Sitting.
I was sitting inside the CCG's van next to Shinohara and some other investigators.
It was my turn this time to join in on a special night shift inside the city center.
The people of the 11th ward have been informed for months about this matter in order to clean the city from its ghouls. Ghouls... That boy.
I shook my head and sighed as I looked outside the window. We were almost near the place of destination.

'' Amon-kun, lighten up. It's just a little bit of pest control. Like fumigators dealing with rats and all that. ''
Shinohara spoke to me teasingly as he patted me on the shoulder.
'' Yes, sir. '' I spoke determined, but I kept staring outside of the window.
Rats...huh?

Suddenly, the inside speaker of the van went on as we heard many disturbing
noises being aired. '' Shinohara senpai? Shinohara senpai? Can you hear me? ''
'' Yes I can hear you, what is going on out there? '' Shinohara's voice spoke utterly shocked.

'' Sir, the situation inside the city is bad. There have been sudden riots inside of the streets because all
the regulations and restrictions the CCG is making lately for the citizens of this district.
When police and CCG forces tried to calm the people down,some groups were shooting through the massive crowds, hence creating more chaos. ''

'' Let the police handle that situation from us and- Hello? '' Shinohara spoke but the speaker line connection broke off.
Everyone, including myself was staring at each other as we took a few moments to realize what was going on outside
of the secure van we were sitting in. '' Sir..what now? '' I asked as I turned around to face my superior.

'' What do you think Amon-kun? '' Shinohara said as he looked at me and stared straight through my
eyes with an serious expression. '' An investigators job, never stops. ''
He ordered everyone to step outside of the van and to continue on foot as the van went back to the CCG headquarters for safety matters.

Fine, more exhaustion I thought as I tightly held my quinque box and ran through some small alleys that would indirectly lead its way through the city center.
How they were able to catch so many ghouls around this district alone remains a riddle to me
but it certainly was because of our new, updated quinque's that they were able to do so I thought as I stared down at my own.

These versions of quinque's were somehow able to slightly respond when it's near the presence of disguised ghouls.
This new feature was the sole reason for so many captured ghouls around many districts of Japan for these past few months.

CCG was responsible for so many captivation's of ghouls that even extermination camps were created
near the outskirts of the country to get rid of them fast and easy...
I furrowed my eyebrows a bit at that thought.
This is your job Amon. This is your duty.

Chaos.
Chaos was the perfect word to describe the situation I was seeing.
Everywhere people were shouting and screaming, pushed each other away, even stepped over one another just to get themselves into safety.
There were still sounds of shooting going on as police officers were also caught inside the enormous commotion.

Without trying to get noticed, I ran through many people and paid close attention towards my quinque to feel any reaction coming from it. Nothing.
And it felt as though it was absolutely impossible in these state of events. What was Shinohara-sempai thinking?

I backed away near the sidelines of the streets as hurdles of people kept pushing me until I nearly
tripped over something on the ground and hit the window of a toy store.
I looked down and could see something black from the street light that was hanging underneath me.
I was about to grab the black item when I suddenly grabbed a pale hand instead.
I looked up. He looked up. I was shocked. He looked shocked.

My mouth slightly dropped, and my quinque reacted like a spinning wheel.
The ghoul boy..it was him. Fuck that quinque, I myself knew it was him.
That one eye of his..with tears that ran all over him in the rain that day.. an image I would never forget.
Now there were two eyes covered in tears, staring at me with a pale and horrified expression as his bottom lip was trembling.

Before I could even come up with any action to take, the boy hit my hand away and ran through the chaotic crowd.
I grabbed the black item which I already figured was the boy's mask he wears to stay incognito and also ran after him as fast as I could.

'' Amon-san, Shinohara sempai is ordering everyone to retreat- AMON-SAN! '' I heard one of my colleagues shout at me from
somewhere around my distance but I ignored it and kept my eyes fixated on the boy I was chasing in front of me.

I kept following him until we reached near a neighborhood that barely had any street lights covering the area.
The boy kept running as fast as he could, sneaking his way through some dark alleys every now and then to lure me off, but with no effect.
I snorted at his tricks as I was starting to reach in on him faster with each step.

I could tell his speed was slowly decreasing, the boy was probably starting to get more and more exhausted.
He ran in another alley but soon I heard him exclaim. We both had reached a death end as he turned around,
facing me this time as I stood in front of him.
I opened my quinque box and used my quinque to attack him as he hit against the wall.
He dropped down on the ground as I quickly ran over towards him and tried to keep him down but the boy
was struggling to get up with all the strength he had left.

'' Why!? Why aren't you using your own kagune!? Why aren't you fighting me!? ''
I shouted frustrated at the boy's passive behavior. He didn't responded, but kept looking at the ground instead.
I felt infuriated as I started beating the boy when he suddenly looked up at me and his expression
turned me completely into stone as I held my hand that would've hit him again in the air.

'' Why? Why should I fight you? What is left to fight for? Tell me? '' The boy spoke, slowly sobbing as he trembled underneath me.

'' What do you mean- ''
'' THEY'RE ALL CAPTURED. ALL MY FRIENDS. EVERYONE THAT I EVER
KNEW OFF. THEY ARE GONE AND PROBABLY DEAD BY NOW. I'M THE ONLY ONE LEFT...I'M- I..I'm all alone... '' He shuttered as
his words felt like they were choking him on the inside, his mouth was slightly open but just nothing passed through his lips anymore.

Million of thoughts and feelings boiled inside of me, but why was I even feeling this way?
I have looked at the executions of tons of ghouls before, It never really bothered me.
So why does this boy, this ghoul bother my conscious so damn much?
ever since that rainy day, ever since then.

'' What did I do wrong? '' He spoke. I kept staring at him, not even to blink an eye.
'' What did I do wrong for you all, to take away the only home that I had left. The only place that I could even call a home.
Why? I'm so lonely.. I'm so lonely. Just take me to that camp. Just take me to my dead friends.
I don't want to fight.. there is nothing left for me to fight for. NOTHING! '' He screamed out to me.
He tried to push himself more deeper against the wall, trying to be one with it,
wanting to somehow disappear as he silently cried, his expression held nothing but sorrow in it.

'' Amon-san! Oi! '' I turned around as I saw Shinohara and some other colleagues standing near the alley
with some flashlights in their hands, pointing it towards me.
How did find me?.. I thought anxious as I glanced over to the boy. The ghoul.
'' Amon-kun, we have been searching for you for quite some time and then these guys
mentioned they saw you run-...Amon-kun, who is that boy over there? '' Shinohara asked as he and the
other kept walking closer towards us.

'' Hey, my quinque is reacting.. could it be..? '' One of my colleague member spoke as they all
stared at me and especially at the boy with shocked and perplexed eyes.
'' It is reacting towards this mask. You see? '' I spoke as I threw the mask I had been holding onto their way.
'' Ah yes, he is right! '' They all stated as they held their hands on their quinque's with fascinated looks as
the quinque's started vibrating more rapidly.

'' Shinohara sempai, this boy... '' I gave a quick look at the boy, who's fearful eyes kept staring at me in despair.
I looked at my superior again and cleared my throat.
'' This boy is my nephew. During my patrol I felt the reaction of my quinque.
I kept chasing the source of the reaction but it turned out to be my nephew who found this mask somewhere on the street.
This mask does however belong to a ghoul. We both somehow ended up being here in this alley.
Forgive me, but before I make it back to the headquarters, I need to make sure he gets back home safely.
I'm sorry I have failed my mission for tonight. ''

'' Ahh, I see. Well don't worry too much over it. We managed to get our hands on some ghouls tonight, still a bit less
then I'd originally hoped for. Oh well, It can't be helped considering tonight sudden events that had happened.
Amon-kun, you can report to me tomorrow morning, take a rest for tonight. All of you. '' Shinohara spoke as he gestured
everyone to follow with him back to the main city center.
'' Are you and your nephew coming too Amon-san? '' One of my colleagues shouted at me.

'' Yes. '' I called back as I looked back towards the boy again whose face was still
in horror. '' Don't even think about running away now, It will be your end. '' I whispered as I pulled him up.
He didn't responded but was still trembling from fear.
I felt my guilt rising up again as I looked down at him but I ignored the sentimental feelings
and grabbed him by his arm and pushed him to walk forward.
Why was I even doing this? Why did I cover up for him?
This was against my job... I thought as I spit on the ground from frustration.

We were back at the city center most of the chaos had disbursed, everything seemed under control again.
Some military van's were standing there as a few investigators surrounded allot people who were screaming and crying loudly.
My quinque started reacting again. Those weren't people.

One of them which looked like a female was repeatedly being punched in the stomach until she vomited on the ground, mostly blood.
All the investigators laughed as one of them lifted her up and threw her
inside the van, then the next one was thrown inside and the next one, and the next one, treated as if they were mere cattle.

My blood felt like boiling by the image I was seeing. I had heard storied about investigators being cold
towards some ghouls during these round-ups, but never did I figured it was to this extreme extend.
I mean couldn't they just put them inside the van without treating those ghouls like that.
Suddenly some police officer who seemed to have had quite a few drink started shooting
at the ghouls who were standing in line, waiting to be thrown inside the van as they screamed from pain and horror.

Male, female, elderly, children, it didn't matter to them. They were all shot severely.
I gritted my teeth, the scene itself was starting to piss me off but I felt powerless,
I couldn't do anything to oppose those idiots.

I felt a vibration. Not from my quinque but from the boy who's arm I was still holding.
He was even more shivering as ever as he stared with his eyes widened at the scenery
that was taking place, as they kept on treating the ghouls indecently.
I tightly pulled at his arm and walked away from the horrible sight we both were seeing.
'' Amon-kun, what is wrong? ''

I saw Shinohara standing next to some officials, drinking a can of coffee as some of them were
smoking some cigarettes while staring at my direction. I gave a respectful nod towards them as they gave the same back in return.
'' I'm just very tired sir, that's all. '' I spoke as I tried my best to relax my face, as if nothing was bothering me on what
was going on right now but from the look that Shinohara was giving me it felt I wasn't really doing a good job on that.

'' I see... Is your nephew alright? '' Shinohara asked as he stepped closer
towards the boy who's body I felt tensed up immediately as he was staring down on the ground this whole entire time.
'' He... Is just very frightened about all that had happened tonight since he was caught in the middle of it. '' I spoke hastily.

'' Of course! where are my brains huh? Haha. No I completely underst-.. Wow. ''
He stopped talking as he was holding his quinque more tightly with both hands.
'' My quinque is more fired up than ever, especially right now. '' He spoke, his expression looking perplexed as he
looked around him, trying to see if he could spot any suspicious looking people who might be ghouls in disguise.

My anxiety took complete control of me as I tried to remain calm, or at least look calm.
His quinque felt the presence of the boy. '' Yes mine has been acting that way too right now. What are the odds huh? Hehe. ''
I spoke nervously as I squeezed my hand on the boy's arm more tighter. '' It's getting late sir. I'll take my leave now. '' I spoke
as I bowed down towards my superior and turned around together with the boy at my side.

'' Amon-kun. '' I turned around and stared at my superior again, who held a odd expression
on his face, making my heart skip a beat or two. '' Yes..sir? ''
'' .. Make sure your nephew gets well. He looks quite..pale.'' Shinohara spoke.
I glanced at the boy real quick and then glanced back at my superior as I gave a quick nod
to confirm him on what he said before walking off again.

It was silent as we continued to walk away from the city center.
I glanced over at the boy from the corner of my eye. He still had his head hanged down on the ground, tears that looked
like silver pearl drops were still visible over his cheeks.
'' Where do you live? I'll take you home. '' I asked, but he didn't answer my question.
I stopped walking and stooped down to meet on his eye level and sighed deeply.

'' Come on kid, It's late. '' I spoke frustrated as I was extremely worn out.
I placed both of my hands on his shoulders and shook him but he still refused to answer.
'' Fine. Have it your way. I'm on my way to the station, where you go from here is none of my damn concern. '' I spoke agitated
as I stood up again and walked with big steps towards the train station. I could still catch my train I thought as I looked at my watch.

I had already past a few streets. My conscious by then had consumed me half way inside.
I turned around and stared at the boy who was still at the same place where I left him and was
now sitting on the ground with his back against the wall of an old premises.
I walked all the way back again and sat next to him on the cold hard ground.

'' You know, you ghouls fucking deserve this. You all deserve to get treated the way you are being treated right now.
You kill innocent humans. Leave dozens of family members scarred for life by the sight of their loved-ones gone.
They don't even get to have the body to give them a proper funeral because instead those bodies are being
devoured and digested inside all of you disgusting ghouls.
I fucking hate all of you. I hate all of you, got that? I hate yo- ''

'' Thank you. ''

Shock. I felt shock running through my veins as I kept quiet. I felt chills running through my spine as my mouth dropped slightly.
I turned around and stared at the boy who was sitting next to me.

'' I might be horrible. Ghouls might be horrible. Maybe we are. Maybe we should be captured and get rid of.
Maybe humans are the only ones who should be allowed to live on this earth.
Maybe ghouls shouldn't be born in this world, simply because they don't belong in it or are not wanted.
Because they are inferior. And you humans are superior.
I might be your worst enemy, your worst nightmare...but thank you.
Even thought you might hate me, despise me, think that I'm absolutely worthless.. just for a moment.
I thought you were my hero. Thank Yo- ''

Cold. His body felt cold as I embraced him inside my own warm one.
I felt shivers running all over his body, or was it my own body?
I didn't care. The only thing that mattered was for him to know that I was wrong.
'' I'm sorry. '' I spoke as I held him more tighter, I closed my eyes, a few tear drops fell right from them.

My guilt was on a high-time level that I just couldn't easily push aside this time.
And neither did I want to push them aside. This whole entire time I had been doing so, pushing aside the one thing that made me human.
And it took a ghoul boy for me to realize this precious capability we humans possessed, we all perhaps...posses.

I broke my embrace and stared at the boy. The boy who somehow was trying to held in
his tears as he stared at me with huge widened eyes. He failed.
Tears kept on dripping out of his rims, one by one as his breathing was starting to quicken
as he sobbed loudly in front of me, dropping his face inside my chest as he held onto my jacket with his hands.
I placed a warm hand on his shoulder. It was okay. And the boy knew so.

'' Please.. I-I- I don't wish to be alone anymore. I hate it. '' He spoke, choking onto his words again as
his breathing excelled ever more rapidly, while he continued sobbing.
I lifted his head with my hand and made him stare up at me.
His face was completely drained in moist as I wiped away a few tear rolls.
'' You don't have to be. '' I spoke gently as I stood up and reached my hand out to him.
'' You can stay with me for a while if you'd like. '' I spoke as I smiled at him genuinely.

Obliterated. His facial expression was completely obliterated from sadness towards happiness as,
what seemed like a smile was on his face as he grabbed my hand.
'' Yes, I would want that... Thank you. '' He spoke as he looked away blushful.
I chuckled as I ruffled him through his hair when I noticed the watch I wore on my wrist again.
'' NO WAY! ONLY 15 MINUTES UNTIL WE CAN CATCH THE LAST TRAIN. HURRY... uh... What is your name actually? ''
I spoke as I slightly tilted my head and looked at the boy curiously.

'' Oh.. uhm.. Kaneki. '' He spoke as his shyness increased even more.
I sighed and smiled at him sweetly. Ghouls have ordinary names too huh?
'' Yosh! Kaneki we need to hurry now, Alright? Let's go. '' I said as I pulled him behind me as we both ran towards the station in high speed.