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I woke feeling hazy. It had been quite a drink I had sipped last night. All part of the plan, Dr Kano? I think not.

I had a wicked hangover.

I looked in the mirror. I looked normal, maybe it didn’t work! 

Oh, shit. 

I touched my now red eye. Ugh. It HAD worked then.

I padded outside my room in socked feet. I heard screams, and edged back as Nimura Furuta was dragged off into the quiet room.

Worked a little too well. I groaned. 

I made my way into the Ghoul Underground. Ghouls were fighting as usual, and I headed to get something to eat (shudder!) when—

Bump! I had crashed into Kaneki, knocking him over.

A couple of ghoul kids laughed and pushed on him. 

I grabbed each one by the shirt and lifted them up with a wicked smile. “Now. Where’s Moa?”

No answer, then one of the girls, Sarah I think, spoke up.

“She’s not our teacher!” Sarah said. “Nina-sensei is!”

I put them down. “Oh really.” I muttered. “That little brat is in big trouble. When I get my hands on—“  I squeezed the air.

“Oi! Kuri!” Kaneki called again. “I’ve been calling you for awhile.”

“You have?” I shook my head. “Sorry about the other ghoul kids. They don’t know any better, they don’t…know…” I struggled, but couldn’t explain.

“Want to explain how you became a ghoul? And GOAT member? All without my knowledge?” 

Oh man, that plan went too well. I am gonna GET Kano!

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I-I don’t know what you mean.” I rebutted softly.

“Suuure you don’t.” Kaneki grinned. “Maybe you mean you want to take a walk?”

I nodded glumly. How was I going to get out of this?

“You’re a one-eye right?” Kaneki asked.

“Yes I am.” I touched my eye again. Did he recognize it? Did he remember?

“Huh. I always thought I had stopped Kano from making more.” 

I sighed in relief.

“So you gonna tell me how?” Kaneki said seriously. “I am not going to tell anyone by the way.”

“Really?” I spoke up in spite of myself. “Why?”

“I figure you got enough to deal with.” Kaneki grinned. “How long do you think you can keep Nimura Furuta confined? Either he’ll escape or one of us will have to kill him. We can’t help it. Might even be you.” He poked my chest.

I shuddered. “We’ll confine him as long as we can. We have to protect the other ghouls. Including the One Eyed King.” I looked pointedly at him.

Kaneki eyes narrowed. “So that’s what this is about.” He smirked suddenly. “You’re on our side, then.”

I groaned. This was gonna be harder than I thought. 

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My padded sock feet ran down the hallway to greet Kaneki in the training hall when I was grabbed roughly by the hair and dragged into the Quiet Room. 

A familiar maid stood at the door, keeping watch.

“You little bitch…you’re not right…” Tsukiyama pulled me closer, caressing my face. “You aren’t one of us at all, are you?”

He threw me to the ground where I cut my face on one of the millions of things he broke a day. I pull the shard out of my skin. It was a shallow cut. I watched as it healed, but it still blood.

“Ha ha…” Tsukiyama sniffed. “So you are a One Eye after all. Interesting…” 

He ripped me up by the hair. “So lovely. I have a feeling that no matter what I do, you will heal your wounds and pretend you are fine. Protecting yourself, are you?”

He ran a ragged nail across my throat. “And I can’t have you getting close to our king…”

“KANEKI!” I gasped involuntarily.

Tsukiyama tossed me against the wall. “Interesting. So go. Go to him wrecked an wounded, but explain it away. Keep explaining it away. If you ever tell him, and he ends up here, I could kill him, you know…he is so delicious…you have no idea how hard it is…you might end having to feed me instead, right?”

I got up. “Did you forget? I’m not gonna listen to you.” 

I backhanded Tsukiyama into the familiar maid. I hadn’t meant to hurt the old woman, but she WAS complicit after all.

“Yes…” Tsukiyama gripped his cheek. “But Kaneki does.”

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“Where is she?!” Kaneki snarled. “Let me see her!” 

The harassed-looking Kimi shook her head. “You mustn’t! The Priestess is undergoing Surgery. I am afraid no one can enter. If you do, she could…break…”

All the fight went out of Kaneki and he slumped into the chair. “Can you at least tell me what hurt her like this?”

Kimi turned and looked at him sadly. “Something horrible and traumatic. During the painful part of the healing, she screamed your name. I hope that brings you solace.” 

“That tells me nothing.” Kaneki snarled. “Who did this?” He grabbed her by the lab coat. “Who is holding your tongue?”

He was about to punch her, when—

“Kaneki.”

Kaneki released Kimi and tensed. “Tsukiyama. What are you doing here?”

The Gourmet played innocent, and it was obvious to Kaneki. “I am here to visit, of course. I heard how horrible her injuries were. Did you know that her psychic powers were damaged…?”

“Do you know who did it?” Kaneki snapped at Tsukiyama. “Did you?!” 

Tsukiyama came very closes and caressed Kaneki cheek. “My poor, sweet Kaneki. That Kuri is in such a wretched state…” Tsukiyama stroked Kaneki’s cheek. “It would be a pity if she never woke up…”

Tsukiyama swept out of the room, and Kaneki slumped into the chair. Defeated.

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When I opened my eyes, I was shocked at the damage Tsukiyama had caused.

My body was fine, but my psychic nerves were damaged. 

Stretching, I sent a messages through my body. I flailed and wrenched like a marrionette, and then settled.

Bang! Kaneki dropped the lunch tray and ran to me, trying to still my convulsions. He made to scream for the Healer, but I put my hand over his mouth.

He struggled, but my body calmed after a moment.

“It’s alright.” I whispered. “My body is back to normal now. You don’t have to bother with me anymore.”

“Idiot.” Kaneki snarled. “I’ll never leave your side.”

He collapsed in the chair next to me, finally letting himself rest. I put a blanket over him, thankful.