Ayato smells the blood before he emerges from the underground. He hears the army of ghouls murmur behind him. He hears a sob.
“Miza?”
Ayato stops short.
Children – the Oggai – dead. The white suits are now bloodstained. And Miza sobs at Naki’s side.
He’s dead. Ayato’s stomach rolls. “Miza, where is Touka? Hina?”
“Yomo sent them on.” Miza wipes her eyes. “Who – who are these people?”
“The people we’re fighting for,” Ayato says grimly. “Looks like we’re having a battle sooner than expected.”
He sounds calm, but inwardly – Touka! Hinami! And that half-assed bastard. Where are they? Uncle Yomo?
Up ahead, he sees two CCG investigators moaning on the ground.
“Bind them,” Ayato orders. He’ll tend to them later.
Further still, he sees a stumbling figure in a torn trench coat. “Yomo!”
The Raven’s eyes widen. “Ayato.”
He rushes towards his uncle. “Where are the others?”
“Follow me,” Yomo says firmly. He immediately slouches over, and Miza props him up.
“Lean on me.”
More wails come from around the corner. Arima Yusa is punching Hirako Take over and over and over in his shoulders.
“Take!” Yomo gasps.
“Where’s Shio and Rikai?” Miza asks with dread.
Hirako turns his bloodshot eyes to Yomo. “I couldn’t save them. They – ”
He breaks down in tears, and Ayato snaps his fingers.
“We have to keep moving. Bring them along,” he orders. Two more ghouls pick up Hirako and Yusa.
A distinctly human smell comes from tunnel 14.
Many investigators.
Ayato motions for the wounded to stay behind. “Miza, watch over them.”
She nods, and he prepares to attack. No one is hurting Touka and Hinami. He can’t even imagine them dying yet.
“Charge!”
Ayato flies forward on his ukaku.
Touka meets his eyes. HInami is with her, and the Aogiri children – surrounded by CCG agents.
“Back the fuck off!” Ayato screams. If he’d been a second later, they’d have killed his sister and – and her, his butterfly.
A little investigator, that tiny Arima, turns around to face him.
Suddenly, Ayato screams.
That’s Arata’s kakuja.
“Dad!” screams Touka, firing Rc shards towards the investigator.
The investigator tries to move, but the armor locks.
“You bastard!” Ayato feels himself crying, but he sends the investigator head over heels towards Touka.
Touka hurls his quinque across the tunnel.
“The only reason I’m keeping you alive is that Kaneki loves you,” she hisses. Suzuya looks horrified.
“Speaking of Ken, where is the half-assed bastard?” snarls Ayato. Most of the investigators have surrendered, and those who haven’t have been killed. Kaneki won’t like it, but this is fucking war.
And that armor hurts him.
“He saved me and got caught up ahead,” Hinami cries.
“You won’t win!” Ayato yells at Suzuya before grabbing Hina by the hand. “Everyone who’s not guarding the prisoners, with me!”
“This way!” Hinami leads Ayato down the tunnel, treasuring every second by his side.
Mercy and Magic 