Seagulls flew overhead the pier of Japan, their brief squawks filling the air noisily as they drew lazy circles around the sky. The water in Japan's ports were pristine, yet as Alex stood there looking at it with a scowl, it looked no less inviting as it did in Manhattan.

He shifted, ignoring the whispers of nearby locals who starred in odd fascination at the 'rough' foreigner. Alex had to get used to it, in Manhattan no one wanted to know who he was just that he was something to avoid, here they tend to just stare at him awkwardly. It wasn't much of a stretch but it was a stretch.

He sniffed, not really needing to breath as an 'undead' being but nonetheless performed the motion if it at least gave off the feel he was alive. His scowl deepened, it didn't do jack shit.

Alex twisted on the balls of his feet, looks of fear and disgust appearing on the formerly curious faces as they registered his smooth, predator-like, gait. Mercer smirked inwardly; happy to find them scurrying away, but kept hid face neutral outwardly- not an emotion could be discerned.

In his pocket- or rather inside his body as his clothes were a part of him- were the names of several high profile Gentek and Blackwatch operatives working in Japan, helping out their counterparts in the CCG. Whatever type of infection they were dealing with- Alex caught slivers of information making mention of 'Ghouls'- Blackwatch was pressed for some political fanfare to help the CCG, a task they didn't like as Blackwatch gave them the derogatory name 'Appetizers' for some reason. Alex didn't know why they were taking, he ate them in a fairly regular basis too.

His thoughts drifted eastward, away from Japan as he zeroed in on his Web of Intrigue with a particular node. Access codes, names and whatever he needed in order to infiltrate the CCG headquarters. What's this? They have a scanner set to monitor the Rc factor of a person? That wouldn't be a problem for Alex but it interested him.

Then he paused, his mind stalling as something made his body react. He raised an eyebrow, tossed a look down a river bank and spotted the cause of the disturbance. Or maybe not?

A child, perhaps no older than eight, sat contemplatively on the side of a river bank- Alex seemed to have gone further inland than he had expected- reading a book. He had a mop of hair that reminded Alex of a lemon and his eyes scanned the page of the book slowly, deliberately, as though he wanted to enjoy the sensation of the book between his fingers. But he remained completely oblivious to the man that flitted around the banks outcropping, the low rasps of hungry breaths leeching the air.

Alex frowned, the person moved erratically as though he wasn't there with the mere purpose to simply terrorise a child and with how his tongue lolled out and the black with red pupil eye, Alex deduced this was what had brought Blackwatch so far out of the US. He frowned, looking around himself before nodding when he realised no one was around.

Like a hunter Alex immediately fell into a crouch and began to creep up behind the man-thing. It had been stupid, no matter how clear an attack in open day was just not advisable and the thing lacked the subtlety of a seasoned and veteran hunter like Alex. Even as the walking pathogen prepared to lunge at the thing the difference were clear, Alex was careful and deliberate as his place in the food chain stood at the very highest- he was the perfect apex predator, not lacking in strength, stealth or adaptability. This one seemed eager, young and fresh as though it had gone days without food and threw caution to the wind. Alex tsked, he would pay for that.

Dana would surely kill him if he let such an obvious danger to a kid roam free to do as it pleases.

Alex lunged forward and grappled his neck, the thing tried to yelp but Alex already applied enough force to silence him as well as some biomass to cover its mouth. It screamed muffled shouts before its hands clawed at Mercers wrist, tugging with considerable force to try and rip his grip free. Mercer seemed only slightly impressed at his strength but only slightly. The thing wouldn't provide the slightest challenge to Alex even if it wanted to.

With a 'small' amount of force Mercer had crushed its windpipe, dug his feeding tentacles inside and devoured the thing whole. Then he grimaced as the influx of memories moved inwards and he cursed inwardly. "Well looks like I'll have to get rid of all this Rc." He muttered and as he did his body obeyed his commands and began to carefully regulate the Rc now within his system. "Kinkaku huh? I'll have to test that out later, if I need it anyways." Mercer shrugged and walked towards the boy.

Dana would still kill him if he left a kid on a river bank alone. He snorted, Dana would kill him for anything yet if he made a complaint about her going out on a date then he was being overbearing.

In his moment of thought he had completely forgot about the kid, who was now staring at this scary foreigner in fear. "Um, don'na goyōdeshou ka?" He said. Alex blinked, mentally slapped himself and pulled out whatever knowledge of japanese he had, which was considerable.

'Can you help me, eh?' Mercer thought wryly before nodding and gesturing his head back towards the city. "It's not safe here kid," Alex grimaced at his slight accent as he was not used to the word stresses, "Go home, wheres your mother?" Alex looked down at the kid and noticed how he looked slightly downcast at the word mother.

"I'm sorry, I'll go home now." He said but Mercer placed a hand atop his head, making sure he stayed put just in case more of those things that were prowling around was nearby. "I asked where your parents are kid?"

The boy made a soft tightening of his face before looking down at Mercers feet, "She's dead and so is my father, I'm alone. Please, I can travel home by myself." Alex screwed his face together, well that was just great! Alex didn't feel much sympathy- he woke up in a morgue- but he sure as hell wasn't letting an upset kid wander off on his own.

"Wait, I'll walk you to at least a crowded area before letting you go." At least there someone had to try before they could kidnap him, which was something that could be easily avoided as sunset had yet come. The boy seemed hesitant- Alex was a really scary looking guy- before nodding his head.

"Um..ok." He said after a pause. He went to pick up his bag and Mercer planned number in his heads. Two hours was as far as he could go on this detour before he had to go back to his hunt.

"Come on" Alex ordered. The kid walked by Mercers side and quietly shuffled by his side.

"Who are you?" The kid asked.

"You don't need to know." Alex said coldly but not with bad intentions. As far as Mercer was concerned the kid was an avid reader and avid readers usually have a better chance of knowing who he is than others.

"I'm Kaneki Ken." He said in greeting with a shy smile, "You're a nice person." He said while touching his chin. Alex didn't need to be a genius to see he was lying.

"Right," Alex grunted, "Are you living alone?" Mercer asked.

"No, I'm with my Auntie, she's a nice person." Another lie. This kid was either too nice, naive or didn't even know his own tick.

"Your aunt must really love your sister if she's willing to let you in her home?" Alex's insides stirred as he sniffed out the presence of several more of those things- and with every fibre of his being he began secreting pheromones into the air, silencing all others as he made his presence clear. 'I'm the alpha' Alex snarled but Kaneki was relatively unaware of his -unknown- saviors thoughts.

"My mother helped my aunt a lot, she helped pay for my aunts bills when her husband was spending too much and always lent her money. My mother was amazing," This time Kaneki's hand lingered on his chin, not falling down even as he turned out of the way of people before it came down with the next set of words, "I wanna be just like her someday!" He said.

Alex looked down at the kid and he felt the edges of his lips quirk. The kid was telling a half-truth now but that was okay, he was still growing. "Alright." Mercer smiled. They were in the middle of a shopping district now, scores of people walking by.

Mercer thought inside him for a moment, before he thought, why the hell not? He tapped the kids shoulder and in an instant DNA was exchanged. A draft of Mercers Evolve strain filtered into the boys bloodstream faster than even light could catch and Alex let go with a small smile. Perhaps the boy would be a Prototype, become a male carrier or an Evolved. One thing was for sure, perhaps, the little boy could do the good he wished. That naivety would die, so would a filament of his kindness- perhaps he would become another Mercer- but nonetheless he would be to Japan as Mercer was to Manhattan.

"Alright kid, go on." Mercer pat the kid on the back and watched as he took a few steps away before turning back with a smile.

"I hope we see each other again." Kaneki said, he was still quiet and reserved but now Alex knew, that was a full-truth.

"I'm sure we will." Kaneki gave a small, nice, smile before turning and disappearing into the crowd. Alex grinned, but let his eyes fall down as he balanced the thoughts in his mind. Not looking back at the dormant Blacklight carrier.

'What's the harm,' Alex finally thought, 'We're family now, I'll be close by.' Then he grimaced inside.

Dana was sure to kill him now.