Kaneki's POV:

The ghoul called Uta led me to his house. And when I say he "led" me, I mean I was forcefully dragged against my will. I could only barely keep up -- stumbling here and there.

"We're here," he said as he came to a complete, and very sudden stop. I bumped into him and fell backwards.

"Oomph!" I hit the concrete ground sending a wave of numb pain throughout me. I then scrambled back up to my feet just in time to catch Uta's confused gaze with mine.

"You're pretty clumsy for a ghoul," he pointed out while pulling a key out of his pocket, "Someone like you shouldn't be wondering around at night -- the 20th ward isn't as safe as it used to be..."

"It's not safe here?" I asked, and instantly regretted it. The ghoul glared at me, and I felt my heart skip a few well-needed beats.

"Of course it's not. 20th ward's got some of the worst types of ghouls. We've got binge eaters, gourmets -- really all the worst kinds. Well, at least we don't have something as bad as Aogiri," Uta said with a hard look, "But you probably know all that.. living as a ghoul here isn't all that bad, but it can be hard to ignore all the noise in the background."

"Y-Yeah," I muttered, trying to make it seem as though I understood. However there was really no point in trying because Uta wasn't paying any attention to me. Instead, he had turned back towards the front door to his house and had swung it open. Soon after, I was dragged inside and sat down on a chair. The interior of Uta's house was... interesting. Actually, it didn't look like a house at all. There were glass display cases holding a variety of what looked like masks. It was all painted black and had a very gloomy aura. The feeling of this place was enough to make me shiver.

"So, welcome to my humble abode," Uta smiled at me. He pulled a second chair right up next to mine and spun around on it once before sitting next to me. He looked like a punk rock/ thug combination, but he acted like a six year old child -- I couldn't make left or right about this guy.

"Uh, thanks--" immediately as I started to thank him, I was interrupted by a high-pitched noise resonating from Uta's pocket. He pulled out a cellphone which was blaring some song meant for teenage girls. The ghoul flipped it open, and answered in a carefree tone.

"Itori? What'chya up to?" The way he spoke was more lazy than childish, "Hm? So she really is dead, huh? Well, that's a bit of a relief. Rize was more trouble than she was worth." My chest ached after hearing that name. Every times she's brought up, it feels like a piece of my soul has been torn off of me. It hurts. Uta seemed to notice my sudden jolt of surprise. "You know Rize?" He had hung up his phone and slipped it back into his pocket, and was now looking back at me with a sideways smile, "She was scary, wasn't she? Scary, but pretty. She used to prey on young men who found her attractive. Hehe. Pitiful, isn't it? Helpless guys just looking for a date end up ripped to shreds. But, she's gone now -- She can't do anymore harm."

Can't do anymore harm? She's inside me! I can feel it... Her mind inside mine. I'm like this because of her...

I clenched my teeth so tightly I thought they could shatter at any moment. Tears threatened my eyes. I wanted to leave so badly.

"Your one red eye..." Uta suddenly observed, and I once again felt unnerved, "It's from her, isn't it?"

I hesitated before answering him, "I-I think so..."

"You think so?"

"I went out with her, and, she attacked me... I managed to fight her off for a little while, but she just kept pursuing me," I shut my eyes, picturing the story as I retold it, "I would have been killed and eaten if she hadn't been crushed by a falling beam. We were both taken to the hospital, and, the doctor put her organs into me so I would live. I think that's why this is happening to me."

"A human turned into a ghoul," the ghoul grinned sadistically, "How intriguing."