"Obetete boku no kotto wo~ Azayaka na mama~ Wasur- oh? I have a visitor?" Hide smiled brightly.

"My name is Haise Sasaki. The CCG wants to use you to our advantage, so I'll be appointed to you. You'll work with me and my Quinx Squad."

"Is that so? Haise Sasaki, is it? Nice to meet you."

"... What is a human doing.. in a ghoul jail?"

Hide smiled sadly, "You'll get different answers depending on who you ask, Haise."

Already on first-name basis?!!

"But since you've asked me.. It's because I'm dedicated to my friends."

"... So, then, it's true? You.. You're acquainted with ghouls?"

"Yes. But does it really disturb you that much, Haise? You're a ghoul, too, aren't you?" Haise's eyes widened.

How.. How does this boy know that?!!

"... Yes.."

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

It was just as he'd been told- Hideyoshi Nagachika was very intuitive and observant. He knew just by a glance of the tired Yonebayashi that she was a gamer who didn't work much. He knew just by a glance that Urie Kuki was obsessed with climbing the ranks (he refrained from mentioning how he obviously had competition though). He knew that Shirazu was more of the dumb-but-strong type, who Hide had guessed correctly that he tended to follow/respect Urie and Haise, but he and Urie would often fight. He knew Tooru Mustuki was more of the shy type, who wasn't all that good at fighting.

But more surprising than all that, he knew they were part-ghoul.

"We're actually humans with quinques implanted in us. (Idiot.)"

"Oh, I see."

So that's why they seem more human.. Kind of like Kaneki when he first became a ghoul, only not as timid. That Tooru Mustuki though..

Hide won't cut out the possibility of them actually needing to eat humans just yet. Though he's pretty sure Tooru is a different case, somehow..

"Well, it's nice to meet you all," Hide bowed. "My name is Hideyoshi Nagachika, but that's a mouthful, so you can just call me Hide!" he grinned. Urie was certainly skeptical of the new recruit to the Quinkes, but the others were mostly accepting of Hide.

With the exception being Haise Sasaki.

Something was off.. he knew it.

And he doesn't think he'll be able to fulfill one part of his new job as Hide's babysitter-- getting him to spill contacts.

Hide's just too good for that, it seems.

---

"I'm.. going to get a quinque implanted in me..?" Hide frowned. Haise nodded.

"We aren't called the 'Quinx Squad' for nothing. We're all part ghoul."

"..."

Kaneki definitely wouldn't approve.. But Hide can think of some advantages..

None of which are naughty, of course.

"Can I get a rinkaku?" Hide quickly asked.

No way will he accept anything less. No. Way.

"Yours, specifically."

"..."

To say Hide disturbed Haise - for whatever reason that was NOT that weird psycho whispering into his ear - was an understatement.

And Hide asking for part of his kagune is a bit..

"Um.. I.. suppose.."

Tooru had gotten a kagune quite like Haise's 'him'self, after all..

"Yay! Thank-you!" Hide hugged Haise tightly. "I can't wait to use my tentacles!! We'll be like, brothers, or something!!"

Tentacles?

What was Hide's obsession with tentacles? Er, never mind, Haise doesn't know enough about Hide to say he has an obsession with tentacles..

Yet.

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

The week after Hide got a kagune, Haise spent most of his time training Hide to know how to wield a kagune. He caught on pretty quickly, and Haise wouldn't be surprised if Hide would've gotten it without his help. If Haise had left him alone to learn.. he probably could've.

Of course, that whole week.. Haise also had that guy bothering him. He was NOT happy with Hide becoming a Quinke, it seemed..

Haise tried to ignore the voice and the guy's violent tugs and such, but it was hard.

The sixth day after Hide got his kagune was especially strange.

Haise had felt quite hot the entire day. The guy yelling at him about 'Hide's human' and such was NOT helping.

"Hide can't be a ghoul, Haise!! Change him back!! Change him BACK!!"

Haise ignored the voice as best as he could, focusing on the task at hand- training Hideyoshi Nagachika.

Suddenly, Hide stopped, his kagune receding back into his lower back, and Haise barely escaped hurting him.

"I could've killed you, if I was an enemy!" Haise furrowed his eyes, confused.

"... Yeah, but.. are you sure you're in your right mind today? Like, worse than usual."

"? ..."

Curse Hide and his intuition..

"I'm fine."

Hide was the only one who was able to tell he was an actual ghoul.. The rest of the Quinx Squad had no idea.. Luckily, Hide hadn't blurted it out, telling the rest of them about Haise's true nature.

"You may be fine, but Hide's not!! Change him back, Haise!! Change him BACK!!" he screeched.

"Are you sure you're not having hallucinations or anything?" Hide cocked his head in curiosity. Again, Haise cursed Hide's sharp intuition..

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Which means you are having hallucinations." Haise opened his mouth to reject, but he realized 'yes' and 'no' to that question would have been taken as he was having hallucinations. Hide grinned. "You know what helps with that? Eating!" Haise stared, dumbfounded.

Was this guy an idiot? Eating?!! Haise is a ghoul, for gosh's sakes!! He only needs a human per month!! Any more is..!

Though Haise is getting close to the day he'll be getting this month's food..

"I'm fine," Haise said more sternly, closing his eyes.

"You are not fine. You are going to end up eating someone if you don't eat righT NOW!!" Hide grabbed Haise's arm and started dragging him.

"Wha--?!! Oi!! What are you doing, Hideyoshi?!!"

"Hide, Hide!!" Hide corrected, "Call me Hide!!"

"..." Haise was absolutely flabbergasted at Hide's stupidity.

As if Hide dragging him to some place unknown wasn't enough..! And trying to force him to eat..! And hE'S SO STUBBORN AND PICKY WITH HIS NAME!!!!!

Hide eventually opened Haise's door, dragging him in. Hide closed and locked the door behind them and proceeded to push Haise onto his bed.

"...?" Haise blinked skeptically.

What is this guy up to..?

Hide took his shirt off, and Haise's face scrunched up as if he was asking 'what the f*ck are you doing, and what is wrong with you?' Hide then proceeded to grab a knife out of his back pocket - WHY THE F*CK DO YOU HAVE A KNIFE IN YOUR BACK POCKET?!! {Oh, he has knives in other places, too, Haise (wiggles eyebrows)} - and shaved his arm of some of the skin. Haise got aroused from the sight of blood and broken flesh, so he quickly turned away. Hide grabbed the piece of flesh and set it on Haise's lap before cutting another piece of flesh off of his abdomen. {Hey, I just realized.. 'Abs' is short for 'abdomen'.

some random person: DUH!!

me: I NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT, OKAY?!! DX I never connected the two words!! WHO USED ABS AND ABDOMEN IN THE SAME CONTEXT, MUCH LESS THE SAME SENTENCE?!!!!

Kree: Idiot.

me: -_- }

Haise tried his best not to give into the hunger, but he already felt his kakugan out under his eyelid. He peaked at Hide, unable to stop himself.

It was a gorgeous sight. Haise felt drool drip from his lips.

"Eat, Haise. Or else it won't end well.." Hide looked into Haise's starved eyes, "Just eat," Hide handed him the flesh off his stomach. "Hungry ghouls are a mess to deal with.. You might end up killing us.. if you don't eat." Finally, Haise couldn't stand it anymore. --He wasn't sure why he hadn't turned away -- but he grabbed the meat eagerly and messily shoved it down his throat. Hide stared as Haise grabbed the arm skin as well, stuffing that in his mouth as ungracefully as he had the abdomen flesh. Hide stepped back, but Haise merely panted, feeling way better than when Hide had started talking about meat. He opened his eyes, and Hide stared into his kakugan and gray-colored eye.

"Are you alright now?" Hide asked. Haise sighed softly, still coming down from his high.

Hide.. Hide had tasted.. s--so good..

Haise wanted more, but he knew he couldn't take anymore.

He willed himself to stand, highly aware of the fact that his feet felt like lead, and got out a First-Aid Kit. To Hide's mild surprise, Haise started patching him up.

"... I..I'm sorry.."

"No, it's fine. Every ghoul has a different.. food cycle, I guess you'll call it.. And I think that sometimes, they need food earlier on one month and later on another. The CCG.. should really be taking better care of you.."

"..?"

"Do they even know your relative food cycle?" Hide asked, his lips furrowed into a frown as if he was disapproving.

"... Once a month, that's all.."

"... So, what, you eat on the first of every month or something?"

"... P-Pretty much.."

"..." Hide looked away, his expression grim as if that answer had dissatisfied him. "Right.." he mumbled, but Haise didn't catch the rest of it. "They give the Centipede, a hungry kakuja, meat every month.." He spoke clearly again, letting Haise hear, "How much do you get?"

"Huh? Ah.. I..It varies, I guess.. Usually, it's just.. whatever we pick up.. or whatever.."

Hide scoffed. He stood up, Haise now being finished with his bandages, and left the room. Haise couldn't help but notice Hide's meager attitude.

"..."

That.. wasn't like him.. He was usually as bright asthe sun..

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

Just like Hide said, the monster had calmed down. But now it kept mumbling in a corner..

When it was Haise's day to eat though, Haise willed himself to eat the food he was given: they couldn't know Hide gave him food. Besides, he really did like having more meat in his system..

Haise realized as he took his first bite - that was so much more sophisticated than how he'd eaten Hide's meat - that it was way less appetizing than Hide's. Hide's meat.. had tasted so good..

Haise felt drool drip from his lips as he thought about it. He wiped his chin and willed himself to continue eating the meat that was not appetizing any more.

Akira noticed the change - the way Haise was not asdesperate to get his food - but said nothing of it.

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

The middle of that month, Haise had a bad nightmare.

He'd eaten Hideyoshi Nagachika WHOLE.

Haise screamed as he came back to his senses, shooting up-right. He panted for a few seconds.

"A nightmare?" a voice guessed in the darkness. Haise's sharp, dilated eyes shot to the source.

"..."

Curse Hide and his intuition..

Haise huffed a sigh, "It's none of your business.. I'm fine."

"... I really can't believe you didn't wake anyone else with your screaming.."

"They're heavy sleepers.."

"... Yeah, I guess.. But Haise.. you might want to clean up." Haise looked up at him in confusion, and Hide pointed to Haise's nether regions. Haise looked down, and his face became a tomato as he realized.

Haise hurried out of the room towards the bathroom.

Well.. this is new. Usually Haise doESN'T ORGASM DURING A NIGHTMARE!!!

"I-I'm sorry.." Haise mumbled as he walked back in the room, finished with cleaning himself.

Hide grinned, "It's fine, man! Everyone has a few slip-ups, you know?"

Haise glared bitterly at the quinke.

Yes. It's completely normal for someonE TO ORGASM DURING A NIGHTMARE!!! Haise hissed sarcastically in his mind.

"Hmph. Just go back to sleep.."

"Eh," Hide shrugged, sitting on HAISE'S bed. "I usually just try to stay up. Do whatever. Maybe research, maybe listen to music, whatever keeps me awake."

Haise's eyes furrowed, "That's not good for your health."

"Eh. What about you? You don't try to stay awake to avoid nightmares?"

"..."

Does Hide have a phobia of nightmares? Or.. does he have nightmares as often as Haise does?

"It's not like it makes much difference.." Haise mumbled.

"I know what you mean. Nightmares and staying awake - you pretty much get the same amount of rest.. Which is why I prefer to just stay awake - you can get stuff done that way."

"..."

"Anyway though," Hide stood up, stretching, "I'ma get back to work."

Haise watched as Hide left the room. He wondered what Hide was working on, but more importantly, he was wondering what made Hide want to stay up.

He didn't get an answer.

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

"Haise."

Haise looked up from his book, gesturing for Akira to sit down. She did, and she stared into his eyes as he finished the page he was on. He put the bookmark to mark his spot and put it down, returning Akira's gaze.

"Have you found out anything?"

Haise sighed, "Unfortunately, no. All I know is that I've been able to confirm that he is VERY intuitive. He spurs so many questions, but I doubt I'd get an answer even if I asked.. There is something awfully wrong though, Akira. I can totally see why you guys suspected him of being a traitor. I still can't confirm any information about that though."

"I see.."

"Honestly, it's a real hassle.. He seems to put him on edge.. He's been screaming at me constantly, babbling about how Hide can't be a ghoul.." Haise groaned, rubbing his face. "He wants me to change him back. Not that that's possible. I haven't been able to sleep much, never mind getting good sleep. Practically every night, I have a nightmare.. And I wake up to him in my room. I don't think he EVER sleeps.." Haise scoffed. "Seriously."

"Nagachika doesn't sleep?" Akira raised an eyebrow.

Haise shook his head with a scoff, "You'd think he was a vampire or something. He's either scared of nightmares - like, petrified of them - or he has nightmares as often as I do. He says he'd prefer to avoid sleeping for that reason. He says he does whatever he can to stay awake.." Haise sighed. "And yet he still just smiles all day as if he WASN'T sleep-deprived out of his mind.." Haise grumbled.

Akira set her chin on her palm, processing what Haise had told her.

Nagachika set Haise's alter ego (or Centipede) on edge? That only furthers the fact that he knew well-known ghouls - specifically the Eyepatch/Centipede.

Why does he prefer to avoid sleeping though? Akira wouldn't have thought that. Although she does often see bags under his eyes.. They only show up once in a while though.

"Well, if you find out anything, please report to me."

"Mm-hmm.." Haise hummed, deep in thought.

Practically every night he'd been having a nightmare. And each time, Hide would wake him up. Almost the minute that Haise had started dreaming. Haise was actually starting to find comfort in waking to the orange-haired boy's face.

That wasn't good.

Hide was a TRAITOR. {And supposedly, I can't spelltraitor.}

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

Haise came home around six o' clock. Even though his meeting was supposed to end at ten (I asked).

"What were you doing, out and about?" I smiled brightly. It still unnerved me that my best friend had forgotten EVERYTHING, but I agreed with Touka-chan- it was better this way. He wasn't running for his life, and he was stable (relatively). Maybe he had nightmares almost every night, and maybe he was hallucinating way more than Kaneki Ken would, but he was better.

I wouldn't risk it for the world- the chance he might remember me versus him remembering everything horrible that happened to him? It's not a good deal, even if he didn't remember all those horrible things. I won't risk it.

"Shopping," Haise set down two bags on the counter and started unpacking them. I stood up and helped him put the stuff in their rightful places.

It hurt that Haise was so stand-off-ish. He practically radiated a hateful aura around me. But I'd rather have that than for him to be in pain..

"Shopping for this stuff took eight hours?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me. He glared sharply at me. "Tooru, Shirazu, and Urie went out to get some stuff we were running out of. I hope you didn't get what they went out to get."

Haise didn't respond.

"Saiko's in her room," I continued, "I think she's resting, but she'll be awake soon, I bet. It's kind of funny," I chuckled, "She's like a vampire- sleeping in the daytime and playing games at night!"

Haise didn't even crack a smile.

"..." I glanced down at the counter, taking the next thing out of the bag. "?"

"!!! I-If you're finished with that bag, you can just go back to whatever you were doing!! You don't have to mess with that bag!" Haise snatched the undies out of my hand.

".." I shrugged, walking back over to the couch. I watched as Haise pulled out rather personal items- underwear, a notebook, a book, and stuff that I don't think I want to know what it is.

The last thing Haise pulled out was a pill bottle. He set (more like slammed..) it in front of me and stalked off. I glanced at the bottle and picked it up, reading what it was for.

Sleeping pills.. Claims to give you peaceful sleep - no dreams whatsoever.

Is he wanting us to share this bottle?

I sighed, setting the bottle back down.

I don't get Haise.. I could always tell what was wrong with Kaneki, but as for Haise.. it's a little.. He's not quite as open or easy to read.

But that's probably just because he's blocking me off..

I picked the bottle up once more, reading the prescription. Once a night, right before bed. It's an over-the-counter med.

I wonder if it'll really work on me and Haise.. Our dreams are.. pretty intense, you know..?

Even if it'll work on other people, who knows if it'll work on our nightmares.

I sighed, putting the bottle back on the table and stretching.

Haise Sasaki, huh..? I wonder why that was made to be his name.. Did he choose that? Or was it someone else, like Arima-san? Perhaps Mado-san? They seem pretty close. Hmm..

Either way, I know he didn't spend all that time getting this stuff (even though going to so many different places probably spent more time than I originally thought he spent)- he probably met with someone for lunch or something..

"Hey, Haise?"

"Hm?" he called back from his room.

"Where are all the other bags? These are from multiple places, right?"

"After I bought the stuff, I threw away some of the bags to save space."

"Oh."

So he probably bought the groceries first. Then he bought the more personal things. Once he got the first three bags, he probably threw away one of the bags and put the stuff that was in it in the other bag. I get it. That might have spent up a few minutes of his time..

And depending on the order he went to these places, he might've spent quite a bit of his time walking from one place to the next.

And he might've spent time waiting for whoever he met with. And they might've spent quite a bit of time talking to each other.

So, depending on those kind of things, that was enough stuff to do to waste the time he did.

But not just getting this stuff- only with the factor of meeting someone would it work.

Of course, I guess he could've done something else besides meeting someone.. Enjoy the scenery or something. heck, he might've read his book already!

I stretched, leaning back against the couch. Haise soon came out and sat next to me, reading his book. I watched him for a few seconds before I grabbed my notebook and clicked the t.v. on.

I guess 'reading his new book' wasn't what he spent time on- he didn't take a bookmark out of there. But wasn't he on a different book earlier..? Did he finish it..?

Moika.

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

"Where are you going?"

"? Ah, just for a walk," I put on my other shoe.

".."

I walked out of the chateau, feeling the cold steel against my chest, foot, private parts, and behind. (Hey, who would expect you to take a knife out of your private parts? It's a pretty good place to hide that kind of stuff-- they don't want to look at your a**, gonads, or your chest.)

Even with a kagune laying dormant in my body, I feltmuch more better with knives along my skin. Just in case things go south.

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

"Yo, Uta!" I grinned.

He looked up and smiled, "Hi, Hideyoshi-san."

"Please, just call me Hide! Hide!" I let my eyes skim over the masks laying dormant in his shop. "You finished what I asked?"

"Yep."

"Cool. What are the clowns up to lately?"

"Not much but joking around." Uta went back, and I wasted time looking at the clown masks - drawing them in my notebook.

"This time, the thing different is the tone of red, isn't it?" I inquired as Uta handed me the masks he'd made.

"How observant. I did have to use a different tone."

"Hm. And the tear drop, of course. Euh, I haven't heard much of the clowns lately. Or anything like that. You guys taking a chill pill?"

"We're taking some time off," Uta nodded, "I've been busy making the masks you asked for."

"Yea, sorry to put all that on you.." I put my notebook back in my backpack and skimmed over the masks. "They look cool. You did a great job. What about-"

"It's in the back," Uta walked out of the room, and I followed, stuffing the masks in my backpack.

"And as promised, I'm sure you'll be seeing some fun soon," I took the last mask, putting it in my backpack like the rest.

"Even if I don't - or even if it's not satisfying enough - I'm fine with just doing a favor for a friendly regular customer."

"Thanks, Uta. I'm glad I won't have any clowns after my head," I chuckled. "Whelp, I better go. See ya."

I left Uta's shop, heading for my next stop.

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

"Hi, Itori-san!" I grinned, sliding into the stool. She gave me a little smirk.

"What is a college boy like you spending time in a bar for, Hideyoshi-san?" she joked.

"Hmm, I don't know, maybe I'd like a shot of info," I played along with her. She laughed. I leaned back, staring at the ceiling, "Anyway though, all joking aside, there are six ghouls that are going to appear out of nowhere soon - much like Kaneki did."

"What are you planning, Hideyoshi-san?"

"Nuh-uh-uh," I wagged my finger, "I've told you a million times to call me Hide! Hide! If you can't do that much, why would I give you full information, Itori-san?"

"Then, I suppose we can't make a deal," she poured some wine for another customer.

"I suppose not. Just look out for those six ghouls, okay? I hear they're going to be pretty troublesome."

"I look forward to it."

"Yup!" I hopped off the stool, waving to heras I left, "Bye, Itori-san!"

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

"It's been a while since I've seen you, Ayato," I settled into the couch. He just glared at me. "I came here tonight to warn you about six ghouls that are going to appear out of nowhere. Word on the street is, they're working for the CCG," I fiddled with my backpack's zipper. "They also say that none of them are full ghouls. Or even ghouls that were born. I mean they're artificial. Like Kaneki. Anyway, be careful. The CCG aren't on to you, but those ghouls might not be merciful if they find you while wandering in the ghoul's world. So, see you, Black Rabbit. I know you just LOVE my company," I walked out.

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

I skipped giddily home, looking forward to telling Haise and the others about my plan. I hope it'll gain some of Haise's trust..

I took black alley after black alley, my new mask placed on my face. I had the knife that had been laying in my pocket between my teeth- a warning to those who put their gaze on me: Just because I was giddy and foolish-looking did not mean I was gullible and easy prey.

Of course, the fact that it's in between my teeth might make predators think that I'm overly foolish, but I'm actually rather good with my knives.

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

It was actually rather early in the morning when the door creaked open. I'd been making breakfast for everyone, almost finished with it. When the door opened, everyone had glanced up, expecting it to be Hide.

"I got masks!!" a bloody ghoul held up abackpack, a knife in the other hand. I immediately got into a fighting position.

What kind of crazy ghoul walks into the home of six investigators so nonchalantly?!!