Tokyo Ghoul - NEST

Under Cover

Who are those two? One turned to me with a smile, his eyes showing that he's a ghoul, but... thats me? He has the same face. So did the other one, but he didn't have the eyes, he was human. They both smiled at me.

"Who are you two?" I asked, my voice echoing in the empty space.

The ghoul me smiled. "We're you."

"Halves of you." Said the human.

I squint at them. "Why am i here?" I asked.

The ghoul laughed. "This is just like before, you know. When they came for you and your family."

"You couldn't do anything when your father was slaughtered right in front of you, and your mother tried to protect you... your what? Eighteen? You could've saved her, you know." Said the human.

The humans voice was blank, and the ghouls voice was full of madness. Ghouls eyes were wide with excitement.

"Let me in more... and I'll make it so you can protect them." He said, slithering up to my shoulder, whispering in my ear.

The human offered a small smile. "I'm here for when you need me, accept him first." he said.

What are these two? My two personalities? I don't recall ever being mad, like the ghoul. Is that me as a ghoul? Who would i be if i was full ghoul?

I hold out my hand, and grab his in a hand shake. He smiles widely.

"Good. Now wake up. Let's give this guy a day he'll never forget." His eyes were full of madness, darting around like crazy.

. . .

Something tore from my back.

The dove jumped back, almost tripping from surprise. I rose slowly, staring at him. He flinched when he saw my face.

"Just the pupils... so it is true." He sounded worried.

I'm not fully up, I look behind me, what had come out of me... was a kagune. I smile as i see its shape.

"who exactly are you, Levin?" Asked Arata nervously.

I smiled at him, the voice in my head ringing out.
Kill him.
Kill him or he'll kill you and your friends.

I raised my kagune, two tentacles, it the shape of beautifully crafted bird claws. He backed up as i rose them in his direction.

"I'm just a Crow, protecting its nest." I said, staring at him in the eyes.

I charged, spinning in the air and slamming him into the ground, he blocked most of the attack with his quinque. The voice in my head cried out. Get rid of the weapon, it's a nuisance.

I grab his arm, digging the claws into him, he screamed in pain as he tried to bat at them with his quinque, but my other claw smacked it out of his hands, it skidded to my feet, and i picked it up with my real hands, looking at it from top to bottom.

"A ghoul you killed?" I asked, pointing st the weapon.

He whimpered in fear, was he afraid of me? Somehow, in the back of mind, that felt nice, him being afraid. But...

I let him go. He looked up at me in surprise. Inside my head, the voice of my ghouls side yelled at me in anger. that was our chance! Now, before h gets away! Kill him!

In my mind, I shut him up, not listening. Was i going insane? No, I'll never go insane, I can't, that means i can't protect them. I have to stay strong, but i can't do that by turning into a blind killer. I'll give him a choice.

"You can either die right here, Arata Hirato. Or you can walk away, if you don't tell anyone you saw me, and ignore the 11th ward." I said.

He spat at the ground. "Like I'd do that." He began to run, I'm about to grab him again, but-

Another kagune stabs him in the chest. I quickly turn to see Kurona at my right, her blank expression still there even as she killed a man. Why did she... I suppose she did it because she thought i couldn't, this angers me.

"I had that under control!" I yelled at her.

She glared at me. "No you didn't, you didn't kill him."

"I was going to-"

"No you weren't." She said, walking up to me.

I take a step away from her, the image of her got worse in my mind, she's a killer, someone who doesn't feel anything when killing. But part of me too... wanted nothing more than to slaughter him.

She was right next to me when she said.

"This isn't a fairy tale. Nothing in the real world has a real happy ending. No matter how hard you try." She whispered that last part.

Now i understood. She's trying to teach me that I can't always be the good guy, that I'll always be seen as a bad guy in their eyes, even if i don't kill.

I mumble. "Thanks." As we keep walking.

I look up as we're walking, and i see her face. She has the smallest smile on her face for a second, but it disappears in an instant.

"I don't see you as a killer, Levin." She said.

I see. She doesn't want me to become a killer, to become like her, emotionless and cold hearted. I catch up to her and walk side by side. For a long time, were silent.

then...

"Your pretty nice, Kurona." I said.

She flinched, and walked faster than me, quickly gaining speed and into the Nest. Did I make her angry?

I look back at the city parts of the 11th ward, today I'd almost killed someone. I won't let that... thing inside me take over again. I'm not a ghoul... I'm half ghoul, meaning i should have human still left in me.

I'm not a monster.