Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul.

Each time a character thinks the words will be Italic.

Dialogue Instructions:

Kaneki: "-Speaking-".

Kaneki: "-Thoughts-".

Thank you for the reviews! They inspire me so much to continue this!

Kaneki has white hair here.

Enjoy!

WARNING: This is more about friendship! If you want smut, please go somewhere else. ^^; Thank You!

"Our prime purpose in this life is to help others.

And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt them."

-Dalai Lama

-20th Ward-

The rain kept pouring from within the ashing clouded sky, its drops covering every trace of the city underneath its vast surface. The drops echoed as they collided with the roof of homes and the vacant streets. The rain's rhythmic trance was interrupted within an alleyway, as a hunched silhouette figure sluggishly made their way through it. The man's footsteps sounded awkward, his figure swaying from time to time. The man held onto his side, his breathing escaped in laboring gasps from within his self.

"How could I have been so careless?" The individual, also known as Amon, whispered in a hoarse tone. "If only I had dodged that attack on time." He momentarily closed his eyes, wincing each time he held the opened wound on his abdomen. He took shaking steps until his knees buckled and he fell against the rough concrete platform. "I can't simply die here. I still have many things to accomplish…" An image of his deceased partner, senior investigator Kureo Mado came into his mind. "I have failed you."

His arms trembled against the floor, forcibly making himself crawl for a small portion of time before his legs and arms gave up on him. He fell with a loud splash, water soaking into his suit as he lay on the lone alley. His eyes stared at the floor and the stained building walls. This was definitely the worse way to die. His mission had been simple, to figure out more information on the one-eyed ghoul, Owl. Yet he had unexpected company and had barely managed to get away.

He didn't know who had given him the opportunity to escape, but clearly, the ghouls had been ambushed. The sudden bricks being thrown at his enemies had been an obvious clue. Amon silently thanked who ever had saved him and after agonizing minutes, his vision began to blur. His body stilled, his hand outstretched into seeming nothingness. The last thing Amon heard were soft footsteps, clearly making their way towards him. He wouldn't be surprised if that was the sound of death coming to claim him.

His heavy eyelids gave in, for darkness soon engulfed him.

Amon dreamed of his childhood home. The orphanage; a terrible place yet filled with so many memories to what he could call the only home he ever had. He felt a warming sensation engulf his being. Warm? He remembered perishing in an alley filled with a bitter cold. He definitely didn't think that the afterlife had been this kind to him.

He shuffled a bit and felt a warm fuzzy blanket over him. However, that wasn't what brought him back to consciousness. What had bolted him awake was the sharp electrifying pain that had ran down his abdomen when he had shifted. His fingers gingerly pressed at the wound, his teeth grounded at the scrutinizing pain.

"Where am I?" He thought, the back of his neck feeling the unfamiliar sense of a pillow beneath it.

Amon's eyes slowly cracked open. His eyes didn't need to adjust; the room had a little light. Curtains were drawn tightly, blocking the rays from the shadow of a sun behind them. He noticed a chair by the bedside, his gaze trailing down to confirm he was indeed in a bed. The chair had four books placed on top of one another, seemingly in a neat order. He concluded that someone had found him and had been taking care of him possibly the whole night.

He took in his surroundings, seeing a lamp beside his bed's side. A television rested in the middle of the room. The left side of the bed was occupied by bandages and aid-kits. A small trash bin was expertly placed beneath them. He noted the contents inside the trash bin; used bandages that were filled to the brim with dried blood, as well as staples and tapes.

Amon's attention was drawn away from his surroundings the second he identified the faint sound of footsteps. He knew that the person who had saved him was coming to check on him once more. He stared at the doorway, his eyes zooming in on the twist of the doorknob. A young male's figure came into view. The figure halted, meeting with Amon's curious gaze. Amon couldn't really figure out who the boy was, it was far too dark and the hallway seemed to indicate the curtains were also shut close within this person's home.

The male silently stepped into the bedroom, his hand softly closing the door behind him as he took calm yet calculating steps to the bed.

"You're awake now I see." Amon couldn't identify the voice, but he knew it sounded vaguely familiar. He could just not figure out where he had heard it.

"Where am I?" Amon questioned uncertainly, yet not at all accusingly.

The male's lips twitched behind a mask, a small smile had come out of this comedic situation. It was the first time he was seeing how the other lacked manners at times too.

"Is that what you usually ask after someone saves you from certain death?" His tone was calm, his words deadpan yet a ting of humor to them. The male reached towards the lamp and pulled its cord. The light soon illuminated faintly against the darkness.

Amon's skin went cold, his eyes zeroing in the man-or should he say, ghoul, in front of him. The one who had saved him had been none other than Eyepatch himself. The ghoul who had shown mercy.

"…" Amon's lips quivered, words failing to come out of him. He had multiple questions when he had first met the ghoul, and now, the questions had tripled in a matter of seconds. Kaneki merely stared at the other, never once breaking eye contact.

"We meet again." Kaneki quietly spoke, seeing that the other failed to speak. He stepped over to the left side of the bed, his steps slow yet careful as to not frighten the investigator. He leaned down slightly to open one of the drawers, ignoring the way in which Amon had flinched at the slow action. He took out two ointments, knowing he would need to address the investigator's wounds.

"You woke up in the worst of times." Kaneki nodded towards where he estimated the wound must be. Amon finally had recuperated himself, being able to communicate appropriately despite the tense atmosphere.

"Eyepatch!" the name came out like an exploding bomb, despite how low it had been spoken. Amon's voice threatened to break its softness were he to raise his voice any higher. "Why did you—" his words were cut off when Kaneki held his index finger on his mask, an action that signified silence.

The ghoul quietly did what he had been doing for nearly a week now. He took off the blanket from the other and lifted his shirt carefully. Amon kept a wary eye on the other. Even though the ghoul expressed no immediate threat, Amon didn't have the will to trust anyone anymore.

Amon involuntarily flinched a few times, for the first time being able to take in the sight of his wound. And boy, did he wish he hadn't even looked at it. It was nearly healed now; he could tell there were stitches around the wound. Kaneki carefully rolled the bandage around his abdomen, being extra careful now that the other had awoken.

After he had finished, he took the now-stained bandages to the trash bin by the side of the bed and disposed of them. Kaneki stepped towards the other side of the bed and removed the books that were on the chair. He placed them neatly on the woven floor. He sat down and silently stared at Amon. Amon fidgeted for a while, though slowly concluded that Eyepatch was waiting for him to speak.

"I—…"Amon, however, didn't know how to begin. To be in a room with a ghoul was dangerous, especially if one did not have a plan or a teammate. He finally opened his lips, willing to speak what he was thinking. "Why?" that's all he managed to ask. His stare hardens at the other, searching for an answer on the ghoul's only visible eye.

Kaneki closed his eyes briefly. He pondered on what he could give as an answer to the other, though it was difficult to be able to express them in a way that would not insult the investigator's beliefs.

"I need you to understand." Kaneki opened his eyes once more and looked at Amon. "Understand that some of us do not mean harm." Kaneki didn't need to enlighten the other on who or what he was speaking of.

Amon visibly frowned at this, not being able to understand what the other wanted him to comprehend from his point of view. Before he could ask, the other spoke first.

"What do you want to eat?" Amon was surprised at this. Now that he thought about it, he hadn't eaten anything for a while. He didn't know how long he had been in the ghoul's home, but he knew his stomach was rather empty.

"Aside from…meat?" The question had slipped from his lips naturally, as though he weren't conversing with a ghoul. It almost surprised him. Almost. His question, however, was genuine for he did not know what a ghoul home had to offer.

Kaneki's gaze softened, his shoulders relaxing at the way in which the investigator had questioned. He did not blame his doubts.

"I can go to the market and buy the food you eat. What I have, aside from meat, is coffee." Kaneki smiled for a brief moment at the shudder Amon had given to the word [meat]. In truth, he didn't have any.

"Then…coffee is fine. If not…too much trouble," Amon felt ridiculous as to how courteous he was being with Eyepatch of all people. "I wouldn't mind a cup of noodles." Amon couldn't think of a huge meal, it made his stomach turn to just imagine it.

"Understood." Kaneki stood up, placing the books back into their rightful place. He began to pace towards the door, his hand turned the doorknob as he stepped out the door. "Eyepatch!" Kaneki turned his head, his gaze falling on the male.

"Thank you," Amon mumbled, but Kaneki could tell it took a big deal for a CCG to have gratitude towards a ghoul. Kaneki briefly nodded, before he shut the door behind him. He reached the kitchen, in swift motions preparing the cup of coffee. He soon returned and noticed Amon was in a seated position. His back was leaning on the pillows to give him support. However, what caught his attention the most was that he was looking at one of the books.

Amon briefly felt as though he had perhaps crossed the boundaries to have picked a book from the pile. Kaneki, however, merely handed him the cup of coffee. Amon stared for a moment, though he slowly took the cup from the other's grasp. His gaze stared into the coffee's contents before he hesitantly lifted it to his lips and took a small sip. Amon's eyes widened, as he pulled the cup away from his lips.

"This is really good." He spoke, astonishment clear in his voice. "I didn't think you could make coffee," Amon commented. "Or read." He also pointed out; the book he had been examining was now placed where Kaneki had previously placed it.

"I have my ways," Kaneki responded. He stared at the pile of books before he turned away. "I'll be back."

Amon stared for a moment at the ghoul, though Kaneki could sense what the other may ask.

"Aren't you concerned about me doing something while you're away? Contacting the CCG, letting them know where you live?" Amon questioned, his tone quiet. Kaneki stood still for a moment, though his shoulders were relaxed.

"With those wounds, I doubt you can move," Kaneki answered briefly. He knew the other had managed to sit up, though what didn't go unnoticed to him was the very small yet noticeable laboring breath from the other. Amon, unable to give his own answer, remained silent as Kaneki shut the door behind him.

Well! This is the end of this chapter. But, more will be posted soon! Stick around and you'll see a friendship being built! ^^

Please review so I can know if I should continue this or not!

Thank you for reading!