I understand, I understand that you want to kill me rn.

I have already thought of how this book would end, but I couldn't find away to connect this to the ending.

Gimme a while to recall what happened the last few chaps.

---

"You're back," Miyo looked up at Kiori who nodded.

"Where's Ayato?" she looked around.

"Off tracking down the guy who killed Touka," Miyo answered. "By the way...."

She glanced at the pink haired teen standing by the river.

"Why is she following us?"

"I don't really know..." Kiori muttered. "But...."

"What!? That's so cool!" The blonde yelled with a grin.

"He's...." Kiori frowned.

"I'll never give up, dattebayo!"

"I'm a dumbass.....Why did I even try to force myself to hate him...?" Kiori muttered, gritting her teeth. "Dumbass..."

"Huh...." Miyo raised her eyebrows.

She sighed before standing up, waling towards Sakura as the pink haired teen stood up to face her.

"Are you sure, Haruno?"

"Sure what...?" Sakura asked.

"You might die if you follow us," Kiori said.

"Naruto...."

Kiori narrowed her eyes.

"Naruto wanted to.....help you," Sakura looked up at Kiori. "I'm useless. The only thing I can do is to cling to others desperately without a will of my own. I'll make it clear, Kiori. I don't....want to help you. I'm only doing this because it's what Naruto would do."

Kiori sighed. "What the hell....whatever."

As she turned around to walk away, Sakura spoke. "What do you think of Naruto?"

Kiori glanced at her. "What do you think of him?"

"He's....my only hope," Sakura answered. "He continues living in my heart......."

There was silence.

Sakura gave Kiori a cold glare. "You don't deserve him."

"You're right.....I don't," Kiori smiled. "I'm probably the worst person to ever exist in this world.....I don't deserve anything I have right now."

She heaved a quiet sigh before walking away.

'Now....we need to find him.'

"Miyo, we're heading out," Kiori spoke. "Sitting here and waiting for Kaneki and Ayato to come back won't do any good."

Miyo nodded.

'13th ward's Jason.....Yakumo Oomori.'

"Here....." Ayato narrowed his eyes, clenching his fists.

"Ayato......don't rush in yet," Kaneki said. "It's a base....he must be affiliated with some organization. You might get killed."

"So what if I get killed?" Ayato scoffed.

"How do you think Kiori would feel?"

Ayato narrowed his eyes. "The hell is with you...."

Kaneki smiled slightly.

"I ship you gu-" (jk)

"You like her, don't you?"

"This isn't the time for jokes, half ass," Ayato growled.

"No," Kaneki laughed lightly. "Make it back there alive.....Kiori wouldn't want you to die."

"What are you thinking?" Ayato narrowed his eyes.

"Anyway, we should observe their base. It'll take quite a while, but with the amount of people we have right now, we should play it safe," Kaneki said. "I don't want to lose you guys..."

"Don't order me around," Ayato rolled his eyes.

"Well, well. Good day, what are you looking for?"

Flinching, Kaneki and Ayato spun around only for their eyes to widen.

'We didn't sense him...!?'

"Or rather.....who are you looking for?" Herminio smiled.

"This....." ANBU Squad leader Haru muttered. 

"The blood has already dried up, it's around 3 days."

"Continue looking around for any traces of people," Haru ordered. "Do not leave a single spot unchecked."

"Hai!"

Sasuke ran around the area through the trees, coming to a stop in front of a used fireplace. 

"You found something, kid?" an ANBU appeared next to him, giving him a headpat as Sasuke glared at him.

"Well, can you tell how long the fire has ceased?" He smiled.

".....3 hours," Sasuke answered.

"Gooooood boy," The ANBU laughed lightly. "Well, I'll go tell leader about your discovery, Raven-chan!"

Sasuke groaned with an eye roll as he brushed through his hair. 

Where the hell is that loser?

He clenched his fists.

Ayato and Kaneki got into a defensive stance, on high alert.

"Come on now, you're so unfriendly," Herminio sighed. "Smile a bit, it's not like I'll kill you......yet."

Kaneki narrowed his eyes.

"That was a joke," Herminio laughed lightly. "Anyway, what are you here for? Begging for food? Help? Or did one of our men messed with you and you want revenge?"

There was no response.

"I guessed it right?" Herminio raised his eyebrows as he crossed his legs. "If one of my men messed with you, I'm alright with you killing them. I don't hold grudges for such things. However if you're going to attack my base for that one man, that I won't allow."

"What do you know!?" Ayato yelled as he charged forward, only to receive a punch to his guts.

"How impatient. It'll get you killed, boy."

"Boy what?" Ayato growled.

"He's calling you...."

Without time to react, a kick was landed straight onto Herminio's face. 

"Short!!" Kiori yelled, her kagune piercing through Herminio's chest.

"That's one down," Kiori narrowed her eyes.

"You have to do it twice. He's a ghoul." Miyo narrowed her eyes, crushing Herminio's head with her kagune. 

"Why are you here?" Kaneki asked. 

"Why wouldn't I be here?" Kiori narrowed her eyes. "Sakura is looking out for enemies around this area."

Kaneki sighed before nodding.

"Anyway, what are we doing now?" Kiori asked.

"We can't attack their base like this.....we don't know how many people are in there."

"Why?"

They turned to Ayato.

"No, why....WHY THE HELL ARE WE WAITING!?" He yelled.

"Ayato!" Kiori frowned.

Ayato clicked his tongue as he walked away, irritated.

There was a yell.

Kiori's eyes widened as she turned around to see Sakura running towards her.

Ayato spun around, eyes filled with horror.

She felt a push as she was tripped onto the ground.

She didn't dare to turn around because she knew what happened.

"Now, now.....that was rude," Herminio spoke with a cold glare, his kagune piercing through Kaneki's head.

"That's crazy.....He can't possibly be alive after I crushed his skull...." Miyo muttered with wide eyes.

"My, why do you look so shocked?" Herminio sighed as he stood up, flinging Kaneki's corpse across the field.

Kiori gripped a handful of dirt, eyes wide with rage. Throwing the dirt into his eyes, she sent a kick to his head before her kagune pinned him down by his neck.

Grunting as he felt chakra enhanced needles pierce into his legs, he gave Kiori a smile. "You'll never find Jason......."

"Where is he? Did you hide him?" Kiori growled, kagune piercing through his skin as blood flowed out. "Why is he on your side?"

"How could I answer so many questions at a ti-"

He bit his lip as he felt that particular place being stepped on. 

"Speak," Sakura commanded. "We don't have time, Kiori. They're coming."

"I'll just tell you this...." Herminio smiled. "We killed him."

Kiori's eyes widened.

Herminio chuckled in amusement. "We tortured him in his own way of torture, then killed him."

"You....killed him?"Ayato muttered.

"You know, I'd never let ghouls of my base kill other ghouls," Herminio smiled. "Our goal is not to kill our own kind."

"Hah? You're kidding me," Kiori growled.

"Of course, I'd have a reason to allow my men to attack your base," Herminio spoke. "We have a goal. To create a world where ghouls could roam freely without the fear of getting killed at any minute."

"Then why in hell would you-"

"You." 

Herminio gave Kiori a twisted smile. "You......Kiori Kurayami. You are the entire reason all of this happened."

"Me....?" Kiori whispered.

"You, Kurayami. YOU!"