A/n
Hello, and thank you for 435+ reads and 25+ votes! Also, a special thanks to MaryTZ , Emeraldcita , and Lynn_Ari_inc ! Here's today's chapter :)
Sending Juuzou off on the mission is hard, as expected, but at least the moments leading up to his departure are somewhat enjoyable. He had to be disguised as a female, and because of his structure it isn't too hard. It was interesting seeing him in makeup and a dress, as well as a longer wig to accentuate the feminine look. I was there the whole time, taking in every second. It really is true, having a heart and caring for people with this job makes it even harder, but every time I see him I'm reminded why it is worth it.
Waiting for the signal to make our move, however, is practically torture. It feels like it's been forever when in reality it's only been a few minutes and the auction has probably only just begun.
Sensing something, I look up at the building in front of me to see what I assume to be hundreds of ghouls flitting around in panic through the windows. Our orders come shortly after.
"Commence assault." The voice of Matsuri Washuu rings through our earpieces. "To all personnel... Your first mission: eradicate all of the ghouls inside. Out of all the ghouls, make sure you completely take out Big Madame. It's expected that the Aogiri Tree will intervene, but do not let this chance go to waste. Your second mission: rescuing the civilians. Put priority on all of the civilians who were kidnapped first."
I nod to my squad. Well, technically Juuzou's squad, but still.
"Currently fighting on the front lines. The White Suits! It's Naki from Aogiri!" An unidentified voice exclaims in my ear. "Please send back—" The voice cuts out. I look behind me at Akira, commanding her own squad. She gestures to the building.
"The White Suits are on the front lines, Akira and her team are going to back them up while we head in." I say. "Let's go. No, wait a sec." I say as a message comes through.
"(L/n), I'd like you to go with the Quinx squad this time." Washu says.
"Sir?" I ask. Getting no response I look over at the Quinx squad, Sasaki looking as if he had just gotten the same message since his eyes flick over to me as well. "Investigator Nakarai, you're in charge of this squad for the time being, Investigator Washuu wants me to join up with the Quinx."
"But why?" Investigator Mikage asks.
"I'd actually like to know that myself but he didn't answer." I say. "Take care of yourselves." I add before running over to the Quinx and deploying my quinque. The one I had received from my mom was a light, long handled hammer with a spearhead on top. Very different from what I had been used to, but after two years of training I had become rather efficient at using it. Though that's not to say my daggers are quite out of use yet.
"Investigator (L/n)." Sasaki greets while the rest of the Quinx give me small bows.
"Hello, thanks for letting me join you. We should probably head out now." I say. This is a bit awkward since I'm technically their superior, but within this squad I'll be taking orders from Sasaki. And I haven't worked with them in combat before. We take off into the building with another squad, running into a group of ghouls right off the bat. Investigator Ato, leader of the other squad, waves us forwards to find Investigator Mutsuki. We happen upon them in a narrow hallway, facing off against a ghoul, a discarded fire extinguisher laying on it's side nearby.
The ghoul lifts its kagune, aiming it right at Mutsuki before Sasaki launches himself in front, slicing through the ghoul's kagune. The ghoul takes a step back, shock evident in their eyes as Sasaki stands protectively in front of Mutsuki, blade in hand.
"Sorry..." Sasaki says, looking over his shoulder at Mutsuki. "I'm late."
"Investigator Sasaki!" Mutsuki exclaims, their lips quirking upwards ever so slightly while Shirazu shoots a few projectiles at the ghoul, distracting them. Next Urie and I deliver a double blow, Urie kneeing the ghoul in the gut while I swing my hammer into their back causing them to double over in pain.
"Nice job, Lord Uri! And Miss (L/n)!" Shirazu calls while Saiko crouches on the ground next to Mutsuki. We close in for our next hits but the ghoul blocks with their kagune. We hop backwards, landing next to Sasaki and Shirazu.
"It's a rinkaku-type." Urie reports.
"Yeah." Sasaki nods in agreement. The ghoul's nose twitches, looking at Sasaki with narrowed eyes.
"This scent... You're... Haise Sasaki!" They snarl, their eyes darkening to a pitch black. With that, Shirazu and Urie begin a barrage of attacks on the ghoul who whips around and hits Shirazu straight in the jaw with a well-aimed kick. With their back turned, Urie tries to get a hit in only to be blocked by the kagune. Sasaki takes that moment of time to leap into the fray, not having much better luck.
"It's all your fault..." The ghoul mutters, their eyes meeting Sasaki's as their weapons grit against each other. "It's all your fault... it's all your fault... It's all your fault!" Why does this ghoul seem to hate Sasaki so much? They spring apart with the ghoul's outburst.
"Urie! Shirazu! (L/n)!" Sasaki calls out and the pair slice off their respective side's kagune just like clockwork while I smash my hammer at the ghoul, accelerating their plummet to the ground. However, the descent is stopped in a way we hadn't anticipated. Another ghoul... A masked ghoul had appeared in the hallway, catching its friend with its kagune and pulling them back a safe distance.
"Ma... Matsumae..?" The ghoul we had been fighting splutters, a thin stream of blood dripping out of the corner of their mouth. Urie's eyes narrow as he runs forward, though he is stopped almost instantly by the second ghoul's kagune. It's like thick branches covered in thorns, but the material is nothing like wood or vines.
"They got away..." He growls, observing the criss-cross pattern of the ghoul's kagune that now lines the hallway, preventing us from following.
"Splitting up their kagune... Something like that's possible?" Sasaki murmurs in disbelief.
"I've never seen anything like it. I can't believe we don't already have tabs on a ghoul with an ability like this." I say. Shirazu tries firing the projectiles from his kagune at the one in our path as Sasaki steps aside, receiving a message from a superior, his eyes widening partway through. At the end of his conversation, he calls for Urie and I to escort Mutsuki back to the entrance so they don't have to participate with the rest of the raid. Then Sasaki also informs us of the demise of Oshiba and his squad as well as Nutcracker rising from rank A to S. Urie of course had something to say about that, though he was quickly shut down and we were on our way. I have to agree, I'm not too thrilled to have been sent in with a different squad only to be sent back out.
"Thanks Urie. You too Investigator (L/n)." Mutsuki says as we hurry through the building.
"It's no problem, and please, just call me (L/n). Formalities make me feel awkward." I say with a small smile.
"Okay Inves... (L/n)." Mutsuki says, quickly correcting their mistake. "Seriously though, thanks."
"I'm just doing my job." Urie says bluntly.
"As pathetic as this sounds, I'm actually a little relieved." Mutsuki confesses. "I had no idea what was going to happen when I went up for auction."
"I can imagine." Urie says, halting. "You did a good job."
"Agreed. I've heard... stories about what kinds of things go on in groups like this. It can't have been easy." I say, giving Mutsuki a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Really?" They ask timidly, looking down. "I hope so..."
"Let's go. The exit should be this way." Urie says, turning right.
"Okay." Mutsuki says.
"But wait, isn't it-" My words die off as the two round the corner. The exit is the other way! I sprint after them. "Urie!" I say. Urie suddenly stops in a room.
"Don't you feel as if something is off?" Urie asks.
"Huh?" Mutsuki hums.
"Well, for one, the exit is actually—"
"All the bodies are of the Aogiri and investigators..." Urie says.
"The audience." I say, suddenly realizing their absence.
"The audience was filled with masked ghouls." Mutsuki says and Urie takes off again. Are you serious!!! I hope Juuzou is having better luck than I am. I'm starting to think this is more of a challenge than fighting ghouls! Next thing I know, we're on the stage in the auction room.
"Considering how big this place is, there should've been a lot of them." Urie says, surveying the room.
"Where could they have all gone?" Mutsuki questions, glancing around.
"They probably have a secret exit or hiding place. They're ghouls, that doesn't mean they're stupid." I say. I mean, they definitely can be, but that's besides the point. Also, Urie, I see what you're up to. You're so desperate to be noticed you're going on a self ordered suicide mission, and you're dragging us with you! Though I doubt you'd even notice if I had left you at some point. I look down in frustration, noticing an outline. A trapdoor?
"This could be it." I pipe up, pointing at the outline. Urie kneels and lifts the door open.
"The theater basement..." He mutters before standing up. "Investigator (L/n) is right, they might be hiding down here. Want to go down?" He asks. "Don't worry. If we encounter the enemy we'll head back. We're just going to have a look around." Urie says once he sees the terrified look on Mutsuki's face.
"And if we do happen to find the audience, we'll call for backup." I add, narrowing my eyes at the dark haired male.
"Okay." Mutsuki says, nodding hesitantly. Once we soundlessly reach the end of the staircase, we look down from the landing at the group of cloaked ghouls.
"Bingo." Urie whispers.
"Okay, now we can head back and request backup." I say, attempting to turn back.
"Wait." Urie says, pushing my head back down to prevent me from standing up, his fingers brushing by my ear as he pulls it back to his side.
"Toru." A familiar voice says. Wait... is that..? Urie stands up in surprise revealing me crouched behind him. "(Y/n)?" Juuzou asks, his eyes widened.
"Juuzou?" I whisper in surprise.
"Investigator Suzuya!" Mutsuki exclaims happily.
"Shh." He hums, holding a finger to his lips with a smile. "(Y/n), what are you doing here?" He asks, in just as much surprise as me.
"Washuu sent me in with the Quinx squad so I left Nakarai in charge. I can't believe we actually managed to run into each other." I say, still shocked.
"What are you doing here?" Mutsuki asks the stitched male.
"I was following them and ended up here." Juuzou answers. Urie's frown deepens. What is his problem? I don't think I've ever seen him smile or be nice. The nicest thing I've heard from his mouth was earlier in the hallway with Mutsuki! "Do you have your communicators? We should contact HQ." Juuzou says.
"Yeah, I..." I trail off as I reach for my earpiece, only to find its not there. Wait a second... did it fall off when I was fighting that ghoul, or did Urie... No, why would he? "Never mind, I guess it fell off or something."
"No, it wouldn't work anyways. It looks like we can't get any reception here." Urie says.
"Oh?" Juuzou hums.
"Really?" Mutsuki presses.
"Yeah, really?" I ask sarcastically.
"I tried earlier, but..." Urie looks down dejectedly. What are you playing at? He's so infuriating! I don't know how Sasaki deals with him!
"Did they find an escape route?" I ask Juuzou.
"We're a little outgunned..." Juuzou sighs.
"Huh?" Mutsuki hums.
"But apparently we're just going to have to do it." Urie says. You know what, screw this!
"Huh? What?" Mutsuki asks while me, Juuzou, and Urie jump off the landing, falling right in front of the ghouls.
"Doves!" One of them shouts. Wasting no time, the three of us begin slicing, stabbing, and pounding the ghouls as fast as our bodies and quinques let us. Ghouls drop behind us, leaving trails of blood in our wake.
"There's one over here, too!" Another ghoul shouts. Ah, so they found Mutsuki. Great. Sparing a glance, I see Mutsuki fending off a pair of ghouls with his daggers. Turning away, I resume taking out any ghoul within my sights. Urie pauses, taking a moment to deploy his kagune while Juuzou slices through the ghouls like they're made of jello.
"Ooh, that's nice." Juuzou says, humming in appreciation. The bodies of countless dead ghouls litter the ground, but there's still one we haven't fell yet.
"Urie!" Mutsuki yells. "Madame's over there!"
"I'll head right over!" He responds before taking off. Seconds later the sound of a body slamming into the metal walls of the basement echos through the room before it crashes to the ground.