhaps even more importantly, are the reports on an escaped subject from the research facility in Ward 7. She is young, healthy, and very, very dangerous.This is her second successful escape, and the last time she managed to evade capture for nearly 11 months before investigators caught up with her in the 9th Ward. She was last seen at a train station in downtown Shibuya, and no reports of her leaving have come down to us. This means that she may be intending to stay here, as she usually makes her way into the neighboring ward within 12 hours. I have decided to handle this case myself, but I want Retsuko with me. As for the rest of you, keep up with your assignments and bring any intel you find on our S+ residents directly to me. That is all."

Takuya watched the room empty out, leaving only a few Investigators left to watch him approach Aoyama.

"Meet me in my office in ten minutes, we have a lot to talk about."

Then he turned and walked away without another word, his expression hard even as he felt his hands shake in his pockets. He hoped this one would be better.​

Aoyama Retsuko​

Retsuko had been the first in the briefing room. Not that much of an accomplishment, given that she'd ridden back to the office and grabbed a shower, a catnap and a coffee before coming in to review her files. The Jackal she knew well enough from this distance; a known quantity, with a familiar MO and routine. Dangerous on the collar, but you could build a team to take her down without too much risk.

Subject 13, on the other hand... it was odd how little the documentation had on her, and how strangely specific some of that little was. Almost as if chunks of data had been redacted, by someone who had something to hide. It would be a bit paranoid to think that, but - well, Retsuko hadn't got as far as she had by being either credulous or sloppy. She didn't have the insight to make the connections right away, but she would worry away at it like a bloodhound until the patterns appeared.

So Retsuko was pleased, but not surprised, that the Old Man had picked her out of the Investigators to work with him on the case. He knew all his subordinates like the back of his hand, and while there were quite a few on the ward who were stronger than her, or smarter, nobody else had quite the same knack of getting into the heads of the ghouls they were hunting. Retsuko had a strong suspicion that Kirosawa worked like that too. He certainly put in the hours. She'd gone on more than a couple of late-night supper runs when they'd realised they were the last ones left in the office.

There were rumours and gossip about that too. Frankly laughable. Anyone who thought they were an item ought to be fired on the grounds of sheer incompetence. Kirosawa was devoted to his wife, and Retsuko had better things to do than to shit where she ate. What they had was far more important than an office romance - they could work together.

And that was why she found herself following in Kirosawa's wake, her petite frame barely coming up to his shoulder.

 

[Lisianthus]

Seira rushed out of the room as soon as they were dismissed. With a one track mind, and an obsession, she had no interest in the cases presented. They offered no relevance to her situation. She knew her target. She would hunt him down.
There could be no mistake. Her life was at risk. All information she had gathered and extracted regarding the ghoul was printed, and compiled. She'd have to get through them, one by one. She needed to trace his footsteps.
Soon as noon came, she brought the papers along with her to the nearest cafe, one that was across the street to have her lunch. She couldn't work without any replenishment.

Meanwhile, Kenzou sat quietly in his seat during the meeting, half listening to the old man's words. He played with his pen, deep in thought. Jackal, huh. Whilst he was interested, he didn't believe that she was the actual threat. They were focusing at the wrong person.
He heard the rumours, of another ghoul. One who was highly loyal, and much stronger than her, it would definitely be him.
"Old man!" He greeted Takuya, "I'll be taking the Jackal's case."

 

[RiddL]

Karuido
​

Karuido sat patiently before his eyes lit up at the sight of a young woman, the same as his subordinate had described walked into the Cafe, her hands full of papers, no doubt information that they had on him.

He took the coffee from the barista and took it to her himself, placing it gently next to her. "If CCG agents were all as diligent as you young lady, the ghoul menace would have been wiped out by now, he said with gentle smile as he sipped his own coffee, sitting in a chair close but not next to her, lest she think him a creep.

@Esmeralda Blackheart

 

[The Morrighan]

Kirosawa opened the door for the young woman, beckoning her inside with a scarred hand. She was slim, but he'd seen first hand her abilities during past raids. The girl had skill, but more importantly she had drive. He needed her.

"This mission won't be an easy one." The Chief took a seat at his desk, gesturing with a quick bob of his head for her to do the same. "Knowing you, you've likely been looking through the recent reports of activity in the area. Tell me, what do think we should expect from this mysterious Subject 13?"

As she replied, he made notes of her progress since he'd first accepted her application into his ward. Upon arrival, something had been different about Retsuko. She had no more native skill than any of the rest, but her sheer motivation to succeed had brought her through the ranks efficiently and swiftly. He was impressed with her, but something about her ambition made him uneasy.

He hoped he'd chosen wisely.​

 

[Lisianthus]

Seira looked up from her stacks of papers when the aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled her senses, warming her, and waking her mind. She flashed the male a smile, taking her cup from him and took a sip, "Thank you."
She was about to go back to reading the papers in front of her when he spoke again. Flipping the pages so that he would not see what was written, she turned to him, an eyebrow raised, "As flattered as I am, I can assure you that we all try our best."

@RiddL