Chapter 13: Blazonry...

"I've been pulled out way too far by the flow

Don't know who I am

Don't know where I'll go

Slow down

How could you ever know now?

Could you ever?

'Cause I could never"

-"Trip" by Cooli Ooli

Haise had a funny feeling that today would be a good day today. Scratch that. Not a funny feeling. A genuine feeling.

He didn't understand what made him think that today would be good. The feeling just came to him in the morning. It all framed into a big ball, going up against his stomach until it could gust out and roam into Tokyo. It wouldn't mind the interference, as it was that blithe that it could be mistaken for the regular winds of a spring day. It would be a blessing and the most benevolent thing he could do.

Then again, feeling that it would be a good day for him would make it all the more expected for him to act selfishly.

The feeling didn't leave him by the time he and his squad left the Chateau. He felt as if that it took over his entire body like the voice he had been trying desperately to avoid. It was swift, which was why he didn't focus too much on it as it helped him go through the long walk over to the CCG. It was all in his mind, almost making him forget about his responsibilities. Then again, it would be best to get certain things out of the way.

So far, he had just finished meeting up with Akira. They had managed to dance around the aftermath of the Auction for the entire morning. It was nothing new, yet the limited amount of cases had started to fly away from his crooked back rather than holding down onto it. He might as well take it as another reason why he was confident about this being a good day.

Releasing a small yawn, Haise was not quite sure if he was capable of maintaining his proper form. Just a slight curve of his mouth that could actually help him pass for being tired. It had been awhile since he had talked with Arima. Not just because of the Special Investigator's busy schedule, but because of Haise's own free time being erased.

Ever since he and his squad had been part of the Auction Raid, exhaustion had never been so solacing as a companion. Everyone had been exhausting themselves like crazy while preparing for the Raid, before, during, and after, if there was a way to describe all the times being taken. The Raid had ended successfully for the CCG, making things somewhat easier to handle. The Nutcracker had managed to go down nice and easy, all thanks to Shirazu. Other ghouls managed to get off the CCG Wanted List with nothing more than a breath to signal their survival. It was all the other Investigators could want every time a Raid has been accomplished, despite the many casualties, so it was really something taken with mixed feelings.

Be that as it may, nothing could be done about that now. Just that thought could be easy enough to snap Haise out of his easy and good mood.

Akira had reminded him of his state only moments ago, and he knew that he needed to take that into severe consideration. The Auction Raid had come to an end, and that meant that that event was now a part of the CCG archives. It can be overpassed by the future, no longer a concern with the present or past. All that's left was the unthinkable future.

What an interesting way to think about the upcoming Promotion Ceremony.

Now Haise was starting to grow anxious for when the good feeling may come.

Talking to Akira did not bring any bad feelings. She was always going easy whenever it came with him, not counting the many times when she had to chastise him with her "Mado Punches". Those kinds of tactics may have had a chance to make him wince at the very thought, but he paid no mind to her morals. Everyone had different ways of thinking the right things. Haise sure as hell had to face various types of personalities when it came to his three mentors.

"Maman!"

Haise jerked his head upwards in time to see an always-eccentric Saiko heading straight towards his direction. The clicks her shoes made against the floor were sharp, highly contrasting from the heavenly blue in her eyes and hair.

Saiko stopped in her steps, practically skidding once she was at hands reach from Haise. "I found you, Maman!"

Haise flashed a hasty smile. "Nice to see you, too, Saiko-chan."

Saiko only grinned back at her mentor, flashing white that could surprise the other Quinx just by her food intake. But to Haise, just that smile was enough to make him cross the thought that Saiko may truly not belong in the CCG. The way she carried herself with a mannered tone of a child and a smile to remind a person of their youth, a perfect form forcing an envy to grow if not creating it. It was enough to admit that she should be anywhere but here. Still, it was nice to see her part of a small majority in positivity.

"Sensei!"

Duo voices made Haise remember Shirazu and Mutsuki as they suddenly came into view from behind a distant corner. Just to see the comrade already meeting with their mentor created an incentive for them to run. Haise prayed that nobody else was around to see a childish behavior in the Investigators.

Mutsuki was first to speak. "Saiko-chan," he heaved with a surprisingly flimsy voice. "I don't think it was wise of you to run ahead like that."

Saiko chuckled like candy was dripping from her mouth. "You can't blame me for what I do, Mucchan!"

"Well," Shirazu said, straightening himself without a sign of him showing his quick dash into the halls. "If only that could, somehow, be arranged."

Saiko took a step back, like she took that comment too seriously, but quickly followed with a tongue sticking out. Shirazu gave a small grimace in retaliation, giving Haise too much ceasing in laughing back. Haise knew that Shirazu hadn't been as focused as he attempted to be since the Auction, so he was able to severely consider that he should not pry.

Nobody else tried to with his problems after that event.

Taking a much subtle breath in, Haise kept his mouth in a simple line while his glancing eyes said otherwise. "Where's Urie-kun?"

Mutsuki pursed his lips, his eyes piercing towards his comrades, practically begging for him to speak for him. "Uhhh, Urie-kun went back home, considering the lack of work after the Nutcracker case."

Haise raised his eyebrow casually.

"Or so he said," Mutsuki finished, his words almost sounding chopped.

Haise slightly opened his mouth, the tingling of his fingers forming as he rubbed them against each other with compact. The thought that his squad being affected by the events of the Auction Raid was now receiving a severe crack, thanks to Urie. He remembered Urie having a solidified yet vacant look on his face. He figured from the way the others acted that maybe Urie could have been affected as well. Just hearing the news from Mutsuki made him conclude that old habits can continue to die hard.

Haise crossed his arms, trying to not give any signs of frustration. "Well, I guess things have been calm ever since the Raid."

Saiko raised her head in a playful manner. "Can we go home too?"

Haise considered that option, scanning through if he had other duties that needed just as much consideration, only with a bit more diligence. He understood that while there was the Promotion Ceremony was still at hand to giving him and his squad new positions, it would not be enough to gain important tasks than now. Usually, the Investigators in the top three classes had to take care of most of the main cases once the drafts have been sent into the CCG. Everything had to been taken care of by them, save for other Investigators called in for extra help if needed. In fact, the Investigators that Haise had seen around the building were mostly around in the specified areas. Akira called him in for a review on the Raid, but other than that, there was no other conditions to attend to.

Haise had his mouth barely agape, preparing to see a sharp yet bright response of Saiko as-

"Investigator Haise Sasaki, I wish to speak to you."

Haise and his squad halted mid-conversation, quickly forgetting about what exactly they wanted to gain, and let their eyes follow to the left to see a woman dashing around them, still walking ahead. Haise couldn't see her eyes-they were looking down at a thick report held chiefly like a true Investigator-but he would always be taken for a fool if he said he didn't recognize her signature ponytail.

Tomine finally stopped walking, only to turn herself punctually with her eyes finally facing every human being in her sight. Haise tried not to panic when he noticed a fire in the familiar orange iris'.

"Today!" Tomine bursted, clutching the report against her chest and her lip lowered in a deprived tolerance. "If you didn't realize."

Without a word, Haise offered a quick tilt and started walking until he was immediately by Tomine's side.

"Head home without me," he mumbled to the others before turning his head forward.

Offering a nod back to his squad, Tomine turned herself around and walked almost in synch with Haise. He didn't even offer to look back to his squad. If anything, he could think back to when Tomine came up to him and Shimoguchi. There would be quick yet awkward salutes to the calm Investigator, yet he didn't want to look back to them with a clandestine glance. Years of being an Investigator was an unusual way of seeing different forms of fear.

Today wasn't the time to figure out what other kinds of fear would be a part of that long list.

"Investigator Sasaki," Tomine began after a long duration of resounding footsteps. Haise looked down to her, seeing the tilted quirk of her lips have risen up, letting a straight line go for like a sight of passive yet interactive action. "I have heard news about you being selected to receive a promotion."

Haise gaped for a second, expecting for a much more severe exchange of words. Already, he was preparing for the worst. He didn't know what he had done now, but he needed some sort of defense if he was going to have some sort of setback towards his gut feeling. He blinked before looking down at Tomine with a more compelling look.

"Yes, I am," he said, not offering Tomine a chance for her to turn to him. "But it's nothing compared to Juuzou, Washuu-san, and Yuu. Two of them are my age and they are already becoming Special Class Investigators."

"Yes, but we are all different people," Tomine argued with her eyes lowered. "It's expected to see those two go up to fulfill such high expectations."

Haise sighed out through his nose. Yeah, especially when one of them is-

Tomine passed for an owl, moving her head towards Haise and surprising him with her raised eyebrows highlighting her eyes. "But I'm not talking about them right now. I'm talking about you, and I'm saying you should be proud of your achievements so far as an Investigator."

Haise's eyes softened and suddenly wished for the good feeling to come back to him. It would give him a much better stance when talking with Tomine compared to his bent back and his uneven arms as one was held tightly while the other dangled like the light above his room. He wondered if Tomine could see his almost embarrassing mood. Maybe she could, but refused to mention it. She liked to blurt stuff out, but she had standards.

"Of course," Haise replied. He was late in trying to keep anything going so that he could forget about his wish. He gritted his teeth, trying so hard in keeping his lips straight as they remained closed, hoping Tomine wouldn't notice. Eventually, his one hand finally released all tension when Tomine suddenly stopped walking. He almost tripped from her calm cease, but maintained himself as he kept staring down at her.

"Speaking of achievements," Tomine addressed, letting her arms drop to her sides, the report still held cautiously. She proceeded to do a small twirl, slow enough to make Haise take a small step back, as she gave very leery gazes to each part of the floor. It made Haise offer similar glances in the same way.

He expected other Investigators to be walking around the CCG in the midst of broad daylight and the absolute regular quo of fulfilling a vocation. He wanted to see familiar faces around him, offering his way of appeasement that he was not alone in this role, a half-ghoul in an Investigator's body. The feelings would be mixed, but it would be typical. But there was nobody around. The way he looked back at Tomine, with a smile as wide as the universe and shoulders released from a small role she had to play, was all boosted from the fact of one thing.

It was so like Tomine that he almost felt ashamed that he kept forgetting.

Tomine's expression grew wider, fully aware of Haise's comprehension. "Are things going fine with you and your little friend?" She finally finished her sentence, the deliverance quickly extinguishing the flames in her eyes and making the sweet orange come back.

Haise didn't even answer right away, a big sigh of relief only being the one thing to show that he was still somewhere around her level. The angst always swelled up in him when talking with Tomine, almost as swiftly as the warm feeling this morning. Finally, Tomine lessened her smile, now well aware of how intimidating she was to the young Investigator.

"I'm sorry for scaring you, Haise-kun," Tomine began, the tone in her voice already having declined. "I didn't mean to play [2] teddy picker with you back there. It's been picking at my sides knowing what has been happening between you and your special friend."

"Teddy picker?" Haise mumbled with a tilt of his head. Tomine didn't even offer to pay attention to his obliviousness. That was his fault, he guessed, for not understanding her more precocious recognition in slang. It was like their minds were placed in the wrong bodies. Shaking his head, Haise flicked back to Tomine with a more composed front. "It's fine, Tomine. Though you don't always have to shout orders likes that. I don't even know if my squad was as surprised as I was."

"Oh, they were," Tomine replied with her eyebrows straightened with boldness. "I guess it can't be helped. It's all in my nature, I suppose."

Haise's eyes stayed on Tomine, who had released her guard down. Her eyebrows weren't raised like before. The hand that wasn't dangling from the one thing that could remind them of their job was glued onto her arm. Her eyes were still bright orange, but it was like it was not offering their best efforts. The slight quirking of her lips set in a straight line could also be assumed that she wanted to frown.

If Tomine could read his mind, she would praise him for his levels of deduction starting to prove worthy.

Before he could ask anything, Tomine popped her head higher for a better view of Haise. Her lips raised into a smile and the sparkle in her eyes expanded, whether it was fake or not. "Well, enough about that, Haise-kun. So, tell me. How have things gotten between you and this girl you wouldn't stop mentioning?"

Haise cleared his throat, thinking it be best to not ask about Tomine. Even so, the feelings still ranged in the same level as he cringed at the memory of him and Touka being together. He did mention before that he was content with how it ended, but that did not make the gradual escalation to that moment all the more satisfying.

"I tried to do what you said," Haise said with candor, making Tomine raise an eyebrow. And like that, he quickly relented. "I panicked a little bit, at first. Okay, maybe not a 'little bit'."

"What happened?" Tomine speculated. Already, just by saying that, Haise could feel more afflictive feelings spiraling inside his body. It's practically trying to cancel out whatever hopes of a good day Haise wanted it to be.

"Well," Haise began, his hands already folding around each other, "I think it's the way I listened to your advice. What you said was simple, but I guess I tried to follow your advice way too seriously. All I said and did revolved around your words."

Tomine stood there with her free hand placed on her waist. Haise reared back a bit at her stare, not sure if she was trying to hide disappointment.

It made him wonder when was the first time she tried to hide something from anyone.

"But it's okay," Haise continued determinedly. "I remembered the last tip you told me, and I went on from there."

Haise kept going on about his special day with Tomine, doing his best in not leaving out any details. When he was done, Tomine had no restraints as she giggled spritely. She clutched onto her folder, now brought up against her chest, and Haise paid attention to the way her head tilted slightly with dignity.

"I'm so glad things were able to work out between you two," Tomine said, her ponytail moving from her slight fidgeting.

Haise sighed with relief, unsure if that was the right action to do after revealing that kind of good news. "Yeah, things are starting to look better now."

Tomine gave a refined chuckle. "Now that is what I like to hear."

"Even if it is just the first try?" Haise countered, not even sure if he wanted it to be playful or not.

Tomine scoffed sarcastically. "You should know that I am fully aware of what kind of responses you can get with certain actions done right."

"Too much experience from the higher up could be the right way of explaining that kind of confidence," Haise quipped with a now fully opened heart. It made him more prone to emotions, especially with how he almost laughed the same way Tomine did after his comment.

Tomine then let her small laugh turn into a quick transition of her head as she tilted it. "But you're playing your cards right if you think that way about my confidence." She let her hand go against her chest delicately, her forefingers just being enough to match those of a true Investigator capable of knowing the definition of "being tame". "I am helping you, after all. And that is enough to prove that you can get away with your own wishes."

Haise finally laughed, a mixture of agreement and worry having a way of coming on and off. It was a quick response, making it much easier for Haise as Tomine would not be able to notice such distinctions. The last thing he wanted was judgment, especially after that night during the Auction.

Rather than just accomplishing a lot in the field with his squad, the Voice in his head just had to appear within, in spite of reasoning with it. He had lost control of all known senses, letting himself give in to the regular antics of a ghoul. For a second, he forgot that he was human. It would be much better to explain how he was capable of beating the Owl that night.

The Owl was a worthy opponent, he'll admit that, but that did not stop Haise from wondering that much about how he long he would have lasted. Such insanity inside that gaunt ghoul could make a young child cry. It could seep inside any host, whether it was living or dying, and just thinking that way made Haise wonder if their battle did just occur.

If it weren't for that other girl that briefly came to his rescue, he would have been a part of the dying majority towards the Owl.

There wasn't even a chance for me to go closer to that girl.

"So then," Tomine bursted in like a needle, "what next?"

Haise didn't have enough time to focus on that short question. "I beg your pardon?"

Tomine curved her smile, her hand sneaking down to the pocket of her coat. "You already finished one part, so what are you going to do next?"

What to do next, indeed?

Haise felt even more foolish for forgetting that he had not thought things completely through.

It's not like he was more hesitant about what he wanted to do next. His mind was already made up. He wanted to make things happen with Touka. She was a magnificent woman, probably the first one to ever catch his eye and make him talk nonstop about her whenever he was given the chance.

He remembered the day they both went to the garden. Swift conversations; caring gazes; the way he held onto her. He did his best in not letting her hurt herself as her body was down against the grass, protecting more of herself than ever thinking about how he looked. Time was an agent, a companion for every person, human or ghoul, yet he absolutely loathed it as the temptation to feel her skin came into his mind and made it paint more vibrant colors on her. It highlighted every feature on her like it had been lost in the stars and found back on Earth.

Going all right back to him.

Every time he thought about that day made him feel like he could survive in this forsaken world. That was enough. That was all he wanted, anything that could make him give his brief happy intuition become something infinite. It was enough to keep him on track.

Haise knew where his thoughts were going, but he wasn't quite sure if his voice would do the same.

Looking up, Haise scanned through possibly billions of ideas of what to do next before facing Tomine again.

"I'm not quite sure yet," Haise began, shrugging his shoulders in an almost sheepish manner. "A lot has happened these past couple of days."

Haise was almost surprised by how her smile didn't droop down completely. It only transformed into a half smile, already aware of what he meant and feeling exhausted by it.

Tomine's eyes shut for a long second, reveling in the darkness as if she was saying goodnight, before gradually opening them with a glaze of consideration. "That does make sense. It's not much of a surprise how much the Auction Raid did to everyone. Though I doubt your friend would want to worry about you if there hasn't been any contact."

Haise rolled his lips together with worry, not realizing that he was giving the same effort as he always did for any day in the CCG. "Well, we pretty much have this week down at ease. I should be able to visit her around this week, so maybe we can go out for coffee or something."

Haise could tell his time with Tomine was advancing his judgment of mannerisms, otherwise, her blank stare would officially match that of a dead man to every other eye on the planet. Blinking, Tomine tilted her head to the side. "I'm sorry, but didn't you mention to me before that she owns a coffee shop?"

He did.

He didn't think he would mention her and her coffee shop to Tomine in the past, but he did.

It was not like he told everything about Touka to Tomine. The woman was a literal encyclopedia, but he would appreciate it if she didn't have to focus entirely on the blue-haired woman. Touka deserved her own private life; her personal deals, her friends, even Rui, most importantly. He may have taken Tomine's advice for not making everything about him, yet somehow all the things he heard about Touka may have been unforgivable and awkward for a fair discipline. There was some open opportunity, but he still needed time to adjust to it. Somehow, just the small snippets that he managed to give seem to keep Tomine at a standstill, not even trying to go dive into Haise's eyes in order to go deeper into hers. Surprisingly, he was capable of being fine with things as they were and with Tomine not even asking him more about her.

It was as if he was doing Touka a favor by letting her become his little secret.

And yet, she was too alluring to not let herself be.

"You're right," Haise mumbled, his honesty almost wanting to be kept a secret as well. Though the nod that followed was more prone to exemption than he would ever be from Tomine's concerns.

Tomine looked at him momentarily, the grip on her folder lessening as her finger tapped itself with the faint sound of her elegant fingernail sounding like rain. "You sound impatient."

Haise cocked his head in surprise. Bluntness was not surprising to see around here, but Tomine was not one for doing it when focusing on one topic. "Huh?"

"I see it in your stance," Tomine explained, her eyes traveling down from feet to his head. "You're hands are tightening so hard that I'm surprised blood hasn't come dripping down."

Taking note of her words and relaxing his fists, Haise breathed in a big amount of air. Raised shoulders that he also forgot about went back down as he released more hints of anxiety. His heart that he struggled so hard in maintaining no matter what kind of situation he was in would always be hanging on a string, suspended in midair as he cannot make up his mind without it. This really wasn't how he wanted today to be carried on.

"It's just...I don't know," Haise tried to explain as he raised an arm to scratch the back of his head. "I can't help myself, Tomine. I'm trying on letting things flow right now, I really am, but...I feel…"

The air-conditioning was on, yet Haise felt like everything in his body was burning. He had found his heart again and it was making sure that he had not forgotten about it. There was so much of an impact in his chest that it's almost startling on why it had gotten to this point for it to occur.

"Like you really like her?" Tomine finished for him, highlighted yet concerned.

Once again, he could never get away with anything from Tomine.

Haise's hand slid back down to his sides, tightening with a dangerous grip against his skin. How to explain how that grip was the same as to how Touka has him in her grasp, he will never know. What he did know was that the way she did it was more welcoming and familiar, not tight and trembling with apprehension. It was never that way when it comes to her.

It felt like a promise.

No longer wishing to bring it back in, Haise spilled. "Yes, I do."

For some odd reason, Haise didn't know why he felt nervous about Tomine's unspoken reply. A lot can be unraveled just from that sudden confession. Would it be too soon? That's all he could think of as one of her options. It was one that he could definitely agree with. Then again, Tomine was smart with her options, not to mention coming up with a comeback to any blunt response.

To his relief and trivial shock, her response was a brief giggle while letting her fingers slightly touch her lips. "As bashful as ever, Haise-kun. It's almost adorable seeing you like this."

Haise blinked, his grey eyes far from lighting up with flattery.

Tomine glanced back at Haise, a sight of her eyebrows shifting without control. "Then what are you waiting for? No one here is stopping you."

Something rather familiar spurred in the atmosphere. He remembered back to when Tomine first brought up her concern for Haise just from mentioning Touka. It was like a special calling was still trying to reveal itself.

Her lips twisted with unspoken words, only to be turned into something else. "You do realize the kind of world we live is cruel, right? We have no idea whether or not we might live the next hour of every day. Times like that make us have thoughts spinning round and round about when we might or how we live our last. Even if there had been mistakes done in the past, all we can think about is the future."

Haise wasn't sure what to feel when he saw Tomine's hand starting to tighten up.

Finally, Tomine's lips twirled into a simple smile, her eyelids close shut. "That's why if you're honest with your feelings, then I say go for it." Her eyes flickered orange. "Tell her how you feel."

The sudden advice Haise was expecting had been something that he had wished would be patient. Love would be patient, yes. It would take some time to develop the right feelings all in the right places. It would not be forced for Haise to say that there had been some time for him to think about which pieces would fit. Again and again, he would find a proud feeling of warmth with Touka. He did enjoy her company as a friend; it was something to get him by and realize that there was something to go into life. Protect one of his precious friends. But now, he realized something:

Being a friend was a harsh way of playing pretend.

Pretending that he was okay with how they were. Pretending that he was okay with their small banters without a little smidge of surprise. Pretending that that one moment they shared, one that he hoped would not be the last, was nothing special. Because he didn't want to do that again. Over and over again, up until some sort of mishap will occur and sweep up his chances. Now, that was a confident assumption, considering the world that they live in. All that could save him was his good feelings.

Touka was one of his good feelings.

Haise may have had a Voice in his head telling him the bad things, but like Hell would he ever allow it to get in the way of destroying it.

Straightening himself up with a wider smile, Haise's blinked and gave a whole new view of Tomine with a more authentic mood. "You're right, Tomine. I'll do it."

Tomine's nodded slightly, proud of the Investigator's resolve. "So, do you have any ideas of how you want things to go?"

Haise did his best in keeping his positivity, even with his bottom lip moving back and forth with his teeth. "Well, maybe someplace special…"

"Something special…" Tomine repeated like she wanted to remember it like a mother to her child. Her eyes matched that sentence, trailing down to the marble floor that reflected like the ocean, only for her to reach back to the surface of Haise's eyes. "Well, we do have that Promotion Ceremony coming up. Why don't you bring her as a plus-one?"

Haise went back to his thoughts encompassing around the Promotion Ceremony. Would that truly be a good idea? Just his first time meeting with Touka practically made it seem like his appearance wanted to scream "Ghoul Investigator". Ghouls are not the only people to be afraid of them. Certain humans have had friends and family as Investigators, as that proved them to be quiet violent in certain accusations and sudden circumstances, whether they be good or bad. That would be something to take into account for him, as he didn't want to scare her.

Even so, for Haise to take Touka with him to the Promotion Ceremony would result in a good outcome. She could go experience something that she might have not experienced before. She could come to meet his squad and his friends. She could even meet Arima, Akira, and Tomine. Saying it like that would make him seem like a high-schooler taking his girlfriend to meet his family, but he didn't even think too much on that.

Already, he was impatient for the results.

Haise nodded, not even thinking about stopping. "Yeah...yeah, okay. I'll do it. I'll ask her."

Tomine smiled softly. "I'm so happy for you, Haise-kun. From what I've heard, you deserve her."

Haise smiled broadly, making the good feelings stir in his stomach again.

"Even if you keep forgetting to tell me her name," Tomine slyly commented, making Haise raise his eyebrows with surprise. Had he really not told her her name? There must have been a lot of willpower in his entire being that could make him not utter her name.

"My apologies," Haise jokingly said with a low chuckle. "It's Touka. Touka Kirishima."

Before then, Haise had always believed that Tomine was one of the most powerful Investigators he had ever known. One of the very many that will not make anything of their control fall down with ease.

Seeing her drop her smile within a second created a mental spasm in his mind.

There was some resistance. The orange glow in her eyes did not fade away from that comment. Ceasing was what could describe her sockets as they refused to shift themselves in thought. Her face had more to work on as it wrinkled from her mouth fluctuating with apprehension like she was biting every spot in her mouth until all she could taste was blood. The sight of her nails gripping hard against her report, making Haise hope that that wasn't important to the CCG.

That was all he could think of for her.

Haise could tell that she was not wrapping her mind around his words. Not that many things could be brought from a name.

Well, a connection could be the main one out of few.

"I'm sorry," Tomine began with a flustered voice. "But did you say Touka?"

Haise took a step back, jolted by this new tone that Tomine presented to him. It was like she was pretending to be scared, to be just like any other human being that feared for their lives when with a ghoul. Dealing with the devil would be kinder to them, as they would be given the strength to go against a ghoul. He could see Tomine facing the Devil with a voice hard as stone, but he wouldn't blame her for breaking then. But the tone she brought here, out of all times she could…

He almost hated it.

"Yes." Haise tried to hide his confusion just as much as Tomine is keeping her frozen state. "What of-"

"Tomine."

Both Haise and Tomine looked to the same direction to see an Investigator already so close within reach that Haise wasn't sure if he had heard him come up to their distance. His dark brown hair was made into a side part, making it easier to see his perfectly formed face, chiseled in his cheekbones and nose. While they remained refined, it was the baby blue eyes that proved to be the sharpest thing the man would bring.

Sharpness, obviously, was something Tomine absolutely adored.

Giving confirmation that it was her husband, Tomine's bewilderment disappeared as a blush started to grow upon her cheeks. "Hello, Kuran, dear," she greeted with a small smile.

Kuran glanced at Tomine in a hurry. His eyes looked terrifying, but Haise could tell his smile brought ease to his wife. Without forgetting, or focusing too much, Haise gave a slight yet formal bow. "Special Investigator Kuran."

Kuran nodded back to Haise, obviously having something more to say than a greeting. It was almost uncomfortable to him. Just that gave him a lot to refrain from crumpling his face. Thankfully, Kuran looked back towards his wife. His smile was no longer at its broadest.

"I apologize for interrupting, Tomine," he said with a moderate tone. While Kuran was accustomed to speaking Japanese, Haise could tell that he couldn't keep away his [4] English accent. "But I need to discuss some things with you if you don't mind."

Tomine let her hand go up against Kuran's arm, the slight brush, practically a skip against cloth that longed for skin instead, bringing more of an envious discomfort to Haise. "Of course, dear."

Haise couldn't tell if their discussion had to do with personal matters or business. Kuran was just as durable as Tomine, going to show that Haise still had a lot to learn about their understanding of communication. Those two had a lot to give and if they didn't, they would force it onto each other. For them, the capability to just even stare at each other with contrasting eyes, a soft blue that could make the Earth freeze and a sweet orange that could burn the universe, was already too much for him to even wonder.

Tomine glanced back at Haise, who was now unaware of what he should do. "Haise-kun," she began sternly. "I'm afraid we will have to continue this conversation another time."

Haise could only hum his comprehension on the matter. It could have been he also wanted to say something else. The look on Tomine's face when he mentioned Touka's name stirred a lot more words in him. Words stuck in his throat, something that would remain there like all the missing memories he had been having curious yet worried wonders over. It would be like a sunken regret.

Haise's thought refused to make him do anything to oppose it. Straightening his shoulders, as if he is getting used to the new weight of that regret, Haise turned himself away from the Special Investigators and walked away towards the nearest corner.

He didn't look back, but he knew that there was something important as Kuran and Tomine started talking, their voices fleeting away and becoming nothing but noises in the building. He was not sure about Tomine's reaction still. He felt like probably asking her about response another day, or maybe even running back to Tomine for an answer.

A shake of nod was well enough for Haise to conclude that things would be alright. He could always wait. Tomine's not going anywhere. The only thing getting anywhere was him as he now had the thought of Touka in his mind. With his plan. And there was nothing else that could get into his mind on this positive day.

Not even the last comprehensible sentence he heard, not making him wonder if it was in his head or out in the open.

"You should not be that involved."

1. Thank God for my cousin! I was having trouble finding a song for this chapter. Like a really, really, really hard time finding something. This was actually a first for me, since I usually have any song in mind for my chapters at this point. But coincidentally, and thankfully, my cousin and his band, Cooli Ooli, just released their first ever single, "Trip", on SoundCloud and Spotify. Guys, the song is amazing. I have never been one who listens to a lot of indie rock, but I absolutely loved their song and I really think that they'll go very far.

Anyway, this fits with Haise. Considering that he is still trying to know who he really is, he is also in between his role as an Investigator and still figuring out his relationship with Touka. He is finally able to do something more with his relationship and not just go with the flow anymore. Even if he feels nervous, he wants to change.

If anything, he doesn't want to keep… "tripping" anymore.

XD

...I'll shut up now.

2. Okay, the Auction Raid took place on November 11 in the manga. We're basically in April, the same month as the ceremony in the manga. A few days had passed since the Auction Raid in this universe, possibly a week since Haise and Touka's time at the garden, and the Banquet is coming up! It still has been a month and a few days since Touka and Haise met. Just a little heads up for you guys in case you might be a bit confused.

3. "Teddy picker" is a British term that was mostly inspired by Arctic Monkeys based on their song, "Teddy Picker". Basically, it's another way of saying that a person is like a crane machine, picking various items up at a time. Since Tomine is married to somebody from Britain, it wouldn't be surprising that she learned some slang words from her husband.

4. I guess my anglophile love from Sherlock and Doctor Who has finally caught up to me as it makes one of my OC's English as well. XD

Okay, it may take me a while to figure out this college thing.

I am currently in my fourth semester for college, and my physical state could basically pass for the definition of a "complete and total wreck." Not to mention having to have some trouble with my college tuition. A lot is going on with my family right now when it comes to financial issues.

However, I'm sorry again if I may not be as active as I was before. I know some of you do not like waiting, but I really am doing my best. I'm not saying I'm leaving; I don't like giving up easily. But I just wanted to give you guys a heads-up in case it may be another long wait for the next update.

On the bright side, though, I will say that we're close to Touka finding out who Haise really is!

I am very excited to see us becoming closer to the reveal. I already have an idea on what I want to show in the next few chapters, so much that I'm squealing like an idiot just by typing this. This could be another incentive for me to finish writing, not to mention how the manga for Tokyo Ghoul has officially come to an end, so look out, readers!

Anyway, I hope this chapter managed to please you after the long wait. Thank you all so much for reading and if you want to leave your love, please comment, follow, or favorite. And until the next chapter, BYE BYE! XD