Auron crouches on one knee, looking down at the Aogiri Tree gathering in the street below. He scrunches his nose at an acrid smell in the breeze. To his left, Associate Special Class Kira and First Class Hado are preparing their Quinque. To his right, Special Class Nora and Rank 1 Fukura approach silently. This was an important op. No one doubted it in the slightest. Some of the less faithful CCG Investigators had condemned the decision to initiate a direct attack on one of Aogiri's generals "foolish and bashful", however, Commander Washuu had gone against the political grain and given Arimas suggestion the green light.

"Special Class Tanderus? Are we ready to go?" Auron looks over at Special Class Noro, adjusting his glasses. "The time isn't right. We have yet to actually see Naki present himself. Only when we lay eyes on an S Rated Ghoul or higher do we have permission to commence the extermination…" His eyes narrow into their usual cynical appearance. Noro sighs. "If you think it's best then fine. We wait". Special Class Investigator Noro Schneider was one of the most outstanding Investigators to have risen to his rank. He was held in high esteem by the CCG Board of Commanders, and was very popular among all others below him in rank.

Auron let loose an ironic grin. The exact opposite of my standing in the CCG. While people certainly viewed Auron with great respect and even awe, not many individuals actually expressed the wish to be close to him. Apart from being respected, he was also envied and feared. Years ago, the CCG's top brass had publicly spoken their wish to raise an Investigator to surpass Kishou Arima. Auron was that Investigator. He instinctively reaches down to grasp the hilt of Reiyuza, his Quinque. Auron had gained this weapon by defeating the One Eyed Owl in combat, Acquisitioning Etos Kakuja for the CCG. That being said, Reiyuza was the only SSS Quinque in existence, giving Auron an edge in any combat situation.

Auron shakes his head to clear his thoughts. He could now see the S Rated Ghoul Naki strolling into the centre of the gathering. It was time to begin the operation. "Noro, give the signal". Noro nods, and raises his hand to the air, miming a thumbs up. Any scout that could see him were now notifying their respective squads to start the attack. "This is the first time I've been on a mission with the infamous Special Class Auron. I hope you won't disappoint". Noro jumps down into a nearby alleyway. "Hmph. I shouldn't think so". At a hand signal from Auron, Associate Special Class Kira and First Class Hado follow him to the edge of the rooftop. Kira nods at him, then motions to Hado and they both leap down onto the street.

Several Aogiri Tree Ghouls turn to behold the two Investigators as they release their Quinque. Naki looks around to see two Ghoul Investigators and grins. "Kill them. There're only two and their Quinque are only A Rated at best…" At his command, the Ghouls release their Kagune and lunge in a coordinated attack on the Doves. Kira releases his S Rated Bikkaku Quinque and slams it down, crushing 5 ghouls in the process. Hado also releases his A Rated Koukaku Quinque and begins slicing the attackers to pieces. Suddenly, a group of 8 Investigators lands on the Ghouls behind Naki. Special Class Noro had arrived.

"Shit! Men, focus on the Doves at the rear! I know that guy. He's a Special Class". He releases his own Kagune and locks into combat with Noro. Auron crouches on the edge, watching as the Investigators slowly push the Aogiri Ghouls inward, surrounding them. Just as it looked as if they were done for, Naki fires a flare gun, its red smoke spiralling into the air. A shout can be heard from afar as at least 100 Ghouls fall from the sky, initiating combat with the 8 Doves. As the ghouls surrounding Naki gradually regain ground, A cloaked figure slams into the pavement next to Naki, knocking the ghoul to his knees. As the fallen figure rises, his hood falls back to reveal a hideously pale and scarred visage. Auron raises an eyebrow. This was another of Aogiri's Generals, the SS~ rated ghoul known simply as Owl.

"Damn. I didn't see this coming.. I'd better step in before the entire op goes up in flames". He gets to his feet, tensing, then leaping high into the air, overcoat fluttering around him and giving off the appearance of a ghost. Auron lands lightly next to Noro as both Naki and Owl turn towards the newcomer. Nakis eyes widen, while Owl just cocks his head to the side. Noro wipes his sweating brow. "Thank heavens. Now I can leave…" The Aogiri Ghouls start in surprise as he and the other Investigators do just that. They retreat to the far end of the street as Auron turns to look at the Ghouls. Naki scowls. "Well? What are you doing? It's just one dove. Kill him!" The ghouls give a battle cry as roughly 20 ghouls all rush at him at once, Kagune swinging. Auron clicks a button on his sheath, and Reiyuza flies up into his awaiting hand.

He spins around, slicing the heads off the first 6 ghouls, crouches, and then skewers another 4 ghouls with a sword thrust. Flicking the blood from his blade, the attacking ghouls falter, recoiling in fear. Auron uses this chance to lunge at them with incredible speed, converting his Quinque from sword form to rifle form. Pulling the trigger, Auron releases a shower of razor sharp crystals that tear through the remaining attackers. As corpses fall around his feet, Auron looks up at Naki and Owl. Nakis mouth is hanging open. "Wh…Who are you?" Auron adjust his glasses again, walking slowly forward. "Me? I am Special Class Auron Tanderus… Or if you prefer, your saviour". Naki looks puzzled. "My saviour?" Auron smiles mirthlessly. "Yes. Your only salvation is through death…"

Owl steps in front of Naki, pointing a disfigured finger towards the Special Class. "I have heard of this one… He's the Investigator that killed Eto and Reiyuza that night 7 years ago..." He looks at Aurons Quinque. "So that must be the weapon you made out of the One Eyed Owls Kakuja? Impressive feat. The only SSS Rated Quinque and the only Dove to have ever slain an SSS Rated Ghoul... I'm going to enjoy taking you apart…" Naki recoils in shock. "Owl no! There's no way we could defeat someone like him". Owl scowls. "Who said there was a "we"? I will fight him alone. I don't need you…"

As soon as he says this, Owl backflips into the air, plunging towards Auron. In turn, Auron raises Reiyuza and deflects the ghouls attack. As Owl falls backwards, Auron lunges forward, slicing Owls left arm cleanly from his torso. The Ghouls eyes widen, then he lands, his arm slowly regenerating. He growls. "I don't know how you did that. But you're a dead man!" He releases his Kagune and slams it down with full force against Aurons Quinque, but it only ends in the same result. Auron slices both Owls right leg and ear, blood spilling over the pavement.

Owl falls, screeching in pain. As he rolls over and looks at Auron with hateful eyes, his Kagune solidifies, inching over his body in a kind of masked shell. Owl had a Kakuja. "I…. will DEVOUR YOU!" Owl screams as his Kakuja forces Auron to step back a few feet. "I don't plan on being devoured by the likes of the trash that you are…" Auron plunges Reiyuza into Owls Kakuja Armour, levering it away from his body. He then converts the blade into rifle form, sending a spray of shards straight through the ghouls' body. Owl throws his head back, blood spilling from his mouth.

"What…are you?" Owl chokes out as he lays in a spreading pool of his own blood. Auron looks down at the dying ghoul and scowls. "I'm the man that ended your pitiful existence… The pitiful existence of a ghoul that doesn't deserve his rating…" Aurons left eye suddenly turns black, red veins outlining his retina. Owl's eyes widen. "You're a Ghoul? But why?" Auron raises his gloved finger to his lips. "Shhh. Our little secret. Yes I'm a ghoul. A ghoul who happens to hate Aogiri just as much as the CCG does. But..." Aurons eyes close, then open again his eyes back to normal. "That is neither here nor there. It is no business of yours… But. I'll give you a parting hint." He leans in, licking the blood from Owls ear wound and whispering; "Remember that it was the Reaper that ended your life".

"Wait. Reaper? Nonono this can't be happening. You were the leader of the Terminus Group. Tanzai Tree. The SSS~ Rated Ghoul "Reaper"!" Auron smiles. "You got me. But our time together is at an end… Fare thee well, Takizawa…" Auron raises Reiyuza, impaling the infamous SS~ Rated Ghoul through the heart, the last vestiges of life draining from his body.

Auron sheathes his Quinque and looks over at Naki, who is cowering on the ground behind a group of surviving ghouls. "Don't worry coward. I'm not going to kill you. Someone needs to live to be able to spread the word of the CCG's might". He smiles as Naki breaks into a sweat. "You…You bastard. What the hell kind of human are you?" He scrambles to his feet as Auron walks towards him, clutching at his wristwatch. As he presses a clasp, a screeching sound gushes forth from the watch, forcing the other Investigators to fall, hands clutched protectively to their ears.

Auron cocks his head and raises his eyes involuntarily to the sky. In the distance, a huge shape is hurtling towards them at incredible speed. Even at this distance Auron can hear what was obviously a ghoul cackling with glee. Naki's sweating face breaks into a grin. "Spread the word? Be careful what you wish for human. The Owl is here to devour you!" Behind Auron, Noro walks warily forward. "Owl? But surely you just killed him?" Auron shakes his head "Not that Owl. He means he just called in their trump card…. The One Eyed Owl…" Noro recoils. "What?! I thought you killed that bastard years ago!" He draws his Quinque, ushering his underlings behind him further. Auron raises his eyebrows. "I knew this would happen. Remember that Aogiri has Doctor Kanou on their side. He can bring just about anything back from the dead…"

Auron's glasses are knocked off as the One Eyed Owl slams down onto street level, sending out a blast that knocks several Investigators off their feet. He leans down to retrieve them, snickering at the sight of the One Eye. "It's been awhile, One Eye". The Owl smiles evilly down at Auron. "Auron my dearest enemy. Oh how I've missed having you around". The ghoul looks towards the man's Quinque "I see that you still use that abomination. Filthy human weapon…"

Auron raises Reiyuza to the moonlight. "Considering I sew this from your dead flesh, I wouldn't be calling this an abomination. Besides, I'm happy that you're still alive….Because now I can kill you all over again!" He leaps up onto the ghouls shoulder, slicing off the tips of her Kakuja spores. "Aghh!" The One Eye flings Aurons body into a nearby wall, clutching her injured shoulder. "You prick. Though… It's good to know that you're still a worthy opponent… and a traitor to your kind…"

At this, Noro blinks. "A traitor to his kind? What is it talking about?" Auron waves him off. "Move. Quickly get far away from here… This isn't going to be pretty". Noro nods and the investigators all retreat into a nearby alleyway. Noro turns back to look at the street behind him. The Owl is getting back onto its feet, snarling at Auron…. Who is sheathing his Quinque and flexing his arms. Noro frowns. What was the Special Class thinking? Fighting a SSS~ Rated Ghoul without a weapon. What happens next causes Noro's mouth to drop in shock. A pulsing, purple limb is working its way out of Aurons back, another 3 budding around his body. "What the hell is happening here?!" Noro steps back. Auron was a ghoul!?

Auron cracks his neck to either side before using his Kagune to launch himself into the air, slamming all 4 of his limbs into the One Eye's raised Kagune. "Ahh. So he finally reveals his true colours. Remember that you're a ghoul first and foremost, even with your complex web of disguise and lies you maintain to work with the humans. Even while you have no memory".

Noro's head is swirling with countless questions. Was Auron truly a ghoul? Also, thinking back, Noro remembered hearing Owl call Auron "Reaper" before he died. "I assumed he was talking about the name ghouls knew him by, "The Black Reaper"… But what if he was calling him by his Ghoul Identity?" Noro shakes his head disbelievingly. What investigator hadn't heard of the infamous SSS~ Rated Ghoul known as "Reaper"? That ghoul had dominated the entire north of Tokyo for 10 years, even reputed to have mortally wounded the One Eyed Owl in a vengeful attack. However, Reaper had disappeared on the night the CCG and Aogiri raided his stronghold… And the first time Auron showed up was while he contacted the CCG and fought the One Eyed Owl head on. Noro gasped in revelation. What if he had lost his memory during the fight? In the years after Auron was accepted into the CCG as a First Class Investigator, he certainly hadn't been as ruthless or cold as he had been recently… So, he'd forgotten his true identity in those years, truly believing himself to be human… But now? Now it looks as if his memories have returned… and he's still bent on taking down Aogiri Tree and the Owl… Maybe he truly is willing to work with humans… Noro shook his head. He'll decide what to do about this news later. Even if he was a ghoul, Auron was still going to need to defeat the Owl if any of them were to leave here alive…

Meanwhile, Auron is procedurally slicing off the Owls Kakuja spikes while being beaten into a wall. "Is this it Reaper? Have all these years of you having lost your memories made you soft? Human?" Eto howls in pain as Auron suddenly uses his Rinkakku Limb to pierce a hole straight through her body. He looks at the Owl with dead eyes. "I'll have you know…." He twists his Kagune, making her growl. "My memories are now where they should be… Eto Yoshimura". He uses his Bikkaku tail to prise open her Kakuja shell, pulling her body out. She goes to kick him but he hits her across the back of the head with his Koukaku limb, rendering the infamous SSS~ rated ghoul unconscious.

Auron lowers her body to the pavement, turning to see Noro standing there. Noro frowns at his fellow Special Class. "Care to explain? Why is a ghoul in the CCG? In its highest ranks?" Auron places a gloved finger to his lips. "Shhh. Now is not the time. I only ask that you trust me not to eat you all". He smiles, and Noro shivers. That was the smile of a man who didn't care if he was caught out. If Noro did alert the higher ups as to Auron's true identity, he would simply kill him before he had the chance. Since he regained his memories, that's the kind of person Auron had become. Cold, and ruthlessly logical. He nods. "Fine. But I want an explanation soon". Noro looks down at the still form of the One Eyed Owl. "We'd better call for a containment team…" He shook his head, unable not to smile at the irony of his situation. "A SSS~ rated ghoul taking down another SSS~ for the benefit of the CCG. Please don't begrudge me if I don't fully understand you Auron…" Auron nods, also smiling, and the two investigators walk off towards the nearest CCG Office with The One Eyed Owl in tow…