14th Ward

Chapter 8: Kou

        After school I met Akihiko to travel to a warehouse outside of the 14th ward for my first quinque lesson, "Today's gonna be fantastic! I hope you get an agility type quinque, they're easy to use for beginners."

        I look at him oddly, "Do you mean a Ukaku?"

        He looks at me surprised, "I guess you studied your kagune types, what's the shield kagune na-?"

        "Koukaku, Rinkaku are multi-tailed kagunes that have great speed and strength. Bikaku kagunes are the most rare but also thought to be the mother of all kagunes, usually one or two tails and would be my go to kagune because they have speed, strength, and agility as well as a good defense."

        He was silent for a while as a look of wonder spread across his face, "I'm impressed, you weren't lying when you said you knew a lot about ghoul kagunes."

        I blushed at the compliment, "Well, I sort of have to, don't I?" He nodded and continued drive out into the country side, it was dusk by the time we arrived at the empty warehouse.

        He opened the back of the van and removed 5 different silver cases, "I want you to test them all and pick one." I nod and pick up the one that I felt a sort of pull, I press the button to release it. A blood red and black Bikaku spreads from the handle, I dropped it in surprise. It was the binge eater woman's kagune. I choked back a cry and collapsed on the ground, tears started to flow freely as the memory overwhelmed me.

        "No! No, this can't be happening! You can't do this to me world!" I shoved my fist to my eyes trying to stop the flow of salty tears, Akihiko put a gentle hand on my shoulder.

        "I'm sorry, I chose this one because I tried to find a variety, I hope this doesn't bring back any unpleasant memories. Were you attacked by the ghoul with this kagune?" I wanted to shake my head, but instead I nodded. "I'm sorry, try another one." I composed myself and reached for the next one, it unfurled into a giant spiral the wrapped up my arm and back down into a sharp point. It's vibrant blue and purple colors were beautiful, but it was much to heavy compared to what I was used to. 

        The Ukaku kagune was much like Hiro's, a sort of feather looking wing, but it was much too light for me to take a liking to it. I sighed in defeat, the last one was a rinkaku. I opened it to a four-tailed lavender kagune, the tips were claret red and scale like. "I like this one." Even if I didn't it was similar to my fox tail Bikaku, I just had to get used to have three more tails. We walked inside the warehouse to start using the quinque, "Can you keep a secret?" Akihiko looks at me suspiciously, "I have my own kagune."

        He starts laughing but then realizes I was being serious, "Can I see it?" I looked away for a second and put in one of the human eye contacts I just so happened to bring along, I let my bangs cover the other ghoul eye as I summoned my kagune. 

        The tail slithered from my tail bone and puffed out like a fox that had been startled, "Is this an implant?" I hesitated on the lie but nodded, "I guess this means you're part ghoul technically." He pushes my bangs out of my eye, "It's okay, this just means you don't need a quinque. But you should use one so no one finds out." He winks and hugs me, "I don't care what you are, I'll protect you with my life." Tears started welding up in my eyes again, he backed away and wiped my tears. "Use your kagune and quinque to fight me now." 

        He ran to the other side of the warehouse and wiped out his quinque, it was a Rinkaku. I grinned evily and threw myself up into the air, I flew and jumped like a spider monkey. "Very good, If I knew you were that skilled I wouldn't ave let your use your kagune."

         I attacked with with half my usual strength, He fell backwards and hit the wall with an ear crackling crunch. "Oh my god! Akihiko, I'm so sorry!" I ran to him thinking I just knocked him unconscious, I'm whipped halfway across the room by his three tailed rinkaku. 

        "Rule number one, never let your guard down." He flung the quinque at my with all his might, I sprung up into the air and ran along the ceiling. "Good!" I used my tail to force my way through his strong tails, I got through his guard and landed on his shoulders. Thankfully I was wearing pants otherwise his would have gotten a face full of my underwear, "Oof!"

        We collided to the ground, I laid on top of him in triumph. "Do I win?" 

        He laughed and pushed me off him, "This round, I guess." He pins me to the ground to prove his point, "You know for a ghoul, you're pretty weak."

        I chuckled, "I wasn't even using half my strength." With that I threw him back a few feet and summoned my kagune again.

        Akihiko shook his head, "Use your quinque now, eventually you'll need to get used to it."

        I let my kagune disappear and grabbed hold of the lavender four tailed quinque, it felt as if the user was still alive. I used my speed and agility to throw myself into the air, I use the quinque to attack but he stops me. "That's enough for today, you're pretty good with a quinque."

        I was somewhat winded, but was able to nod in agreement. We piled back into the car after reloading the quinques, the ride back to town was silent. Akihiko put the van in park and sat there for a few seconds, "Well, I hope-"

        I interrupt him with a kiss, he's so warm, it was gentle and his left hand caressed my face. His touch was soft and his hand smelled like peppermint, I wanted to stay like this forever. But I couldn't, I slowly pull away, but his other hand grabs me around the waist. He pulled me onto his lap and hugged me tightly as our lips never parted, he pulls away out of breath.

        He looks at me with those intense green eyes as if asking for more, I fought the urge to run from him as he kissed me once more. This time with a sense of urgency, like a snake his tongue parted my lips and slithered into my mouth. He tasted like cotton candy, I lightly bit down and he winced in surprise. He didn't pull away though, he only slithered further into my mouth. His blood dripped onto my taste buds and down my throat, I pushed him away as my instincts started to react to the human blood that had entered my body. I was loosing all sense of control, if I had been myself in the past I would have already devoured him. I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and bolted from the vehicle, I put on a fake smile as I waved from my front door. As soon as he pulled away I ran inside for my stash of flesh, my stomach growled in agreement. 

        I grabbed a handful of flesh and shoved it in my mouth, I chewed quickly and swallowed. "That was too close..." I wiped my lips smearing blood on my pale arm, I could never get that close to Akihiko again, I won't be able to restrain myself next time.

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Author's note

Sorry about the late publishing! I've been really busy because of the holidays, I hope you all enjoy the next couple chapters from Chise's perspective!