Jane |UTA| [ Re-Write ]

stopped still ✍︎

Touka immediately ran for the 4th Ward Once night hit, flinging on her mask as she flew magically through the air. She could barely breathe with the covering veiling her identity, hiding her from the world. As she flew across the start cluttered sky, her mind immediately switched to Uta's date, how she accepted him warmly against his obviously ghoul traits.

How could a dove do that? How could she just hold his hand and willingly accept him like she wasn't the vermin that hunted her kind? Who killed her dad.

Touka continued to let those thoughts filter through her mind until she reached HySy art mask studio.

Uta couldn't possibly know, I'm doing him a favour the teen reasoned as she entered the shop.

There he was, earphones plugged over his ears while he constructed the mask before him. Above his head sketches and measurements were pinned and crowded the cork board over his desk.

Jane would take everything from him.

Slowly, she pulled off her mask and approached the intimidating ghoul. He was so engrossed in his work that Uta barely noticed the young female until she tapped readily on his shoulder, rapping against the doors of creativity stored in his mind's eye.

With a deep sigh of an overworked artist, Uta slipped his chunky earphones around his neck and swivelled his chair toward Touka. She wasn't surprised by his bored expression as she stood before him, her mask held too tightly in her grip.

Uta quickly noticed the ghoul's fear and relaxed his shoulders in a silent attempt to comfort her.

"Why are you here Touka?" He questioned, rubbing his forehead thoroughly against his fatigue.

"I needed to tell you something" she strongly stated, her back straight despite the signs of anxiety.

"And this couldn't wait until the morning?",

"Couldn't that wait until the morning?" She said raising an eyebrow toward his next project.

"There's such thing as I deadline" Uta sighed before whipping around and multitasking between listening to the young ghoul and continuing his work.

"Well, I need to tell you this now-" Touka exhaled with a nervous breath,
"- that woman you met at Anteiku-",

"What of her?",

"Yomo told me about when she was here, years ago", Touka watched the older ghoul still his working hands.
"I thought there was something fishy about her, so I did some digging and eventually found out from her friend, from school, that she's a CCG Investigator, Special Class Investigator Jane Fraser".

The female ghoul waited patiently in silence, actively thrumming as she was sure Uta would find some way to protect Anteiku from this threat. However, when he turned back, allowing her to capture his features perfectly, she realised they'd become dark and empty against her words.

"I know".

Touka took a literal step back, her eyes widening as the simple statement drummed into her once calm mind.

"Wait, y-you know" she spluttered.

"I know Touka, I've known since the day I met her ten years ago she would be CCG" Uta announced as he stood and turned off the overhead light above his desk.

While the ghoul made his way to the back room which connected to his house, Touka attentively followed behind him in traumatised shock.

"And you're still with her? What if she turns you in? What if she discovers Anteiku?-",

"Oh, she knows about Anteiku. She's not an idiot Touka. Once she realised how fine you guys were with me, it flipped like a switch in her head. Then look how she treated you-",

"Are you hearing yourself!" Touka erupted, flushing her face red with anger as she glared toward the ghoul.
"Once she finds out you've never changed she's going to ruin us all",

"Tell me something Touka, what is more reassuring than killing someone's father and still having them love you?".

The female ghoul was struck silent.

"You're the ghoul that killed her dad?" She unconsciously asked against the tense atmosphere.

"I didn't know at the time but yeah, that's me" Uta smirked sadistically with a hint of regret hidden under the surface of his kakugans.

"How... how does she do that? How did she forgive you?",

"Who knows-" the ghoul shrugged,
"- I'm just lucky I guess".

"Is... are you sure it's gonna last?".

Uta genuinely thought over the young girl's question, allowing it to swirl in his mind before he released a deep exhale.

"No, but I hope it does".