Experiment 013 | Tokyo Ghoul

002 | ready

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"She's ready."

"So soon? It's only been 16 years, Dr. Akizawa."

"Are you doubting my ability to handle my experiment and my project? The CCG had entrusted authority for this experiment to me."

"...Fine. Call the girl in."

The pale, lavender dress that Mother dressed me in flowed gently as I dangled my legs over the edge of a table I was sitting in. The doors were closed, but I could easily hear the conversation that Mother and another man were having inside although I was unable to understand the meaning of it.

Creaking the door open slowly, Mother emerged from the room, still wearing her familiar white coat. Her heels clicked against the floor as she shut the door after her and approached me. The man she was talking with was not with her.

"My precious little girl," her voice, coated with a sickeningly sweet tone, called out as she placed a hand on my head and stroked my long, silvery hair that seemed to be slightly tinted with a light blue shade, "Do you remember how old you are?"

Without hesitation, I replied immediately, not wanting to disappoint Mother, "It has been 16 years, 4 months, 16 days, 5 hours and 32 minutes since I was created."

"Good girl. Do you remember what you have to say to Shinohara-san?"

I nodded, "My name is Experiment 013. It is a-

WHACK!

Mother slammed the heel of her shoe against my cheek. Her eyes darkened and her mouth contorted into a frown of disgust, turning her loving expression into a threatening one.

"Have you forgotten the name I had given to you for your time here? Are you really that much of a stupid and useless creature?"

Without flinching at her violent action, I lowered my head as she removed her heel away from my face, "I apologize, Mother. I meant to say that my name is Aiko Akumu."

"Now, tell me what you will say to Shinohara-san again."

"My name is Aiko Akumu. It is a pleasure to be able to be mentored by you. I will make sure to give my best to help out in the CCG and it is very nice to meet you."

Her expression returned to its previously gentle one, "Wonderful. Don't forget to do the 'smile' thing I taught you."

The muscles in my cheeks contracted as my lips curved up in a 'smile' just like how Mother instructed me, "Yes, Mother."

Placing a hand on my back, she gestured me off the table and we entered the room that Mother was in when she was talking to the man. The said man was standing with his arms crossed in front of me, a mix of emotions on his face.

"Introduce yourself," Mother beamed down at me.

Smiling, my monotone voice repeated what I had said earlier outside, "My name is Aiko Akumu. It is a pleasure to be able to be mentored by you, Shinohara-san. I will make sure to give my best to help out in the CCG and it is very nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," he let out a small smile, "You already know who I am, but let me introduce myself. My name is Yukinori Shinohara."

Mother shifted her gaze towards him, "I'm entrusting her to you now, Shinohara-san. My job is nearly complete. The CCG will surely be satisfied by the results."

The man, Shinohara-san, glanced at Mother and sighed, "You can go now, Dr. Akizawa. I'll take care of her."

Mother ceased for a moment and narrowed her eyes before she stepped towards him, placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered to his ear just as she was about to exit the room. I had managed to catch a bit of what she said.

"... outside.... need to talk to you..."

"Mother," I called out, interrupting them as I grasped Mother's hand, something I knew would infuriate her, "you're leaving me?"

She wrenched her hand away from my iron grip, attempting to seem loving again, "Yes, dear. You're a grown woman now. This is the start of your new life. I will still occasionally visit you to check on you as well, so there's nothing you need to worry about."

"Then," pausing, I soaked in the information she had just told me, "do you still love me?"

Like all the other times, it was the same words again.

"Of course I do. Mother loves you."

"Stay here for a minute, Akumu-san, while your... Mother and I discuss something outside again for a while," Shinohara-san glanced warily at Mother.

"Okay."

Once more, they left the room to discuss something they didn't want me to know, but it didn't matter. I could still hear them.

"What's with that attitude, Shinohara?"

"16 years, I knew it. She's just a kid!"

"Don't speak to me like you know what's better for my experiment than I do, Shinohara-san."

"How long do you plan on acting as if you were her mother? You know this isn't right."

"What I know is that she is simply a test subject. Experiment 013. The CCG is looking for new ways to exterminate ghouls faster to match their strengths and I am providing them with one. If it bothers you that much then you need to clear your head because that girl is not an ordinary human and there is no need to treat her like one."

It was silent for a while.

"...Just leave, Akizawa. She's my responsibility to train now."

There were no more words exchanged. Only the faint sound of Mother's heels against the floor lingered as she walked away.

My hands clenched in my lap.

Mother loves me... right..?

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