"Now, do you know anything about Eyepatched Sun's recent whereabouts?" Serpant Bat inquired sternly after he'd asked about the Serpant.

"So the rumors are true- Eyepatched Sun disappeared.. That's unfortunate. I rather liked him.. I'll look into it for you, Serpant Bat. But I'm sorry, I've only heard small rumors. About him being missing. That's it."

"... And the new Aogiri Leader? What do you know about him?"

"Ah, I've heard about him. He's supposedly incredibly skilled at killing. I hear he doesn't have a codename yet. He has a sun mask with a smile painted on, correct?"

"Yes, that's the one."

"I'll look into him as well. The most I know about him is that he all of the sudden appeared as an Aogiri Leader. I also hear he's a one-eyed ghoul. I've heard he's not much fun, really. I picture him as this serious kind of guy that's in all black," Uta nodded, frowning in thought, "But I guess he's probably different from my imagination. What kind of person like that wears a sun mask with a smile? They contradict each other."

"He's not much fun?" Serpant Bat repeated, confused.

The ghoul they had seen.. had made a few jokes about.. well, he'd made sexual jokes.

"Supposedly not. I hear that in place of his high intelligence and strength, he has absolutely no funny bone WHATSOEVER." Uta laughed, "But that's probably just a rumor. Exaggeration."

"..."

The new Aogiri Leader.. He's serious? Amon and Bat hadn't seen anything that made you think he had a no-joking personality..

"Well, thank-you, Clown."

"You're most certainly welcome. I'll be sure to look into Eyepatched Sun and the new Aogiri Leader for you. I actually find it intriguing."

"Thanks."

Bat stepped back, and the next person stepped up to ask.

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

Ring~

"Welcome to Clear Di-"

CDL froze, blinking in surprise.

They didn't normally get customers in masks. Sure, they always wore masks, even when on break, but the customers didn't wear masks.

And having Aogiri Leaders stroll in by itself is insane.. even more so than a customer wearing a mask..

"Yo. The CDs wanted to have a chat with us?"

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

"I told you to let it go, Serpant Bat!!" CDL hissed.

"Eyepatched Sun could be in danger, and you just want me to let it go?!! Not a chance!!"

"They shouldn't hurt us. We just want to speak with them," Amon commented, "If you need, we can speak with them elsewhere." CDL growled under her breath but let it go.

They'd already led the Aogiri Leaders here.. If they talked alone with them, who knows what would happen.. Rabbit Bloodstone and Serpant Bat obviously aren't in their right minds..

---

"We hear you recently popped up out of nowhere. Care to explain?" Serpant Bat inquired.

"Things happened, lives change," the ghoul shrugged. Bat didn't take that as an answer.

"How so?" Bat growled, a little irritated.

"I don't have to tell you that."

Bat growled, but Amon put an arm in front of him, interrupting, "We're concerned about someone who went missing," he began.

"What does that have to do with us?"

"... If intuitions, assumptions, and accusations are correct, it has everything to do with you. Now, as I was saying, that person is Eyepatched Sun. He once told me that if I guessed any information, he'd either confirm or deny it."

"I think that is rather foolish. What if his life was ruined from that?"

Amon stared at the ghoul. "That was the one rule. He'd confirm or deny any of it, as long as it didn't interfere with his goals, he said.. So I want to ask you three, do any of you know an Eyepatched Sun?"

"Can't say I do, sorry." Ayato scoffed. Eyepatch stared at the nameless ghoul.

"You, Eyepatch? Do you know an Eyepatched Sun?"

Eyepatch's gaze slowly turned to Amon. His nose twitched slightly.

"You really do smell familiar."

"Do you know an Eyepatched Sun."

"..." Eyepatch glanced at the nameless ghoul once more before replying. "No."

"... Do any of you know a Hideyoshi Nagachika by any chance?" Eyepatch gasped. Amon raised an eyebrow behind his mask, and Eyepatch cursed himself inwardly for not being able to hold the gasp in.

But..

Hideyoshi Nagachika.. it's been so long.. since he's heard.. that name..

"..." The nameless ghoul sighed softly.

"Who the h*ll is Hideyoshi Nagachika?" Ayato grumbled, glancing at Eyepatch.

"Well, Eyepatch? Do you know him?"

"... Uh.. w-well, I.. uhm.. no.." he subconsciously rubbed his chin. "I have no idea who you're talking about.."

"Why did you gasp then?"

"I thought you said, uh, Fide..yoshi Naga..pika.."

The nameless ghoul spit into his mask and burst out laughing on the floor.

"... What the h*ll is wrong with him now..?" Ayato growled. Eyepatch blinked.

"F--FIDEYOSHI NAGA--NAGAPIKA!! WHAT THE h*LL?!! GAHAHAHA!! EYEPATCH, EYEPATCH, I SWEAR, COULD YOU BE ANY MORE OBVIOUS?!!!"

"Wh-What are you talking about?" Eyepatch defended, shrinking back slightly.

"FIDEYOSHI NAGAPIKA!!! FIDEYOSHI NAGAPIKA!!!!!!!!!!" the ghoul cackled, rolling around on the floor. The people in the room had to wait for him to calm down. "Whew! Geez, what a laugh, huh? Fideyoshi Nagapika."

"... I-I've heard of the name Fideyoshi Nagapika.. but not Hideyoshi Nagachika.." Eyepatch defended warily.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, Eyepatch-san."

"..."

"... So none of you know an Eyepatched Sun OR a Hideyoshi Nagachika?" Amon's gaze turned to the nameless ghoul, as if accusing him. The ghoul smiled behind his mask. "What about you, new ghoul?"

"Sorry."

"You don't, or you do?"

"'Can't say I do."

"..." Amon stared the smiling ghoul down. "So you claim that you are most definitely not Hideyoshi Nagachika?" Eyepatch jerked back a little in confusion and distaste.

"Why, whatever are you implying, sir? That I'm lying?"

"..."

The smile faded into a frown. "You can't take a joke very well, can you? So serious.. Don't worry, I'm not lying."

"... So none of you know anything about Hideyoshi Nagachika or an Eyepatched Sun?" Again, the ghouls declined.

"Although the name sounds slightly familiar.." the nameless ghoul hummed, propping his cheek onto his palm, "Where did I hear it..? Ah, that's right. There was a rumor going around, that he USED to be a human prostitute and is now a ghoul delinquent.."

Amon furrowed his eyes at the ghoul.

"I'd ASSUME he's a half-ghoul, if the rumor checks out.. I suggest you dig deep. I'm pretty sure there's a human doctor researching that kind of thing.. I've heard he's dangerous though."

"We don't care!!" Serpant Bat shot up, "I'll do anything for him!! Who is this doctor?!!"

"... I don't know his name, sorry, man."

Serpant Bat collapsed back on the couch in hopeless despair. A lead.. A lead just out of his reach.. A rope just a meter away.. A rope leading him to Hide..

"Who did you hear this rumor from?" Amon inquired.

"Hmmn~ I tend to just pick up conversations, you know~ I think.. it was two girls that were speaking of it."

"Do you have any idea what they looked like?"

"... Sorry, no."

"Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"Sorry, can't think of anything. Be careful if you choose to follow these leads though. I heard that doctor is REALLY dangerous."

"He is," Eyepatch spoke up, "He's an evil monster.."

"I do-"

"You'll care when you're used to turn a helpless human into one of us!!" Eyepatch snapped, snarling, "That doctor doesn't care who you are or anything like that! He'll grab you if he can, and he'll turn you into a ghoul if you're human, or he'll keep you only to rip out your kakuhous if you're a ghoul!! THEN you'll wish you never once followed the leads!! ..If your person is indeed involved with that doctor.."

"Do you know anything extra about the doctor, Eyepatch?"

"..." Eyepatch glanced at the nameless ghoul. "His name. I know his name. And he has two subordi-"

"Eyepatch-san, Black Rabbit-san," the nameless ghoul suddenly spoke, "I think it's time we leave."

"Wait!" Amon refuted, "His name. What is his name, Eyepatch?"

"We are leaving," the ghoul stood up, grabbing Eyepatch's hand, "We are leaving and never coming back. Good-bye."

The humans were forced to stare at the ghouls' backs as they left. {I'm sure Ayato was all too quick to leave, saying something like 'THANK GOD!!'}

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

"What was that about?" Eyepatch inquired, frowning behind his mask.

"Why are you letting them get into such messes, Eyepatch-san?" the ghoul put a hand on his waist.

"They're the ones getting involved."

"They're innocent, stupid humans. ... They have no place here. They don't belong in the ghoul world.." he stared up at the moon.

Humans..? Those were humans..? They wore masks..

"If they get involved with Dr. Kanou.. it'd be bad news. I don't want that to happen to them."

"..." Eyepatch furrowed his eyebrows.

This ghoul knew more than he was letting on.. And he said that he didn't know the doctor's name, but he just said it..!

Does this ghoul know those people?

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

"I'm following the lead," Bat hissed under his breath. Bloodstone stared at him.

"It's barely even a lead, Serpent Bat. We don't even know the doctor's name," CDL replied, "Besides, I told you, we should just forget him.. ESPECIALLY if the rumor that ghoul picked up is true. Eyepatched Sun, a ghoul? I don't even want to think about it, much less follow it to see if it's true."

"She's right," Sack pitched in, "If he's a ghoul now, there's nothing we can do. He's not on our side anymore. Have you forgotten, Serpent Bat? Ghouls murder innocent people. We are trying to destroy those merciless ghouls. If Eyepatched Sun-"

"I don't care! Are you saying we should just leave him?!! In my eyes, him being a ghoul only means we should find him all the more!! You heard that ghoul.. It probably wasn't his fault.. He's probably wandering around helplessly, wanting to die.. because he's exactly what he's always hated.."

Amon gazed at Serpent Bat.

Always hated.. ka?

Amon isn't too sure about that.. Hideyoshi Nagachika kept who knows what secret. He probably knows many names of ghouls – and he never reported it to the CCG. He never once even did anything about it.

That doesn't shake Amon's desire to find him though. Even as a ghoul, Hideyoshi Nagachika could be a great asset to the CCG. He has so much information on ghouls.. and he's intelligent and strong.. Hideyoshi Nagachika was sneaky, but he was still a great asset.

"Are we shaking the assumption that the new Aogiri Leader is Na-Eyepatched Sun then?"

"I didn't say that. For all we know, that ghoul was hiding way more than he knows. No, I'm sure of it. The way he left when Eyepatch was about to tell us the name of the doctor.. That ghoul doesn't want us finding out."

"If it was to his own goals, I wouldn't doubt it. Eyepatched Sun is tricky and evasive. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd lied about everything he said, as long as it stopped him from losing his goals."

"If he's that ghoul.. But what if he is not that ghoul, Rabbit Bloodstone? Serpent Bat?" Sack inquired.

"Then the doctor lead will lead us elsewhere, and we'll shift our path," Bat swiftly responded.

"And what will you do if he is the new Aogiri Leader? Judging from how you were speaking earlier, Bat, you said that Eyepatched Sun probably wants to die, and therefore, you implied that you would grant that wish by killing him. But what if he is the Aogiri Leader?"

"He might still want to die, we don't know!"

"And if he doesn't? If he refuses to give his life to us?"

"...I..I don't know.."

"Think about that then. Because that's what seems to be the situation."

"I still don't understand why you're wasting your time on this, Serpent Bat, Rabbit Bloodstone. We have our own worries," CDL coldly commented. {Hey, alliteration.}

"That may be so, CDL, but as far as I'm concerned, Eyepatched Sun is one of those worries."

"You both are fools. It's dangerous. If Eyepatched Sun is a ghoul-"

"I fully understand that," Amon interrupted, "In my opinion, Eyepatched Sun was dangerous enough as a human. As you told me, he is way better as losing tails than you. He is also intuitive and smart. Now, add to that, the fact that he may be a ghoul now. If he wasn't strong before, he certainly is now. He is one of the last people I'd want to be a ghoul. Not only is he probably going to stir up a bunch of messes as a ghoul, but I consider him a great asset to helping me find and kill ghouls.

"I think you don't understand because you don't know him as well as I do. You don't know everything about Eyepatched Sun. Let me make that clear. I don't have any idea what's going on in that brain of his, and honestly, that scares me a little. I'll be completely honest. I think Eyepatched Sun.. knows way more than he's ever let on. He might know the names of plenty of ghouls – and never told. I don't think he has the same goals as us.. Making him as a ghoul.. only enforces that danger he has to our goals."

"Are you trying to say he's a traitor?" Bat growled, "Is that what you're saying?"

"I'm saying he could easily mess up our plans to find and kill ghouls. You said he's probably wandering around, wishing he could die, but I highly doubt that. Knowing him.. he's probably playing around with his new kagune in his free time. He probably never thought twice about having to eat humans to survive. Serpent Bat, I know you.. as disgusting as it is, I know you are.. attracted to Eyepatched Sun, but he's not the person you think he is. He smiles when he's threatened to be arrested, and he smiled as if recalling a memory when he said that he knew the Centi-the Eyepatch's kagune. Is that not unnerving?"

"Eyepatched Sun is not a traitor."

"...Eyepatched Sun is dangerous. And I can totally see him easing himself into the role of an Aogiri Leader.. Especially so if it adheres to his goals.. That's why I want to find him. I think we should follow the lead that Aogiri Leader gave us."

"It's not a lead," CDL repeated in a hiss.

"Then we talk to Eyepatch - privately. He'll tell us the name. Also, I think I want to ask about who that 'Fideyoshi Nagapika' was.. I have a feeling that he might've been lying about that name.. and my mentor always told me to follow my guts. And anyway, Eyepatch should know Eyepatched Sun. He'd even said that Eyepatch was the first person he encountered.. And since Eyepatch didn't seem familiar with the term Eyepatched Sun, perhaps.. perhaps he only knows the name Hideyoshi Nagachika."

Serpent Bat blinked, realizing something, "His mask.."

"What?"

"Eyepatch recognized him without his mask! Remember, I told you, Eyepatch visited Eyepatched Sun? And he ran off. But Eyepatched Sun didn't have his mask!"

"Then.. that makes me only more sure of the assumption that Eyepatch knows Nagachika.. but not Eyepatched Sun."

CDL sighed, running a hand through her hair, "You guys keep saying that name.. Is that Eyepatched Sun's real name? Hideyoshi Nagachika?"

SB and RB stopped dead in their tracks.

Oh sh*t.

They just totally slipped up..

"Uh.. yea.." SB scratched the back of his neck, "We didn't mean to.. slip like that.."

Rose snorted and laughed. Blank karate-chopped her neck.

"So what, we're following this lead now?"

"... If what they said is true.. then there's a doctor who's turning humans into ghouls. That strikes a nerve with me. But it's still dangerous," CDL replied to B's question. "I'm not sure if I want to.."

CDL looked at Sack, who gave his own opinion, "I'm in the same position as you. I think we need more information to really decide.."

"Then, it's decided. SB, RB, I give you permission to look into it, but the CDs aren't going to be a part of it."

"Hai!"

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

"That Fideyoshi Nagapika you mentioned, can you tell me more about him?"

Eyepatch frowned behind his mask. "Why would you want to know about him?"

"With such a similar name to Nagachika, he might be related in this somehow," RB smoothly replied.

I was kind of surprised at how well he interrogates, but I guess he isn't an investigator for nothing.

"... He's, uh.. I used to know him.. He's human. When I.. When I became like this, I.. I started distancing myself from him.. If.. If what you say is true, then.. then Hide was.. he's gotten himself caught up with ghoul stuff..? That's exactly the reason I tried to distance myself!"

RB twitched but said nothing of Eyepatch's slip up. "I see.. so, you two were close?"

"...close.. Hide.. Hide was everything to me. He was my best friend.. I don't know.. why he even stayed by my side or came to me in the first place.. He's such a nice person.. and I was always antisocial.. I was a wallflower. I don't know how someone as.. bright as him would even notice me.. It seems he was always trying to help me out.." Eyepatch bit his lip, "Even now, maybe.. Maybe he.. Maybe that's why he.. got messed up in ghoul stuff..!" Eyepatch croaked, holding a hand over his mouth. He was crying. "He may have been quick to get swept away with new things, and he seemed interested in ghouls, but maybe.. maybe somehow he figured it out.. what I am.. Oh G*d, what have I done..? Is it my fault Hide's missing?"

I frowned in distaste.

Why is he acting like he has emotions?

Well.. I guess he was human at some point.. According to what he's saying..

"So, you were a victim of the doctor?"

"...yea.. He.. After I barely escaped being eaten by Rize-san, he.. he put Rize-san's organs in me, and.. and I became a ghoul.. I'm only alive because of that, but..! If I could go back.. I'd never have gone on that date with Rize-san.. but if I couldn't change that, I certainly would change the fact that I'm alive.. I wish I died. Whether at the point where Rize-san attacked me or afterward.. I could've died when I fought that investigator. Or even before that, when I was about to eat Hide! If we'd only died then.. If only I knew a way to end it.. something.. just.. something."

"... Well, we aren't here to hear your life story. What's the doctor's name?"

"...Kanou. Dr. Kanou. And he has two subordinates, Shiro and Kuro. I think that might've been who the new Aogiri Leader was talking about.. He obviously knew what doctor he was talking about, and I doubt he found that out from two girls talking. I think that was his way of mentioning the two half-ghouls Kanou created. They do his dirty work."

"...Thanks. And.. were you ever on the bad side of.. Fideyoshi Nagapika?"

"? On the bad side? Of course not. He was my best friend! Well.. maybe I am now since.."

I pressed my lips into a frown. "Thank you.."

Eyepatch nodded. "Um.. I hope you.. find your missing friend.." he left.

I growled lowly when he left. "Hide.. was friends with the Eyepatch?"

"...seems so. Eyepatch even forgot that he had come up with a name to excuse his gasp. He slipped up. He knew Nagachika. There is no 'Fideyoshi Nagapika'. Eyepatch was friends with Nagachika. That begs questions.. Did Nagachika know his best friend was really the Eyepatch? If so, when and how did he figure it out? If not, what made Nagachika claim Eyepatch as the one he was after?"

"Obviously Hide didn't know!" I interrupted him, sick of him implying things, "So don't even think about such a thing as a possibility! The only question is what made Hide claim Eyepatch as the one he was after.." I finished with a mumble. "And how Eyepatch was able to hide his.. condition.. Hide's sharp after all. And evasive. That might've been one of the reasons he was always being tailed, even though he had no idea. Other ghouls knew he was friends with the Eyepatch.."

Gaze..

"Wh-What?"

"...Nothing. I'm just surprised at your insistancy that Nagachika is innocent."

"W-Well, he is!!"

Amon continued to stare at me. "From my viewpoint, he is the opposite of that, but." He opened one eye back up to peek at me, "I know Nagachika better than you, Serpent Bat. If you would like to know why I think he is not innocent.. I can tell you. But only if you ask."

I hissed, "Try me."

"...Very well. You see, this whole thing with the CDs started.. when Mado Akira asked Nagachika if he knew anything about the CDs that had been raiding the CCG. I had no idea where she was going with such a question, but her intuition was correct. As usual. Nagachika told us that the CDs were humans. I don't know if it was a slip up, or if he meant to give us that information, but he did. Akira furthered her questioning, and Nagachika told us more. He told us that he knew plenty about ghouls, that he was in the CDs, and he insulted the CCG, saying we were the suckiest source of info he had.

"The point is, Serpent Bat, I think Nagachika is a sympathizer. He is after the Eyepatch, and he told us that was his one goal, but I don't think he meant like we think.. He told us that he would give up any information as long as it didn't interfere with that goal. After a few questions, he decided he'd only give information if we guessed. Through this method, I figured out that Nagachika knew plenty of ghoul's human disguises. He knows the Rabbit's disguise. He also told me that Eyepatch does not have a human disguise.. He knows things like this. He also said that he knows more about Eyepatch on both his ghoul life and- ah," Amon blinked. "Wait.. Nagachika.. said that he knows.. more about Eyepatch on both his ghoul life and his human life.. but he said that Eyepatch has no human life.."

I blinked. "Well, Eyepatch said he was a human-turned-ghoul, right..? Maybe that's what he meant?"

"And that would imply he knows Eyepatch is his best friend.. But if that's the case, Eyepatch no longer has a human life.. which means that information is no longer useful.. No wait, something's iffy.." Amon scrunched up his face, "If that was the case, wouldn't Nagachika.. wait.. Eyepatch never had a human disguise!" Amon shot up, arms out, and I raised an eyebrow in confusion, telling him that I had no idea what he was saying he figured out. "He has no human disguise, Serpent Bat!!"

"Yes..?"

"As in, his human life was never a disguise! But additionally-"

A laugh was heard.

"My, my, you're as observant as Mado-san when you actually try, huh, Amon-san? I'm not pleased with you dragging Eyepatch here though.."

"The new Aogiri Leader.." I muttered.