I stare dangerously at the ghoul in front of me, the smirk on his face aggravating me immensely.

"Oh, sorry, didn't see you there," he says, holding his hands up in defence.

I don't reply I just try to move forward and past him again, but he sidesteps into my way and stops me from moving forward. I snap my gaze to him, wondering what he is up to.

"I'm so sorry, I don't know what's gotten into me," he smirks widely down at me, "Excuse my actions, please."

I sidestep him and step forward again, but this time when he places his body in front of me I bring my knee up with force, sending it straight into his pelvis. His eyes widen and he grabs my leg, throwing it to the side.

He grabs my shoulder, clenching his fingers down on it harshly. I don't react emotionally, I just grab his hand and crush it in mine, his fingers making a sickening crack. He growls and brings his leg up to kick me. But before the leg makes it to my face a hand reaches out and stops it, catching the shin and clamping down on it, snapping the man's fibula in half.

I glance back, eyes narrowed at Ayato, who lifts the man by his broken leg and tosses him across the room. A smirk twitches at my lips but I force it down and continue on my way. Ayato watches me for a few steps before following me.

I hold out my face to him discreetly. He glances down at my hand and steps closer to me, our arms sliding up against each other before entwining his hand with mine. I glance up at him.

"What's wrong?" I mumble, looking ahead and watching at the light seeps into the hallway as we get closer to the outside world.

"Don't let other men touch you," Ayato mumbles back, not looking at me.

I smile lightly, "Possessive much."

He frowns slightly and grips my hand tighter, "Don't."

"It's not like I liked him, I broke his fingers," I mumble as the cold air hits my face and the sunlight dances around us.

"You didn't like that human either and you made out with him."

I scoff and look up at him, "He kissed me, and you know full well I only did it to make you upset."

He tightens his hand on my hand suddenly and comes to a stop, spinning me to face him. He puts his hands on my cheeks and stares me in the eyes.

"It made me very angry, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it." He mumbles, practically glaring at me.

I sigh and reach up, wrapping my arms around his neck. I lean up and press a quick kiss to his lips before falling flat on my feet again.

"You know I would never. We also know that you have far more girls chasing after you, I have to fight them off on the daily." I chuckle, staring into his years.

Ayato smirks, "I guess I'm just that irresistible."

"That's exactly right." I hug him tightly.

"If another male, human or not, touches you I will kill them."

"I'm positive you will."

c.r.o.s.s.e.d.

I sigh and flick my last dango stick off the roof. Ayato and I are on surveillance duty. We have to watch Antieku's movements. Usually, Keneki would go with Ayato but they don't trust in him to not try and get someone's attention while he is here, so they sent me.

Ayato wraps his arms around my waist, making me lean back into his chest. We are sitting just behind the ledge of the roof, me sitting in front of Ayato and him holding me up from behind.

"I think it's safe to say no one is going for a late-night snack tonight," I mumble, still staring at the front door.

No one has come in or out of Anteiku since they turned the lights off, apart from Yomo who left to go collect food, but we know that is exactly what he is doing. He isn't going around and causing trouble for the Aogiri.

"Movement," Ayato mumbles, sitting up straighter and staring down at the alleyway between Anteiku and the neighbouring shop.

I glance down in the same direction looking for any movement as he said. I listen as the back door slams closed and Touka rounds the corner, walking out of the alley and onto the main street. She turns to the left and we follow her quietly with our eyes.

"You stay," Ayato mumbles, smoothly slipping from behind me and standing up, "I'll follow, make sure no one else walks out."

I nod to him without looking away from Touka's disappearing figure. Ayato disappears into the night, following his sister from a safe distance. I follow the two until they disappear from sight before looking back at the door.

I bring my knees to my chest and wrap my arms around them, resting my chin on my knee caps. I stare at the door, my eyes not wavering for a second. I spent all day leaning on Ayato and making him do all the hard work for me, so I'm wide awake tonight.

Ayato didn't let go of me after his little confession, he held my hand the entire way to this building, then wouldn't let me go until just now. He hugged her tightly the entire time and I didn't mind, I just let the boy recharge his battery by loving me.

I shiver slightly as the wind passes over me, my clothes are not enough to keep me warm now that Ayato's body heat is no longer heating me up. I tug at my crop top and try to pull it down over my back, trying to heat myself up. But as I glance back up at the door I notice two figures heading this way.

I roll forward onto my feet and narrow my eyes at them, trying to distinguish who they are. They walk straight out of the alleyway and across the street, not looking for any dangers around them and just stepping out onto the road and towards me, the second ghoul slightly behind. I lean over the lip of the roof to follow them.

They stop right in front of the building I am sitting on top of and look up, making direct eye contact with me. I let my hair fall forward before letting my eye turn bright red, trying to warn them off.

The second one doesn't look up at me when it reaches the building, it just kneels down before jumping upwards. I jump from the ledge just in time for them to land on the roof in front of me. My eyes widen when I realise who it is. I jump back several more times and land on the opposite edge of the roof, my heart rate picks up considerably when the second person appears on the roof next to the first.

"Hello, Niko-nee!" His voice comes out condescending and makes me shiver involuntarily.

I nod to him respectfully, "Hello Juuzou."

He giggles, his partner standing statically beside him.

"This is Mizurou Tamaki, he's here to help me capture you." Juuzou smiles widely at me, causing my heart to soften a little.

Juuzou spent his time trying to help me fit in, every lunchtime he would erupt into my office, never failing to scare me, and drag me out to lunch. He tried his best to make friends with me, but I never tried back, for obvious reasons.

Tamami looks at his senior alarmed, obviously not expecting him to let his name slip, Juuzou seems to notice this.

"Don't worry, after this, she will be in Cochlea or she won't remember." He grins widely and turns back to me.

"Juuzou I don't want to attack you," I mumble, my eye flashing again and my Ukaku ready to rip out of my body.

"But I want to attack you, Niko-nee, I really want to hurt you." He swings his scythe out to the side, almost decapitating his partner who barely manages to duck in time.

I sigh when I realise there is no way out of this. I let my Ukaku rip, my lilac wings spreading out behind me proudly, the purple tones rushing around in swirling patterns. Juuzou smiles maniacally before rushing forward towards me. I dodge him, hoping that not landing any damage on him or his partner may make the CCG back off a little bit.

They have been obviously keeping a close eye on me if they were able to follow me to this rooftop. Which means they probably know Ayato's face now if we aren't careful enough on the way over.

Why didn't they attack before now? I jut to the side to avoid getting hit, running along the ledge of the road to avoid them at a distance. Did they want to avoid Ayato? Why?

I mull over reasons as to why they wouldn't just attack the both of us, especially with Juuzou in the case he has the tendency to just run into a battle and attack anyone he lays eyes on, friend or foe in most cases until he has a superior to stop him. The scary fact about right now is that Juuzou is superior. He won't stop until the mission is complete, I just have to figure out what that mission is.

Why would they avoid getting into a fight with Ayato? We are roughly the same strength and if Juuzou's partner is as good as him then they could have easily put up a fight against us, they wouldn't win though. They won't win now either, I won't kill them but I can slip away very easily.

"Pay attention!" The scythe just barely misses me.

I jump back onto the roof behind me and take a deep breath, I need to focus or my heads coming off. I run across the roof, running from the two. I know they will follow me, but as long as I stay slightly ahead of them it gives me time to think. My mind flies around as I try to recall what Juuzou has said so far, it can help me.

'Don't worry, after this, she will be in Cochlea or she won't remember.'

Oh.

Oh.

They want to capture me and put me in Cochlea, they want to put me in that new program, wipe my memory and force me to work for them. That's a little bit of a problem, I didn't think the squads would go into effect for a few years, it seems the CCG is panicking with the sudden surge of ghoul activity.

I sigh and skid to a stop, facing the two men. I can't run away from this, I need to knock these two out or they are going to ruin the plans of the Aogiri. I look to the side and notice Ayato on a rooftop a few buildings back, looking directly at me. I shake my head and run towards the two chasing after me, my Ukaku hardening into sharp crystal spikes to protect my body.

Juuzou smiles widely as I move towards him, bringing up his scythe towards me. But just as I reach them I duck, my Ukaku covering my head and around my body, the spikes not shooting out but ripping at their legs. I don't stop, that will stop them long enough for me to get away.

I run towards Ayato, noticing the sun begin to rise to the left of me. He turns and starts running as well, knowing I can catch up to him easily. He glances at me when I reach him but doesn't say anything, he just reaches out and grabs my hand.

"It's okay, I didn't let him touch me." I grin widely at him.

Ayato rolls his eyes and tugs on my hand a little before speeding up.

"How was the fight?"

"They are worthy opponents."

c.r.o.s.s.e.d.

question of the chapter:

do you love suzuya?

~shadow

-@ZylikaZ 2020

"Hello, Niko-nee!" His voice comes out condescending and makes me shiver involuntarily. –"ITS MAH BABY!"

"Juuzuo was my favourite character ngl (though :re juuzou sucks major penis but we don't talk about :re)" -@ZylikaZ 2020