Okay, I said I was going to focus on YY Gender.. and yeeeaaa.. that.. has not been.. working..

Also, who knows what happened to the cool feature where you could add a new part from the drop-down menu.. urgh. -_-' (It's back now.)

P.S. Wasn't really sure what to call this chapter.. so I'm sorry for the poor title.

"So, that's the situation."

"The new Aogiri Leader will really turn himself in if you make a way for ghouls to live without eating humans?" Marude seemed skeptical.

"Hai!" SB replied before I could speak. (It's like he's replaced Nagachika..) "He seemed unnerved when Amon-san threatened to post pictures of Hide's friend everywhere, so there's no way he'd take the chance and not follow up on his end of the deal! All we have to do is come up with a way for ghouls to eat something other than human flesh, and we'll present that option, and the ghouls won't take it! They'll continue eating humans! It's a sure plan! And after we capture that guy.. we can ask him where Hide is! Since he clearly knows."

"Oooor Nagachika IS the new Aogiri Leader," I reminded him dully.

"No way! Hide's not a traitor!" he refuted, "I won't believe it!"

"So? Can we go through with the deal?"

"... Well, you can do it on your own time. You can borrow any materials you like, but make sure it costs us zit. Got it, Koutaru?"

"Hai!"

"Oh, so Koutaru's your first name? Or is it your last? It must be your last, right?"

"Unlike you C- unlike you believe, I was not having a relationship with Nagachika. That's disgusting. I was not that close with him. We weren't even on great terms."

"Suuuure," SB replied, "I bet you're the guy Hide secretly loves. I mean, you trusted each other with each other's faces and everything."

"And he stupidly allowed you to see his face as well."

"Yeah, that's because I'm succeeding in taking him from you."

I sighed.

"You should just go for R. She clearly has the hots for you."

"Please do not mention her in my workplace, SB."

"Dude, we already know each other's names. Just call me Koumori."

I rolled my eyes, "Fine, Koumori."

"That's better."

"You guys are like a comic duo. Get out of my office."

"Hai! Thank you for the chance to beat the new Aogiri Leader!"

"Yes! And then we can find Hide!"

-_-'

-----------------------

"You sure seem giddy," Ayato droned.

"Oh, yes, I certainly am! See, I made a deal with a little birdie a day or so ago, and I expect great results! Yes, I expect the seed to grow into a GIIIANT tree!"

"A deal with a little birdie. Great."

"And a blind bat."

"Aren't bats always blind?"

"Yeah."

"...Never mind."

"I'm sure you'll appreciate the gesture as well, Eyepatch-san! Well, I better get going," he stood up and wiped off his pants.

"Where are you going? We're supposed to be keeping watch."

"Why, I'm getting a meal of course!"

"..."

So he left, and we were left alone. I glanced at Ayato.

"What?" he hissed.

"...Nothing. Just.. what do you think of that new leader?"

"The new leader? I think he's annoying as f*ck. I liked him much better when he was some mysterious killing machine that rarely spoke."

"...Hm."

He didn't act this way around anyone else, but he'd seemed to have gotten comfortable around me and Ayato. When we were alone like now, he'd practically radiate happiness and sunshine.

He really.. felt.. like Hide when he'd.. act like this..

He even smells familiar, although his scent is slightly different from Hide's.

Either way, that guy's mask IS an eyepatched sun. Although those people don't recognize the mask..? Is he the person they were talking about or not? Either way, he was clearly hiding something from them.

And.. he said they were human..

Is he somehow acquainted with them?

And why was he hiding his sunny personality earlier? Or.. perhaps he just wasn't happy? And now he is? Urgh, there's so many questions around him..

I wish I knew.

-With the New Aogiri Leader-

"I guess I should probably come up with a name.." I mumbled to myself.

Let's see.. Smiling Sun? Haha, that's alliteration. I like it.

Or maybe Smiling Eyepatch? (Kaneki doesn't smile much.)

Eyepatched Smile?

Or perhaps.. haha. Yeah, I'll go with that.

Maybe I'm only making things harder for myself, but oh well.

Hmmn.. I wonder if.. Fukushu and Amon.. and all of the other CDs.. will understand now.

What it feels like.. to be left behind..

BECAUSE YOU'RE HUMAN.

Ah.

Sniff, sniff.

Someone tasty picked the wrong night to go out for a midnight stroll.

----------------------------

Lap, lap.

Creak..

"Ah."

"I heard you wanted some information from me, Uta-san?"

He smiled, "A customer of mine was wondering some things, yes."

"Like what?"

"Like who you are and where one Hideyoshi Nagachika disappeared to."

"Hmn, I don't know about a Hideyoshi Nagachika, but," I slid onto a stool he had hanging around, "If you wish, I can tell you alllll about who I am."

"And you don't want to tell my customer directly?"

"Ah, as cunning as usual, Uta-san. No, I'd rather avoid the little bird and the bat."

"Is that because you're a little berry?"

I laughed, "Far from it! I'm not a berry."

"Well then, you should be able to speak, right?"

"Yep. And you're my translator."

"Am I now? I wonder where I picked up all of the animal languages." I laughed.

"I wonder also."