" History will be kind to me for I intend to write it."
- Winston Churchill
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Levin POV
I sat in a blank space once again, my head hurt, pulsing with pain. I could hear the blood jumping into my head with each heart beat that went through my body.
I grit my teeth and sat up, looking at the two figures that stood a few steps away. Ghoul was looking off in the distance, while Human was staring down at me with a blank expression.
"Why am I here again?" I asked slowly, my voice echoed through the empty space.
Human looked where Ghoul was looking and frowned. "Because it's coming back soon..." He said.
"What's coming back?" I asked, looking to where the other two were staring. My mind seemed to jump just by looking at it.
There was a chair, and a lab looking place. Blood colored the floor, and test tubes sat around it, ripped out kagune in them, moving as if having a mind of their own.
My eyes went wide as I felt sick suddenly looking at this room. "What... is this?" I mumbled.
Human looked down at his hands. "I do not know... we don't know." He mumbled.
"We only know it's something that wasn't very nice... and we don't remember it." Ghoul said, finally looking back at me.
I bite my lip. "What do you mean, don't remember it?" I asked slowly, a part of me was scared of the answer.
Ghoul smiled grimly, something I didn't see him do so often, show sadness or fear.
"Tell me... do we remember exactly what happened to us in those labs in CCG?" He said.
His words hit my like bullets, and I seemed to not be able to stand anymore. I fell to one knee, my body suddenly trembling. What? I remember being in a room... but is that all that happened?
I wanted to ask them what happened, but they were me. If I didn't know, they didn't know either. Why can't I remember?!? Why can't I remember my time in CCG?
I went there... when I was young... and for years I.... huh? What did I do there again?
"Why am I just remembering it now?" I asked, my vision of the dream was starting to blur.
Ghoul looked at me with a blank expression. "Dunno... maybe because our mind can only take so much... but, didn't you ever make the connection?"
"Connection?" I mumbled, wondering what he meant.
Ghoul suddenly smirked. "What if the reason we're split like this in your head is because of this loss of memory? Something bad happened? Something traumatic?"
My body shook more, shivering in fear. Funny, Ghoul' body was doing the same, meaning he was just acting tough. But Human stood there, showing no expression at all, not even shaking.
- - -
I opened my eyes to a ceiling. I slowly cranked my neck over to see Kurona leaning next to me, her face blank, staring down at me. I let a smile come loose.
"Were you staring at me while I was asleep?" I said, thinking it's pretty weird to watch someone sleep.
Kurona tilted her head. "Is that so weird? You watched me sleep for some time." She said.
I remember watching her sleep in her room, with her next to me in the bed. My face felt hot, so I quickly got up and shook my head, making it go away.
"What happened? Where's Gabe?" I asked, glancing back behind me.
Kurona looked over in the corner of the room, where Gabe laid asleep. His wounds were patched up, and it seemed he passed out like me. I sigh in relief and sit down on the bed. It seemed we were in the infirmary in Nest.
"Big bro saved you." Kurona said, looking at the door.
I look at the door to find Sasaki standing there, leaning against the door way with a small smile. "I see your awake. Feeling alright?" He asked.
I nod for an okay, but I don't return his smile. "Hey... I was wandering... are you alright?" I asked slowly.
Sasaki tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"I mean... never mind." I said, choosing not to pry in his business. I remember a brief moment of seeing Tatara bring skewered by him, and a shiver runs down my back.
"Tatara is dead. Now we only need to take down Eto." Sasaki said, his face serious again.
Something occurs to me and I stand. "Wait... why are you here? Aren't you supposed to be acting as an investigator still? Living your new life?" I asked.
His original plan after regaining most of his memories was to keep living as Sasaki Haise, the investigator and mentor of the Quinx squad. But he felt... different now.
Sasaki shrugged. "I found out that the life I sought isn't for me. I'm a member of the ghouls that run between Re and the Nest now. Me, Banjou, Nishiki, and Tsukiyama run it." He explained.
I flinched. "Nishiki... you mean Serpent? And why Tsukiyama!?!" I said.
I haven't seen that Harmony loving bastard in awhile, but I didn't mind it. Banjou was a person I was supposed to get on board with Nest anyway, so I had no objections. Part of me was saying this was awesome, more people on our side against Aogiri... but...
"Are you sure... this is what you want, Sassan?" I asked, a grim look going over me.
Sasaki stood blank for a moment, then looked down at his hands. He formed his hand in a certain familiar form and snapped his finger, making my body squirm for some reason.
That form... and that sound...
I heard it somewhere before...
I shake my head to get back to focus and listen to what he's going to say next. Sasaki then looked back up and a small smile went to his face.
"Yes; and, by the way, My name isn't Sasaki anymore... my name is Kaneki Ken." He said, turning his back and walking out of the room, grabbing his mask off the counter before leaving.
Kaneki... Ken?
His original name... He chose to take it up again.
I look over to where Kurona was and sighed. "I guess I should hit the books..." I started, but I remember something and run out of the room.
"Hey! Kaneki!" I said, getting his attention again.
Kaneki turned, his eyebrow raised with suspicion. I take my medical book up and smile nervously, asking this of someone that I considered a friend felt kind of selfish.
"Can... you help me study?" I asked.
Kaneki seemed surprised, and took my book from me, reading the subtext of the chapters. "Medical surgery and doctoral skills?" He mumbled, looking up at me.
"Why study?" Kaneki asked.
I twiddle my thumbs. "I... I want to reverse the Half Ghoul surgery somehow... to learn about it." I said.
Kaneki instantly dropped the book, and grabbed my collar, pulling me close. For a moment, his eyes were dark and dangerous, then he seemed to calm a bit, but he didn't let go of my collar.
"Why?" He said.
I bite my lip. "I promised..." I mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed about this.
Kaneki tilted his head.
"I promised... Kuro I would... make it so she can eat human food again..." I said, trailing off, but picking it up again with doubt in my voice.
"Is that stupid?" I asked, looking at the ground.
Kaneki froze, his mouth open only a bit, slowly letting me go and picking up my book. He placed the book back in my hands and suddenly, he was chuckling.
"Alright, sure. I'll help you study." He said, patting my shoulder.
My face goes red and I groan in embarrassment. "Shut up. It's not funny!" I said.
Kaneki led me into the living room and sat down. "How about I teach you some pick up lines since I'm supposed to be teaching you stuff?" He said suddenly.
"Pick up lines? I want to learn about surgery." I said, a nervous smile on my face.
Kaneki pulled out some glasses dramatically, ignoring my comment. "Here is one! Are you a campfire? Cause you're hot and I want s'more!"
Everything wet silent, and I face palmed so hard a red mark went on my face. Even though he changed a lot, he still has those one liners that make you cringe.
"What? No good?" He asked.
The rest of the night was Kaneki helping me study... and every now and them throwing out a corny pick up line and asking for my opinions about them.
(And here begins the once again badass/funny/crazy/insane/holy Kaneki! And yes, Levin and him are gonna become the best of bros. Do not worry, more badass Kaneki is to come in the next few chapters! Nonetheless, I hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day!) - MnMs171