Tᴏᴋʏᴏ Gʜᴏᴜʟ Rᴇ:Cᴏᴅᴇᴅ

Grounded

They'd searched and searched for weeks on end but were able to turn up nothing. But they never lost hope.

Three months had passed since Kaneki had been taken by Yamori and even though everyone had returned to their everyday lives, they all felt a bit empty.

Nishiki and Touka had returned to work at Anteiku once it had been repaired and Tsukiyama back to the daily grind of the business world.

Finally Uta came through with some information about where Aogiri had been hiding and that's when they started making their plans to storm the stronghold.

Uta had made everyone replicas of Aogiri Tree's masks and robes so they could infiltrate easily to get in and do what they needed to. There was only two options. Rescue Kaneki or kill the bastard who killed him.

They made their move after closing up the cafe and headed to the area Uta had said they'd find them. Yoshimura stayed behind and told them he'd be their lookout to which everyone agreed.

Touka, Nishiki, Tsukiyama, Yomo, and Uta all donned their disguises and made their way inside the building where they were met with an army of ghouls.

They moved through the crowds with ease and made small talk when necessary and even learned about Yamori's playroom. Gotcha.

They knew that if Kaneki was anywhere, he was there. Hopefully. Without wasting anymore time, they started moving toward the area. That's when things got really bad.

Floodlights illuminated the building as multiple vehicles pulled up outside the building, opening up to reveal multiple men and women wearing armor and bearing weapons. The Doves.

Of course tonight would be the night the goddamn CCG would choose to pick a fight with Aogiri.

Touka and the others removed their disguises and just attacked anyone who got in their way until they came in contact with a strange ghoul that didn't speak.

He was tall and fairly intimidating with his hair tied into a ponytail and bore a mask that showed no expression in particular.

Tsukiyama, Yomo, and Uta stepped forward and told Nishiki and Touka to go ahead without them and that they'd join them after they saved Kaneki.

As they made their way to a rooftop directly across from the area designated as the playroom, Nishiki jumped in front of Touka and took all the spikes that rained down on them in his back.

As he laid there so his wounds could heal, Touka made her way towards her opponent.

"Ayato."

"What's up? You joined the tree?"

"As if, I came for Kaneki."

"The one eyed bastard that Yamori keeps in his area? Even if you succeed in saving him he won't be the same person you once knew. Yamori has a way of getting to people like that."

"He's not as weak as you'd like to think."

"You sure? He reminds me an awful lot of dad so I thought he'd meet a similar fate."

"At least he wouldn't disappoint his father or his father's memory."

"He's dead and gone, he no longer matters."

"...you really believe that don't you? How far you've truly fallen is astonishing but then again what do I expect from the ghoul without an education?"

"I expect that the ghoul who likes to play human is about to join her parents in the afterlife."

"Don't count on it kid."

At that moment both of their kakugan became active as their wings emerged. Both glared at one another with disgust and malice in their hearts.

All Touka had ever wanted was for everyone she loved to stay by her side but she could never hold onto them. Not this time, not Kaneki. She's save him even if it meant going straight through her baby brother.

They raced toward one another with the speed of an Ukaku ghoul and began trading blows one after the other, with Ayato slowly gaining the upper hand.

"Weak just like dad and that half assed bastard. Just give up and leave sis, there's nothing for you here!!"

"Like hell I will! I told you I was here to save him and that's exactly what I'm going to do!! And you and no one else are going to stop me!!"

"You stubborn bitch...it's time you learned your place."

Ayato increased his speed and kicked Touka away as his wings crystalized and fired spikes into her torso.

She gasped as they impaled her body and collapsed onto her stomach.

She had no time to get up because as soon as she hit the ground, Ayato was already on top of her, pressing her face into the ground.

"You could've been like me Touka...we could've been strong together but you made the decision to cozy up to the humans. The same humans downstairs trying to kill us. And for what? Because that's what dad wanted? HE'S DEAD AND GONE!!"

"Dad..."

Her single wing began to crystallize slowly which drew the attention of her brother, making him slightly more irritated.

"Your wings are useless. Let me clip them for you!!"

Wasting no time, Ayato tore into her kagune with teeth and began to devour it without mercy while Touka screamed out in agony.

When he was done, she was a bloody mess and could barely move while he hovered over her.

"Killing you now would be a kindness, and right now I'm feeling quite generous. Tell Mom and Pop I said hi when you get to the other side."

"I...won't...because they have...no son!!"

"You bitch..HOW DARE YOU!!"

One of his wings hardened and whipped towards her ready to deal the killing blow when all of a sudden she was gone.

Nishiki had finished healing and ran to the rooftop where he found Ayato looking confused.

"Looks like you've seen a ghost kid."

"No ghosts here, only ghouls."

Both Nishiki and Ayato looked up and saw who the voice belonged to.

He landed in between the two of them with Touka in his arms and Ayato in his sights.

"Son of a bitch..."

"There's no way."

Touka slowly opened her eyes and took in a sight she never thought she'd see again.

"Y-you...Kaneki?"