"The world is a cruel place and its people are even more so. Especially me."
Ever since the existence of Ghouls had become known to the public, everyone began to fear them. And upon further study, it was revealed that all Ghouls were in the forms of...
Ever since that night I killed my first Ghoul, I'd developed an addiction to killing and devouring Ghouls. Every night after school, Minami and I would meet up and we'd go out to the 23rd Ward and grab dinner. It tasted so much better knowing the "effort" we put in to claim it. With every Ghoul we devoured, the stronger we became. Only problem was we wouldn't know when a Kakuja would manifest until we were pushed into a corner.
It's been two months since that night and right now, Minami and I were wandering the 23rd Ward, searching for Ghouls to eat. Neither of us made an effort to disguise ourselves since we didn't think there'd be any survivors to rat us out. There never were.
I sigh and rest my arms behind my head as we walk.
Mutasim: You doing okay, Minami?
Minami: Yep. How about you?
Mutasim: Never better. Gotta say, I enjoy these late nights out with you.
Minami: Aww! I enjoy all the time I spend with you too.
She smiles sweetly at me before sniffing the air. Her eyes snap open wide as they turn into their Ghoulish black and red. Her lips curl up into a painfully wide grin.
Minami: I smell Ghouls. ~
She says in a sing-song voice. Eager to eat, I bring forth my Rinkaku kagune and nod at her. Minami leads the way, using her Bikaku kagune to leap up. I follow after her, using my tendrils to latch onto a nearby building and pull myself up. The two of us reach the rooftop and come face-to-face with a few Ghouls, all of them dressed in red robes and skull masks.
Ghoul1: Is that them?
Ghoul2: Who cares? They're not with us, they die.
Minami: Aw, that's adorable. You actually think you stand a chance.
The Ghouls all reveal their kagunes and charge at us. Minami swipes her tail at them, slamming into two of them while the third one dodges and continues to run towards us. They coat their arm in a hardened blade and slice at me. I step aside and kick them in the groin, earning a squeal out of them as they fall to their knees. All four of my tendrils stab the Ghoul in the back. They scream, but it's short lived as the tendrils rip the Ghoul into four pieces.
Mutasim: Too easy.
Minami crushes the other two Ghouls under her tail and laughs.
Minami: Indeed it is. ~ It's a little upsetting too. I wish these nights would last longer.
Mutasim: Well, we can always hunt and kill more of them.
Minami: Hm. True.
She raises her tail to see if the Ghouls are still alive. To both our surprise, both Ghouls lunge at us, revealing Rinkaku kagunes. They moved in perfect synchronisation and managed to kick Minami off the roof! I was able to jump out of the way just in time and grit my teeth as they faced me. Their masks were off and I could see their faces. They too were One-Eyed Ghouls, just like me! And judging by how similar they looked, I could only surmise they were twins.
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Ghoul1: This is the one she was looking for, right?
Ghoul2: Yes. You. What's your name?
Mutasim: I'm not fond of telling strangers my name. Even if they are pretty ladies like yourselves.
Ghoul1: Of course you wouldn't make it easy.
Ghoul2: We're not here to start a fight with you. We've been looking for you so we could talk.
Mutasim: About what?
Ghoul1: About you joining us, the Aogiri Tree. I'm sure you've heard of us.
Mutasim: An army of Ghouls. And why would I join Ghouls when I kill and devour them nearly every night?
Ghoul2: We don't know. Only that our leader would like to add you to the ranks.
Mutasim: If this leader of yours wanted to add me to your little army so bad, then why didn't she come along and do it herself?
Suddenly, a strong smell filled my nostrils. It was larger and much more potent than any Ghoul I've ever sensed. Before I can question what it was, something large and heavy landed behind me. I turn around to see a giant beast with a single crimson eye. Giant feathers which looked like spikes stretched out of its neck and shoulders. Its body was coated in a red garb and it had multiple grey arms. My eyes widen and I take a few steps back, stunned by the size of the creature.
Creature: As a matter of fact, here I am. I was busy with something else. I'm sorry for the late arrival.
Mutasim: What... Are you?
Creature: Hehe. ~ I've heard all about you. A young duo hunting Ghouls in the 23rd Ward, both of you eager to become Kakujas. And it most definitely drew my attention when I heard one of the duo was a male Ghoul. ~
Mutasim: I guess I should've disguised myself...
Creature: I offer to aid you in your goal. As a Kakuja myself, I respect the effort and dedication you put yourself through to achieve such a mutation. What better way to learn how to become a Kakuja, than the One-Eyed Owl herself?
So this was the leader of the Aogiri Tree, the One-Eyed Owl. Everyone knew about the terrifying beast this Ghoul was. How she was brutal, relentless, without mercy. And above all... Really lustful. No joke, most stories surrounding this Ghoul are that she usually puts up a front where she teases people before pouncing and killing them. So with all this knowledge, I was weary about trusting her.
Mutasim: I doubt you make that offer for a lot of other Ghouls. What's the catch?
One-Eyed Owl: You catch on quick. The catch is...
She leans down towards me, leaning her face in front of mine. Out of nowhere, she opens her mouth and exhales in my face.
One-Eyed Owl: You have to be my husband. ~
My face immediately heats up from hearing that. And it seemed like I wasn't the only one surprised by that.
Ghouls: WHAT?!
Mutasim: HUH?!
One-Eyed Owl: What? I get lonely too.
Ghoul1: O-Owl, with all due respect, we don't know this man.
One-Eyed Owl: I've never had that problem. And it's a good deal. So...? What'll it be?
Mutasim: I... Uhh...
All of a sudden, I feel an arm wrap around me as Minami appeared out of nowhere and hugged herself to me.
Minami: We accept.
Mutasim: Wait, what? Minami, hold on-
One-Eyed Owl: I like you already. ~ Let's bring you two back to one of our bases.
Mutasim: Hang on just a second. Don't I get an actual say in this?!
The other two Ghouls pat my back.
Ghoul2: No. When our leader decides something, she never backs down.
I let out a low sigh and decide not to piss off the One-Eyed Owl. We all follow her, traversing the rooftops.
Seriously, this was a bit more than I think I could handle.
