I practically prayed in my head that Hide was just joking, but he certainly wasn't.

"Oh?" {Juuzou.}

"Ah!!" I jumped back.

"Huh? Oh, Kaneki! How nice of you to come!" the man smiled, holding out his hand.

IT'S THE FISH FACE MAN AND THE STITCHED GUY!!!

C--Come on, his name is Juuzou Suzuya! And the other is not 'Fish Face', it's Shinohara-san!!

"Are you here to play with Juuzou? We were just about to leave." {Shinohara.}

"Ah--uh!!" {Ken.}

Juuzou smiled, "You came to play?"

Crud..

{Now Kaneki's split personality will talk to you:

K's SP: Let me explain. One time, Juuzou had caught Kaneki in the middle of a meal. He said he'd keep Kaneki's secret, but only if he played with him. Therefore, ever since that day, Kaneki has been forced to 'play' (battle to the death) with Juuzou. That's basically the sum up.}

"U-Um.. a--actually, Juuzou.. I--I came because my friend.. dragged me here.." {Ken.}

"Huh? You two know each other? You've been to the CCG before?" {A confused Hide.}

"Let's play, Kaneki-kun! Where would you like to play today?!" {Juuzou.}

Needless to say, I was totally freaking out.

Juuzou's 'playtime' was more like 'I'm going to try to kill you, and you'll try to survive, 'kay~?!!'

I always had to subdue Juuzou by making him fall unconscious somehow. If I tried to run off, he'd find me no matter what. So it was either a fight to the death (which would result in me being dead or me killing a CCG worker, which I would prefer neither since I'm already on the hot spot.) or Juuzou falling unconscious.

I had no idea why the CCG hadn't suspected anything of Juuzou fainting in the middle of nowhere.

But, uh.. the kid is crazy, so..

"I--I'd like to--to play with.. with Hide today, so.." {Ken.}

"Oh? You have another friend?" {Juuzou.}

"! He--He's not like me! He doesn't-- you won't like playing with him! He--He's not a good challenge!"

"Oi!" {Hide.}

"I AM TRYING TO SAVE YOUR LIFE HERE!!! IF JUUZOU 'PLAYED' WITH YOU, YOU'D END UP DEAD!! I DON'T WANT THAT!!" {Kaneki.}

"Eh? He's not a challenge?" {Juuzou.}

"N--No!" {Ken.}

"But.." {Juuzou?}

"He's absolute human, no abnormal abilities of superhuman strength or anything like you, okay?!!"

"Huh.." {Juuzou.}

I wasn't sure if Juuzou understood or was just confused, but at least it's over..

"S--So can I play with Hide today..?" {Kaneki.}

"Do you go soft on him?" {Juuzou.}

"I--I play in a different way with Hide.." I chuckled nervously. "Hide doesn't really like the type of games you play."

"Oh.." {Juuzou.}

I heaved a sigh of relief when they finally left.

"What was that about?" {Hide.}

"Hide, you have no idea.." I sighed. "Juuzou's 'playing' is more accurate to be called a battle to the death.."

"But neither of you have died.."

"Because I make him fall unconscious," I provided.

".."

"Hide, I'm not comfortable here. Can we not visit thi-"

"Ah!!" {Amon.}

And another fiasco..

I looked in horror at the man before me. He instantly got out his quinque, a creepy man behind him.

"You!! Eyepatch!!" {Amon.}

"H--Hah? Wh--What are you talking about?" I tried to play dumb.

"Now, Amon, we don't know if it's really--" the man behind him said, his smile creepily natural, but Amon paid no mind. Knowing him, he probably didn't even hear the guy. Amon tried to swing at me, so I picked up Hide, running away just before his quinque attacked the floor.

"NNGH!!" I fell from the aftershock to the ground.

I forgot.. When he swings his quinque at the floor.. it practically causes an earthquake..

"No--Now let's not be reckless here, okay?!!" I backed up, my hand up. "I have no idea what you're talking about!! E--Eyepatch?!! What--What's that?!!"

Flutter..

"!"

"!"

I looked down in horror. The pieces of paper Hide gave me earlier had got out of my bag, the Stealer case on top.

And of course, it had my notes.

Stealer Case

This ghoul kidnaps kids and holds them elsewhere. We are now suspecting this ghoul as a female. Please be careful, and tell the CCG immediately if you know anything.

On the paragraph, I had crossed out 'holds them elsewhere' and written 'gives them to her kid'. And of course, I'd added at the end of the paragraph: 'This ghoul is the Binge Eater, so please be extra careful. Hah! Not that you can possibly get away from her!'

I had also written notes on all the other cases. On the Gormet, there was rantings about him stealing the ears off that mom and how the CCG hadn't caught him yet. On the Binge-Eater, I wrote similar things as the Stealer. On my own, I had changed the things that were wrong. Luckily, you could barely see any of that part, but Amon picked my papers up.

"Ah! N-No! That's--"

"You sure know a lot about these ghouls, don't you..?" Amon eyed me suspiciously. "Are you still going to act dumb?"

"I--I was just writing down ideas!! I--I don't know if they're really-- t--true!"

"But obviously, you do know what I'm talking about. So stop acting dumb. Admit it! You're Eyepatch!"

"I---I have no idea-- wh--what you're talking about! Hi--Hide gave me those!! And I wrote notes on them! They're just ideas!"

"Though you have some pretty elaborate CHANGES to the Eyepatch cases," he held up my case paper.

"... I--.. I--I thought I could, uh.. d--do a better job of.. of estimating! I--I'm sorry, alright?!!"

"And you have listed something on that paper-- a murder from a ghoul."

It was true. I had written all my frustrations and relief on that page-- I had killed the woman and her child to stop her from suffering.

"If you're not the Eyepatch, then who is? And you obviously know who the Gormet, the Binge-Eater, and even who the Rabbit is. Do you know that I am still injured from your attack when you were a child?!! Do you feel nothing over it?!!"

"You don't understand anything! Ghouls are always having to be on alert because not only are other ghouls after them, but you psychos at the CCG are, as well!!" I blurted, but I couldn't stop myself, "Have you never once stopped to think about how the ghoul children feel when you murder their parents?!! You worry about the children of dead humans!! But you don't do anything about- all you do is let their soul ROT!

"Do you know what it feels like for your parent to get killed?!! I doubt you do!! It puts you in a sick mindset, where you can't even control yourself! You're so upset, you try to vent your anger at whatever's nearest! Your brain doesn't even work anymore! You can't think of the consequences of you going crazy! You may have saved millions of lives that night when you first faced Eyepatch.. but that doesn't mean you don't have a sick mindset of your own!

"You never think about the ghouls! How do they feel, having to eat humans?!! Worrying about who will be missed least, who people wouldn't be traumatized over!

"Yes, some ghouls are sick! You don't have to deal with them, only grieve of their messes! You don't have to face the sick b*st*rds in the face every day, knowing they made a little kid an orphan!! Or that they made someone blind, or deaf! That they didn't even CARE to end their victims suffering! They didn't even CARE to lessen it at all!

"And you don't care either! Because you don't understand those kids!! Being an orphan.. Being an orphan means you have nothing to live for! Who is going to take care of you?!! You won't ever see your parent's smile ever again or--"

"-eki. KANEKI!!"

"!!" I looked behind me, where a worried Hide sat.

"Man, I didn't bring you here to rant stuff that people won't pay attention to.. If you yell, they only look for a reason to refute! What I brought you here for is to teach them about your thoughts about how ghouls may not be as bad as we think.!"

{I'm in the mood for some Insane Kaneki, and I don't mean Centipede.. Let's see if this story has some. Oh, yes, it does. A little. HIDE, WHY MUST YOU RUIN THE INSANE KANEKI MOMENTS?!! You're a little snuffball, Hide~ (poking and prodding at Hide's cute little cheek)

Hide: Are you yelling at me or fawning over me?

me: You have much to learn, child. I do both, back and forth. Sometimes at the same time!

Kree and Uni: I suggest you don't learn her habits. Besides, she's not thinking of making you a Common Play Character.

Natsume: You're over Gakuen Alice AND boy-girl stuff. WHY AM I STILL HERE?!!!

me: 'Cause you're hot.

Kree and Uni: Because you were the first Play Character. You will forever be bound to her plays.

Uni: You're a CPC, so once you get that title, I guess it never really leaves.

me: I'm not over Gakuen Alice or boy-girl stuff. See how I was so interested in my own story from early times when I was trying to keep my documents on fanfiction.net alive? I may be in a phase where I only ship boys, boys, and more boys, and I may not be doing many GA fics, but seriously. Me? Get over Gakuen Alice? Me? Not ship boys with girls? Not a chance. Even in my phase. I wonder if I'm starting to recover from this phase. Hm. I suppose I should push straight ships onto myself.

.

.

.

me: I don't wanna.

Natsume, Uni, and Kree: =_=''

me: I am straight myself, after all. I am a fanatic, hoping for love someday. Since I am a GIRL, how would I ever be able to NOT get over this phase? ... At some point.

Kree, Uni, and Natsume: (rolls eyes)

me: If I was a guy, then I wouldn't have to get over this phase.. But yea. I was born a girl. Hm.

Kree: Nee, Fire, what was that about with that, uh, what was he? gunman or something.

Uni: Fire, you seriously need help. Referring to one of your friends on Wattpad by GUNMAN?

me: His picture is a gun! Or something.. It's not my fault! His username is, uh, pandamanpow or something.. So of course 'gunman' is the first thing that comes to mind! Picture of gun, manpow, DUH!

Kree, Uni, and Natsume: You need help.

me: ... I know. I really do, don't I? I'm messed up. Like, I'm poop in a blender.

others: Ew.

Uni: Don't put that image in my head, gross! Poop does not belong in a blender!

me: Yeah, I know.

Kree: But what WAS that about with that gunman or whatever?

Uni: She just said it was pandamanpow or something, Kree.

Kree: I don't care. So?

me: I don't know.. It didn't really make sense to me, but I think he was trying to flirt.. Maybe?

Natsume: Gosh, you are so love-inexperienced.

me: It's not my fault! I've never dated! How would I know if someone was hitting on me? The only way _I_ know is if they're using sexual terms. 'Cause that's, uh.. flirting to me.. I guess. Gosh, I'm really whacked up, aren't I..?

others: Totally.

Uni: I am so totally lost though. What did the pandamanpow guy do?

Natsume: He was talking about fake valentine things or some sh*t.

me: Don't cuss!

Uni: Ohh, I understand. So Fire was totally confused, but 'valentine' made her think he must've been trying to hit on her.. right?

Kree and Natsume: Yup. And since she's so dense, it was an utter failure.

me: OI!!!

Kree: Plus she's indecisive. She chose to say 'okay' instead of 'I think you're hitting on me?'

Natsume: It wouldn't go anywhere. Fire has no love luck whatsoever.

me: OI!!!!

Natsume: I do think she did a good job of starting that message with 'I have no idea what you just said' or something like that though. Makes the man know she doesn't know what the f*ck he's talking about.

me: DON'T CUSS, OR I WILL BURN YOU IN A GUTTER!

Kree: Ah, talking about Fire's failing love life. It really makes you feel powerful, doesn't it?

Uni and Natsume (laying on uh, whatsitcalled, the things that you lay on at pools, drinking whatever that weird juice is people drink at pools, sunglasses on): Yup. Sure does.

Kree: (joins them) Fire is so stupid.

me: I SWEAR, I WILL-

Natsume: (tilts sunglasses to reveal his gorgeous, red-hot-with-fire eyes) You will what?

me: Duuuuh.. (nose bleeds)

Natsume: (leans back onto the whatever-whatchamacallit, putting his sunglasses back)

Kree, Uni, and Natsume: (laughs) She's so pathetic.

me (holding napkin to nose, waving): Continue to the story, folks. Sorry for taking up your time.

-Random Middle-of-the-Story Play Ended-

}

I panted, my mind slowly calming down.

I'm doomed.. I practically just revealed myself.. What have I done?

"I-I'm sorry.. I, uh.. er.."

Hide stood up and wiped off his pants. He held out his hand to me.

"Nagachika? What are you doing here?" Amon blinked. I don't know why he knows Hide's last name, but I guess it's for the best- he seems a little too surprised to start hitting me again. {(cough) I thought it said hitting on (cough)}

I gratefully took Hide's hand, "Uh.. y..you knew I.. wasn't too.. criticizing of ghouls..?"

"I did." Hide stared into my eyes for a few more seconds before turning back to Amon. He bowed, "I'm sorry for coming unannounced, but I wanted to bring my friend here so you two could have a FRIENDLY," Hide glared at both us, "debate. Which means no fighting allowed. Not even yelling. Capishe?"

"..." I dryly looked at Amon.

I doubt he'll comply to that..

"Y-You two.. know each other..?" {Ken.}

"Yeah, remember that friend I told you about earlier? Amon and his partner, Mado-san, are on the Stealer Case. Since my friend was a victim of that person, they asked me questions and stuff."

"O-Oh.."

The Stealer..? His friend was a victim of the Stealer..?

...Do you think it was that guy we ate this morning? The one Mom provided us. The one she came across.

I jerked.

"W..Wait a minute.. Centi, are yo-are you saying that the person my mom couldn't grab.. the one that evaded her.. was Hide?" I shakily asked.

That is disturbing and horrifying on so many levels..

T-To think I might've.. my mom might've provided me.. wi-with my very own best friend.. I shuddered.

Hide could've been on my bedroom floor as I dissected my meal piece by piece.

If mom had snatched him.. we would've had to have sex with Hide then, don't you think?

"O-Of course!! If--If she had really.. then we.. then I.. I wouldn't even take him apart!! I!--I..!"

"Kaneki?"

I twitched. I warily brought my eyes up to my best friend. I was horrified. I was scared. I was worried.

"Kaneki, are you alright?"

I wanted to run. I wanted to run and never come back. Hide myself in a hole. Rot. Rot for all eternity..

I CAN'T STAY WITH HIDE. IT'S TOO DANGEROUS. HE'LL GET HURT.

Aww, but that means we won't-

"I don't care!!" I shouted, "It isn't worth it! I'm leaving!" I whirled around, but something grabbed my wrist. Hide was looking at me seriously.

"Kaneki. Let's talk. Okay? About that voice you speak to."

"That voice..? What voice? I don't speak to myself. I don't have any voices in my head."

Hm? Was I speaking out loud, or was I thinking? All fogged.

"All I have is Centi. And that's all I need. He gives me everything. I'm fine with him. I don't need you. He keeps me company. He keeps me warm, satisfying company. All I need is Centi and Mom. That's all."

"Kaneki, I need you to calm down for me, okay? Shh.."

"Mom gets me food, and Centi gives me love. Isn't that all I need in life? Auh, that's all I need."

"Kaneki, calm down for me," Hide turned me around, gripping both of my wrists with his own hands.

"Haha, why would I ever even resist him? It doesn't matter if I'm in the middle of a meal or anything."

"Kaneki, you're scaring me."

Hah? Was that Centi, or was that Hide? I'm scaring him?

"Ahh, I should've just followed his suggestion the first time I met you.." my eyes rolled up, "So tasty.. so tasty.."

"Calm down, Kaneki. You need to calm down."

"Excuuuse me."

Hm? Is that me speaking now? What am I saying now?

"I'm going to go take Kaneeeki home now."

Oh, is Centi in control? Oops.

"Please excuuuse his outburst. We will see you later, Hiiide-chan."

Hide blinked, "Kaneki..? What's with the -chan, buddy?"

"Aaamon Koutaruuu, it was nice to see you are aliiive and healthy," Centi bowed our heads towards the investigator, "I never had the chaaance until now, but I thaaank you greatly for your seeervice. That night you not only saaaved millions of people, but you saved meee. So I thank youuu. There is nooothing I could do to show the graaatitude I feel towards youu. I hope you are proud and haaappy," Centi's lips curved into a small smile. "I bid you alllll adieu."

"Uh, Kaneki-"

"Noo, Hide~" Centi gripped Hide's chin. Hm? When did our hands get released? "MY name is Centiii."

"Cen..ti.."

Centi smiled in glee and patted Hide's head. He started off.

Amon glared at us, and Hide gave a slight wave, still seeming a little confused.

Ahh, IIIII f*cked uuuup~

"You did, Kaneeeki. We'll have to be in hiiiding for a few years again. Poooor us.." Centi's tone changed to a hiss, and I knew he was angry, "And we won't be able to see Hiiiiiide again.

"WE NEED TO EEEAT HIM AS SOON AS WE CAN. OR MAYBE HE CAN BECOME OUR PEEET."

Pet..? That sounds.. niiiiiiice..

But before thaaaat, maybe I should gaaaather myyyyself.

"You shouuuld. You're speeeaking like I do when I'm angry and in our booody."

HaHaHa, I am, areeen't I?!!

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

It's been an entire year since I last saw Kaneki - which was incidentally at the CCG.

I had convinced the CCG that I had absolutely no idea Kaneki was a ghoul; I thought he was a sympathizer. Of course it wasn't true, but they bought it. Luckily..

I miss him.. Sure, he had a lot of secrets he tried to keep from me, but I.. I really thought we were close..

'All I have is Centi. And that's all I need. He gives me everything. I'm fine with him. I don't need you. He keeps me company. He keeps me warm, satisfying company. ... Centi gives me love. ... Ahh, I should've just followed his suggestion the first time I met you.. So tasty.. So tasty..'

Centi, eh..? So that's the person Kaneki always talked to? I knew the two of them were close, but..

'I'm going to take Kaneeeki home now.'

Is 'Centi' his caretaker in a way? A lover? Both?

I took a deep breath and leaned back against the chair, closing my eyes.

"Ah." {Hide.}

"Eh?" {Kaneki.}

I glanced at the blood on the stranger's chin but said nothing of it. I also did not mention the kagune that had just disappeared. Or the.. thing in his hand.

"Hi! My name's Hide! What's yours?"

He blinked. "You.. aren't.. scared of me..?"

"Why would I be scared?" I smiled, "Have you done something bad?"

"O-Oh, uh.. n-no, of.. of cou-course not.. I'm not a ghoul. I'm a plain little human."

That 'little' was spat. Does he think humans are weak?

"Of course you are, and so am I!" I laughed, "So, I gave you my name. What is yours?"

"...K..Ka..neki.."

"Kaneki, huh? That's cute. Cool."

His eyes seemed to bulge ever so slightly. "Ohh.. Um-"

"Do you want to be friends with me, Kaneki?" I held out my hand, and he looked between me and my hand. A smile ever so graced his lips. It was the tiniest - and creepiest - I'd ever seen.

"A.. friend?"

"Yup! A friend."

"So.. you'd spend time with me? Sh*t up!"

I blinked, but Kaneki had just gone right back to smiling that sheepish smile at me.

"Uhhm.. yea."

"Really, really? You'd spend time with me? We'd help each other? And you.." his eyes were crazed, "You'd.." his voice shuddered through his loosely shut teeth. I blinked again.

I'm not sure what he's getting so excited for, but.. "Yeah! Of course! That's what friends do!"

"Ooo.. that sooou-n-ds niice."

"Yep! So, will you be my friend, Kaneki?"

His lips slowly moved the word out, "Y-e-p."

"Yosha!"

"Mmmmmm-hm. Yo-No! I said no. He is not that kind of matteerial," Kaneki crossed his arms, "He is not. I know I have you, but I can have another friend, can't I?"

Kaneki had talked to himself from the beginning. Maybe that odd attitude he had was why I befriended him. It got better with time though. His strange, elongated and awkward words. He no longer seemed to have trouble moving his lips to make words, and he no longer paused.

So.. did.. did Centi suggest he eat me..? Is that what Kaneki was shouting about..?

'Hide~'

But.. 'Centi' seemed quite fond of me..

I don't know. All I know is, I'm locked up for being a ghoul sympathizer. I'm luckily in a normal jail, but...

Egh. I'd tried to insist that I didn't know we were supposed to report ghoul sympathizers, but it didn't work. They saw through my lie.

Beeeeeep.

And, today is a new day. I was officially put in here at night, after everyone was in their cells, so this is the first time I'll be around my 'fellow inmates'.

I hope everything will be alright. I hope Kaneki's alright.

Wishful thinking.

I should've known the world was too cruel for hope to become reality.