Stitched Together

Chapter 15: Unravelled

"Wow... so this is where we end up," I murmur breathlessly as I stand with Juuzou, Shinohara, Akira, and Amon. Our investigation of Dr. Kanou has lead us to a large, abandoned estate. Juuzou smiles big and grips his quinque case in excitement. I'd typically say that there was nothing here, and that he shouldn't get his hopes up, but that's not the case. I sense so many ghoul presences from somewhere inside there, it's making me nervous. Shinohara cautiously leads us into the desolate building. The sound of our steps bounces off the decaying walls as we explore the large dwelling.

"Excuse me, but I believe these lead to the basement," Akira gestures to a set of stairs. We all agree to look there and move down the creaky stairs. As we progress my anxiety grows. There are other ghouls here, that's for sure, and I'm getting a growing feeling that something bad will happen. When we approach the end of the corridor we find something.

"Ah, just like the 24th ward," Shinohara says in disgust. There is a fleshy hole in the side of the wall, moving slightly to display life. I've heard of this, walls made of flesh that only react to kagune. If its open, then that means we aren't the first ones here. I'm sure there are ways to close it, but since it's open, one can assume that the ones who broke in aren't with Kanou. "Well, prepare for battle then," Shinohara notifies, stepping into the hole. I remain frozen in place. I've never dealt with these things before. This is something so much bigger, but I don't think the investigators really realize it. A hand grasping mine makes me jump slightly.

"Reina, come on," Juuzou tugs with a slightly confused look. I get ahold of myself and proceed with him. "You're nervous huh? Don't worry, we can fight off all those mean ghouls," he smiles, squeezing my hand reassuringly. I wish I could find that comforting, but I know something bad will happen. Every instinct I have is screaming at me to run. My eyes remain forward, but my face is pale.

"Now we need to discuss strategy," Shinohara starts. I listen half heartedly until I get held back because Juuzou stops walking. His head is turned and he's staring down a hallway.

"A sound..." he whispers, not moving his gaze. What is he talking about? I didn't hear anything, but then again I wasn't paying attention. "This way." he says and starts running into the dark hall, dragging me along in one hand and his quinque case in the other.

"J-Juuzou, the group," I whimper as we become separated from the others. I hope with all my heart he isn't bringing us somewhere dangerous, but something tells me things won't play out that nicely. We stop when we see two figures hunched over. He lets go of my hand, a strange expression on his face.

"Well well, these are some familiar faces. Kurona and Nashiro right," he says calmly, alerting them of our presences. The first thing I notice about them it's their single red and back eye. N-No way, more one eyed ghouls, and Suzuya appears to know them.

"Rei!" They both gasp in unison. Wait, Rei, Juuzou has brought that name up before, but they used it to address him, so does that mean...

"It's Suzuya Juuzou now, second class investigator Suzuya Juuzou," he smiles big. This means his name wasn't always Juuzou, but why did he change it? The two twins gasp at his title.

"To think they're using you of all people, they must be crazy... and your friend..." they pause and glare at me.

"Oh, that's Reina, she's a second class like me, we're best buddies," he giggles and introduces me, almost like he'd forgotten I was there. "But you know, your eyes are red, so you quit being human huh?" He narrow his eyes a bit and smiles thinly. These two were human... just like Kaneki.

"We have no interest in your twisted human world, we have no need for humanity," Kurona snaps.

"That sure is something. You know, I've always wondered, since you're twins, if I stretched out your intestines side by side which would be longer? I'm an investigator, and you are ghouls, so there shouldn't be a problem if I kill you right?" he laughs maniacally and gets out his quinque. My heart stops for a moment at the sheer fear Juuzou instilled in me. His eyes, they looks so... blood thirsty. The two immediately draw out their kagune. I blink back into reality and open my own briefcase, wielding my swords. Nashiro charges at me but I dodge and jump up into the air. She follows me and we leap atop large barrels of some kind, all while countering each other's attacks. Juuzou's crazed laughter bounces of the cold stone walls. I really want to check on him, but she is incredibly strong and requires my full attention.