~from Tsukiyama's POV~
It was only just the next day that I was strolling about the city as though I owned it (and to be fair, with my father's company and assets, I could probably buy at least a few streets) when I heard it - the sounds of some thugs picking on a young woman. Rather, perhaps it was not my ears which perceived the situation, but some sixth sense directly related to the welfare of women, who are an important asset of my own.
Thus, through one means or another, I sensed a woman in peril, and, as any good gentleman would do, I hurried towards the scene.
When I came to the head of the alley, I paused, reveling in my luck. As it was, there were three men harassing none other than my dear, precious, sweet, kind, and gentle Miss Kaneki. And, as any true man does, I began to envision thoughts of heroically rescuing her - of her falling into my arms - of me slowly devouring her - although maybe I'm moving a bit too quickly in my imagination. Perhaps a true gentleman would brush off the incident as though it were nothing...yes, the devouring will have to wait.
Without further ado, I began calmly striding towards the trio of ugly men who dared to lay hand to my property, and that was precisely the moment - when I stood ten feet away from the foursome and the closest turned towards me - that I realized that this was no typical alley struggle.
In fact, all three of the men had black sclera, which could only mean one thing.
My dear Miss Kaneki had somehow attracted the attention of the ghouls who ran this territory, and now they were on the hunt.
They were the predators, as they were eliminating a threat to their feeding ground within their own rightful territory.
The prey - her.
It was unclear to me as to why she had been wandering in this part of the district, but those questions could wait for later. Miss Kaneki, who had not noticed me of yet, also sported black sclera, although hers was unique in that only one of her sclera were dark, as the encounter with others of her kind was drawing out her demon from the depths within.
No one else was supposed to pillage her secrets before I did...No one else was supposed to be allowed to see her hidden nature...
NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO TAKE HER FROM ME.
There was a final sight that pushed me over the line of no return, however - the invisible line that, once crossed, lent no hesitation to butchering my own already-hunted species.
That pivotal moment came when I saw one of the ghoul's hands around her throat, pinning her against the wall, as her arms lay slack along her sides.
NO ONE ELSE IS ALLOWED TO TOUCH MY BELONGINGS.
A feral wrath swam through my blood, lining my vision with blood lust as my own sclera shed their fake identities and mirrored the others'.
At the sight, the ghoul who was still turned to me bared his teeth at me. "Stay away. This one is ours."
This one. He dares refer to my dear Miss Kaneki as a thing, an inanimate object of mere base value. Disgust lined my throat and esophagus, but I am nothing if not an actor (and a gentleman, of course, I may add). I forced a smile onto my face and tried to appear merely curious but not interested in taking any action. "And what will you do with her?"
At this moment, my dear Miss Kaneki finally noticed my presence (although I cannot blame her for failing to note my majestic appearance until now; certainly, the hand around her throat must require the majority of her attention), and for a moment, her eyes brightened slightly. Hope. There was hoping illuminating both her irises, despite the darkness of one sclera and the absence of darkness in the other. Then, just as quickly as the light had flared up, it immediately disappeared as she took in my apparent disinterest, as though I were playing the part of a spectator.
My dear Miss Kaneki, fear not, for I would never let you belong to another...But it frustrated me that I could not speak as much to her and soothe her fears. For now, I would play the part, though.
The other ghoul shrugged, still scowling at me but not appearing as cautious as before, as I seemed to be no threat to his operation as of present. "Who cares. She's a one-eye, though, and you don't come across those every day. She'll probably go at a high price." He spat on the already grimy alley street which consisted up ruptured blacktop and part of what appeared to be an attempt to pave a sidewalk.
My facial muscles went rigid. They want to auction her off? They think that they have the RIGHT to sell MY PROPERTY as though she were mere CATTLE? The words agitated me to no extent. But...if I get in on the deal...I could make enough money to buy all the women I'll ever want for the rest of my life...Sure, I have Father's money, but a man should found his own wealth, line his own pocketbook...
But my dear Miss Kaneki is a priceless gem...She's worth more than a thousand ordinary women.
I must have her, even if it costs me a fortune...
I MUST HAVE MISS KANEKI NO MATTER THE COST. SHE IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN SATISFY ME.
And I, once a child and now a man used to getting everything he desires, do not take no for an answer.
I grinned at the ghoul before me. "You want to sell her, you say?" I asked politely, and he narrowed his eyes at me.
"Hey, you. I know your kind. You're after my merchandise, aren't you? Well, beat it before I bash your face in," he growled, once more a lethal predator.
Oh, but I was far more lethal, because beyond my predatory senses, I am a true gentleman, first and foremost. I smiled a demon's smile, my eyes narrowed. "Your merchandise?" I leaned in a little bit closer and lowered my voice to a hiss. "She belongs to me."
And at that moment, I, the gentleman, commenced my attack.