Confession ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 7: No Way Out

"I'm a ghoul."

Those words linger in the air, aimlessly drifting. Just hanging there. And yet, it's as if I can see them. Bold, black, Times New Roman font letters. I'm a ghoul.

My blood runs cold. My limbs go numb. A shiver runs down my spine.

Mrs. Warner - dear sweet, sweet Mrs. Warner. I've known her for three years. She is someone who met and greeted me with open arms and a warm smile. She has watched my child grow. She has babysat my child. She is like a grandmother to my child. And yet...all this time, I never knew this about her. This one thing.

"I know it's a shock," she continues. "I never told you because, well...I never knew how. Most people aren't fond of us ghouls. I understand why, of course. Oh, I get it, trust me. I would be wary too in the shoes of humans. But I assure you, not all ghouls are like the ones responsible for all these horrible killings." She swallows, her eyes filling with sadness. "Some of us are trying to live peacefully alongside humans. We want nothing more than that. Even if we did things in the past that we are less than proud of."

It's still a shock. I find myself sitting numbly. I hear her. I know she's talking. I understand. Partly. Sort of. But I also don't. Not completely. Mrs. Warner is a ghoul. Is that true?

"Please understand I would never have hurt you or Rui or anyone else," says Mrs. Warner. "You are like a daughter to me."

This snaps me back. I blink, looking at the older woman. She sits across, her dark eyes glossy with worry. Her cheeks are flushed, and her nose is red. Mrs. Warner.

I know her. I know her very well. For three years, I have trusted her. I have left her alone with Rui, and Rui adores her. And never once have I worried or questioned whether or not if Rui was safe. I just knew she was. And she was safe with a ghoul. She always was.

I inhale and reach over, resting my hand on hers. This is difficult for her. I know it is. "Thank you. Thank you so much. I might be shocked, but I understand why you kept it to yourself. I get it."

And I do.

I do get it. I understand her hesitation. In this world, there is a very delicate balance. One that holds both humans and ghouls. Each fears the other for one reason or another. Humans fear ghouls because ghouls eat humans. But ghouls fear humans because humans have organizations like the TSC to deal with ghouls - including slaughtering them. In the end, we all fear that we'll be killed by the other.

I gingerly stroke her hand with my thumb. Thoughts are pummeling the inside of my skull. This is a lot to take in. Like, a lot. But at the same time, I know it took a lot of courage for her to do this. I mean...this is something ghouls keep to themselves.

Mrs. Warner takes her free hand and places it over mine, a sense of urgency filling her eyes. "And I have another confession."

I blink. "Okay. What is it?"

"Do you remember a while back when Rui got sick? The night when I called you while you were...well, out."

It takes only a second for me to pinpoint what she's talking about. That night. It was when I was out with Clay. We were at his restaurant. It was the first time we kissed, and we were going to...

I nod, "I remember. You called me frantic. What about it?"

Her lip twitches. "Well, I know what made Rui sick, and I... Oh, I feel so horrible not telling you. I wanted to - really, I did, but..." She stops and recollects herself. "I should've watched her better, but I was getting her some more fruit. I turned for a minute and when I looked back, she was eating off my plate."