Call me unkind.

@stoicismus​

Takizawa finally arrived home to see his apartment empty. There was a clear trail of destruction through the main room and to the fire escape though, so he followed, running as fast as ghoul legs would take him. When he finally got the roof, he saw Mado backed up against the edge of it. 

He didn’t want to play hero or anything. Seidou just could not stand the thought of losing her. He moved in suddenly, picking her up bridal style and carrying her away from a storm of bullets that hit the spot she had been occupying a moment ago. Looking down at her though, Takizawa looked more pathetic with worry then heroic. “What were you thinking Mado??? You could have died, idiot!”

“I don’t die.” She can’t and won’t allow it. Hasn’t it already been clear cut to everyone around her how she is made of steel? Mentally-wise, at least. Because she has a few motives to life. Mostly one called Maris Stella that safely ignored the chaos back at their apartment. In the other hand, had she been waiting to be swept by Takizawa? Fate threaded in strange ways and she had come into the conclusion that maybe she knew he would come to help.

Awkwardly as ever, he did come.

Comfortably staying in his arms after the fall, Akira crosses both her own arms and nods to herself. Disregarding calmly that she had been almost rained down by bullets, she pokes at him with a finger.

In the past Takizawa always looked at her from afar. Lately he came to realize the reason for this. He admired her, deeply and truly. The fact that Mado possessed a magic quality that allowed her to simply take what she wanted, no, it was not magic, she used her wit and ambition to do so, was one of those qualities he felt so deeply about. 

He just wished he could continue admiring it from afar just for a moment, rather than being so close, no, even closer as she closed in on him. “You’re not supposed to repay gifts, Mado! You’re never going to get a boyfriend if you can’t pick up on such obvious social cues you asexual quinque fiend!” 

Takizawa’s voice increased in tension and pitch as she got closer and closer, until it crescendoed into a sudden and abrupt squeak when Mado sat on top of him. “What I want is, you….” He seemed clear for a moment. “You and I- We’re not like that right now- I am- you are-ghoul! I’m not-anymore-if I toch you I’ll-” No, he was just short circuiting. Never mind. 

Part of herself can agree. Ignoring certain social cues can end in a terrible disaster. However, when had she ever gone through the most convenient path if it felt the most logical? Sometimes pleasantries must be avoided when the objective in mind was so clear. For a while she wondered to what extent subtlety can help.

“What you want...?” And she stops, if only because she is interested (almost expectant) of the answer, one that never arrives. It’s only a distressed amount of mumbling, nervousness and embarrassment mixed in one sentence. 

“Takizawa,” she calls for him in a clear cut voice, fingers gently reaching for his cheek. She has never done this and never would plan for it under other circumstances -- leaning close, her lips would place upon his own and kiss him gently. Akira having no experience whatsoever lets it linger. hoping it may deliver better her actual feelings but then her mind allows a vile thought she never considered before:

 “Wait, do you not feel the same way I do? Do you not like me?”

Takizawa had never been one to receive even obligation chocolate. It was not that he was unpopular, he just stood in the shadow of someone like Amon who received the attention of the opposite sex in floods. Seidou was just a person who tended to disappear in the background. 

There was someone whose eyes were on him now, he thought with a tentative hope as his fingers clutched the box of chocalates. Ah, that business like response it was what he had been expecting more or less. He already knew his response, “I didn’t know you were such a traditionalist Mado, you know I can’t eat chocolate though maybe you’ll have to get me-” 

He was just going to tease, but then she actually offered it. Takizawa’s eyes went way open. “No! Don’t do that, nononono!” He began to panic, feeling already something was off. “Please don’t dirty your hands for my sake.” Takizawa thought that would be the worst of it. Then, it got worse.

Takizawa stared wide eyed as if some kind of train crash was happening right in front of him. It was the kind of situation that required for sudden action, so Takizawa fell backwards out of his chair out of shock. 

“What do you think your doing?!” Came his surprised exclamation. As if it wasn’t obvious.

Her unfathomable sincerity ruined situations more often than not. The way emotion remained absent in her sentences and scrapped from her features made her even more of a dangerous person -- even when deeply infatuated, Akira seemed immutable by the sheer force of love. 

 She allowed her actions to settle, still unsure of why he was overreacting. The natural order of things demands a more straightforward approach and Mado had the gist of it, lacking tact as per usual. Unpredictable and brash, she had disregarded even further her self-control.

Moving a few strands of hair away, the composed woman simply shook her head. “Isn’t it obvious? I am repaying the gift.” With Takizawa on the ground, she opted to walk around in order and actually attempt pinning him down. “You don’t want to touch me?”

AKIRA MADO from TOKYO GHOUL

aka catlady2000 in your local chatrooms.

despite her youth, she behaves like an old lady.

can’t die, she has a cat.

her will to live depends on said cat. mostly.

sharp and intelligent.

her sharp tongue needs spicy food, too.

she’s incredibly strong, at the top of that!!

diamond in the rough. 

outstanding leader. retired due some circumstances.

amon kotarou’s former subordinate.

haise sasaki’s ‘mother.’ stern but loving, strangely adept as a mother figure.

asexual quinque maniac/weapon fanatic.

her hobbies are as boring as she is, which includes solving puzzles.

@stoicismus​

Takizawa grew up with a mother willing to cook for him. However, he wanted to be self sufficient so when he moved out as early as he could, he bought a cook book and did as he always did. Seidou studied past the point of reason, until he had memorized every recipe in the book. Of course, in execution he was not the best chef around, but as long as he was only cooking for himself all he needed to be was serviceable.

Seidou always feared his studying never truly paid off, but at this moment it had in a way. One of the chocolate recipes he had memorized had survived intact in his memory even now. It was like some artifact from his former life. Former, huh? Like he had died and been reincarnated into a monster. A monster who was currently holding chocalate in his hands, fresh in the bowl.

The moment the door opened, Takizawa had finished wrapping his squares. He jumped and hurriedly, pushed them behind his back. “Oh, it’s only Mado.” He said, as if he expected anybody else to have come home at this time. He shifted nervously back and forth for a moment, and then shoved the chocalate straight in her face. “L-look, I know it’s not white day but, I don’t think somebody like you could cook anyway so I got you some obligation chocolates.”

Valentine is nothing she felt compelled to celebrate, not before and now even further. A person as simple as Akira had a way of disregarding every possible gesture in fear of acting overly... extravagant. When giving out obligation chocolate she gave out pretty pitiful gifts as opposed her earnest coworkers back in the CCG. Store bought chocolate of the same cheap brand, things such as these left her as a distasteful woman with little regard for others.

So now that she had a box of chocolate on her face, along the fact not too little something stung her while retrieving Maris Stella from the window -- has the holiday influenced her reaction, even when she was so fully aware it had a stupid connotation?

“Chocolate for me?” 

‘It’s not White Day,’ should be her immediate words but she looks at the box, brimming of curiosity. One can even say that the almost serious gaze of Mado had gleamed subtly. “You can’t eat any of this. I may steal a corpse for you later.” It’s a vague but tempting suggestion, wether she was being under the influence of Cupid didn’t mean anything -- she would still do it. 

         “Thrilling. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of you earlier, then again, I guess not everyone can be worth a second glance.” She’d further her onslaught, but mayhaps it would be more sportsmanlike to get a name before things pressed on. “I need your name. Normally people don’t last this long, and you’re the first who’s actually been able to challenge me into sharpening my whit.”

Takizawa had spent so long obsessing over labels. Even right now, he was a ghoul, or at least a human playing at being ghoul. He had spent so much time with them though, that he had gotten lost in them. He forgot what it was he actually wanted. This simple feeling of fulfillment, just to have Akira seeing him. To be the thing that takes up her eyes, like she was for him.

Even when the small image of him reflected in her eyes, was the white haired him with a scared, and fearsome look in his eyes at the same time. Takizawa at that thought, deflated for a moment. Even his undefeated cowlick flopped downwards at that thought. Then once again, Akira said something so simple to save him. 

“At least I don’t smell like cats, Mado! Does that mean I get to use a cat hair brush on you after this?” He was better at bickering with her to communicate. Even though his voice sounded annoyed though, Takizawa was smiling. He was doing so in a non-deranged way too. Before, he had never smiled at he once, he realized. Even though he complained about her being the emotinoless one, all he did was fret and act bitter around her. 

To make up for all those times, he wanted to show her his smile now. He thought about it, Akira had the respect of everybody else, she had coworkers, but she had no family, and no friends. She must have been alone. “I’m not going to change anymore either. When I’m around you, I’m Takizawa Seidou.”

The next thing he wanted to ask, was a bit difficult to ask. Takizawa stood up from the bath water suddenly so he could make eye contact with her as he did so. “That’s why I- let’s stay together forever, okay? Does that sound cool?” That was not nearly as articulate as he imagined in his head. 

Maybe he didn’t reply with something as reassuring or related in a way but somehow, that relieved the tense atmosphere in the apartment’s bathroom. She didn’t have a way to change him back, Takizawa was a ghoul and now she would have to grow used to it. Accepting him included that side of him, one that she condemned many years before. 

Akira was sure her sacrifice barely meant a thing. No, she needed to do more than this.

“Cats don’t smell like rotten meat.” 

Pause. 

A splash of water. 

“And no, I actually brush my hair.” Another splash -- this was more amusing than she thought. Ceasing for a moment, she sits on the edge of the bathtub. That was enough fun for a body that rarely showed any hint of positive energy in it. 

“Yes, it’s fine for me. You can stay.” Shoulders shrug off, pretending he didn’t leave her speechless for a second. Any answer would do in these cases, showing yet again she had the upper hand even when for an instant her heartbeats were faster than usual. “Now, should I dry you off or can you do it by yourself?” 

       “But why carry something so meaningless around with you anyway? You look like the last person who’d know anything about affection from another man. Though I suppose you found some test on the internet to take in your alone time… which I’m sure you have ample amounts of.” 

“Mmm, you were asking for proof and I wished to provide. However, I agree... actions speak better than just baseless words. Simple as that, I am a dutiful person with the finest of tastes.”

“Nah, it’s tuna. Or perhaps maybe salmon. No chocolate of any kind. Mittens has a very sensitive tummy.” When your valentine  is a cat.

“And what makes you the best source for giving advice?”

The two of them, what were they exactly?

A pair of old friends, no that couldn’t be it. They had never gotten along not even once. The best he had done was wish her a begrudging congratulations. Did that even count? He thought for sure, Akira never once cared to hear the congratulations of a second place investigator like him. 

They were coworkers, but he learned quickly in the world of ghoul investigators that meant nothing. Investigators after all, only existed to die and be forgotten about. He had learned this lesson, and he was sure Akira had too, learned it twice over.  

As she approached, however and Seidou backed up only to his the porcelain edges of the bath tub, Seidou realized exactly what their relationship was. Predator and prey, except, unexpectedly, he had been the prey. 

“W-what are you doing with that broom?  There’s no mess to clean up in here. Wait a minute, it’s me, I’m the mess.”

Seidou had just planned on sitting in the tub and soaking. Anything else might have felt like too much effort to put his body through. He knew how to clean of course, he just didn’t want to. The Seidou that she had known, stubborn to a fault, he was still alive in the white haired one eyed ghoul. 

“Not the hair, not the hair-!” He said as he thrashed about as a broom filled with soap swept all of him. Eventually, all the motion caused a great amount of bubbles to surround him. Takizawa finally paused, looking more bubble than man at this point.

He blinked and looked to Akira. Before sneezing, causing all of the bubbles to pop at once. All that was left was a wet Seidou in a tub. He dragged his soap filled hands through his hair, and pulled it back, looking to her again nervously. 

“I must look a lot different, huh?” He said, referring to his pure white hair and pale skin, which were especially obvious in the light of the bathroom he almost glowed, “I don’t think I can go back to the way I looked before, sorry.”

The fact his face was constantly attacked by soap and water simplified things for her. Mainly because of how her features softened, showing a gentle smile of pure enjoyment. It was a terrible sort of fun but one she rarely allowed in her life -- sharing moments in such an intense but harmless fashion probably hadn’t been a part of their routine in a while.

Maybe she wasn’t the most suitable person to label as a friend or a mere coworker, but she didn’t care about labels. They have been deeply ingrained in her life and thus far, she simply enjoyed being ‘Akira’ to him. Not the carrier of her surname or being part of short legacy of incredible investigators, neither the titles she won through her student and working career -- they mattered little in this one-sided rivalry and now they were but a spec of the past.

Silence meets his claim, void gaze falling onto him. Afterwards, again the broom hits his face -- intending to hit him. That is not the sweet nor reassuring approach he deserved, but this was Akira and she knew the bare minimum about comforting a living being. Unless that was Maris Stella and the cat was as independent as the owner herself. 

“Don’t be stupid.” She removed the broom, standing mightier as ever with her trusty equipment. Seemingly a tad silly didn’t break apart her proud stance on every topic she approached. “What did you think this was gonna do? Apologising over something impossible... I’m only cleaning you because you stink.” There it went, that crude honesty she assumed could become some sort of reassurance when it required tact.

“You are fine.”

Takizawa had always been excitable. He was a very tightly wound coil, a piano chord that had been drawn too taut. The second something hit it, his note was far too sharp, almost like screaming. Akira Mado on the other hand, was eternally at a flat note. Takizawa wondered truly, if anything phased her. 

His last memory was strangling her after all-

He was so close to her now, though, and she didn’t feel fear for him. A part of Takizawa had always wanted her to turn his way, to react to him. Even if it meant her getting angry, even if it meant her hating him, he had tried to stoke up a rivalry after all. Mado never once took his bait though, she was better than that, better than him. 

He liked that side of her that was above everything, she accepted him without changing her expression at all. She was still the same Akira he knew. She was not afraid of him, nor did she act like he was disgusting. Things changed a lot in this twisted world, but he could depend on her. She was becoming his home, he realized. 

It was so comforting, he almost felt at ease.

Almost.

Until she had to order him around in that terrifying voice. 

“Wh….what?”

She wanted to do, that kind of thing with him. Seidou had always wanted Akira to want something from him, but he never expected it would manifest this way. The spring he ws coiled into, suddenly broke in half mentally. 

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH! NO WE’RE NOT EVEN MARRIED YET WE CAN’T DO THAT KIND OF THING. I THOUGHT YOU WERE AN ASEXUAL QUINQUE MANIAC, ARE YOU SECRETLY SOME KIND OF FIEND? OR DOES ME BEING LIKE A LIVING QUINQUE TURN YOU ON???”

He had almost entirely lost it, until Akira clarified what she meant. 

“Oh uh…. I don’t wanna. No, stop giving me that disappointed look, damnit fine.”

Takizawa took his hoodie off carefully. Even though it was an outfit that was forced upon him, his Aogiri suit was most convenient for fighting with projectiles that emerged from your back. He pulled the backless shirt over his head, then stepped out of the pants. 

He walked into the bathroom early. “Hey are you done yet?” Before realizing he was standing naked in front of Mado. “DON’T LOOK I’LL RUIN YOUR INNOCENCE.” He quickly covered up with his hands before stepping into the water. “Now what?”

She was a fiend.

However, not the type he implied just now.

It’s perfectly fine that he became flustered, a slight sense of normalcy that could tune back some feelings left behind. Granted, she wouldn’t award an answer to those claims and simply turn away to prepare the bath while he fumbled on his own. 

She is a carnivore but not one to ready to devour him whole.

Rolling up her sleeves from both shirt and pants, she opened the sink and let the water run till he could arrive. Going back and forth with the appliances, she finally assumes this is all that is needed.

She looked at him, though her expression was unamused. ‘I set myself for this,’ is a slightly reassuring thought once he covers himself up. Her innocence didn’t need protection but she hadn’t exactly seen a naked man under common circumstances. Her father bathed her in those childhood days, and the others were dead. Which really didn’t help. Turning away, she finally lets the heat spread on her face and pretend the room’s temperature was at fault. She would just exhale eventually, feign it was exasperation and not embarrassment. 

“Now what? Get in there, I can’t let the water go cold.” That was a broom in her right hand, the other a bottle of soap (lavender-scented!) -- never did hygienic appliances looked as intimidating as they did in her possession. Specially the fact a sponge was an option left behind. She had prepared the heavy set for the challenge to come. “You won’t get any cleaner if you stand there all day.” Akira Mado could be ruthless. But she wasn’t so out of touch with the world to throw him into a freezing ditch... 

...yet.

Takizawa nearly choked even though there was nothing in his mouth at the moment at the mention of a ‘hug’. He supposed it could be called that in technical terms. What he wanted was to get closer - it was not something that could be put into words so easily, more like a fundamental urge that arose from the core of his being. 

Feelings that were so central to him, buried so deeply, that even having his insides scrambled and his outer appearance changed into that of a ghoul, after forgetting most everything of what it meant to be human he could not forget them. 

How to say all of that, though. 

“I can’t leave you, not while your hogging the blankets. I’d freeze. Use your head Mado.”

There were other reasons he couldn’t leave her. Those were harder to vocalize now. In the morning he told himself, as he felt his eyes fall down. 

True comforable sleep. It was nice, for awhile. Until Maris Stella wedged herself between them and Takizawa rolled off the bed, this time on accident. 

“Uwah, go away sun!”

Takizawa reacted on instinct more than logic. When he stopped flailing and calmed down, he saw the city outside the window. This was Hive City, he had only ever viewed it from the shadows, scurrying around underground like a ghoul. 

“Hey, do you think we could go out sometime - I mean out to the city together - you know so we don’t get lost- As a unit - of two people-”

As he continued to beat around the bush there was something quite obvious about Takizawa. He did not look clean at all. “Gosh, I’d need new clothes, I think I’ve worn this for a month.”

Sleeping with someone that wasn’t her cat had a positive effect. It had been far too long since she had this sort of company, specially now after longing greatly for another person near her. Even if that person himself was a ghoul. Restless nights ended. Stress vanished if only for some hours till the sun comes out and Seidou gallantly serves as an alarm clock by falling on the floor.

This time, however, she has no reason to lecture him. She can wake up without issue and start the day as intended -- rest is over and the sun announces it by sneaking through the curtain’s fabric. His excitable and loud awakening somehow promised decent results, as opposed to her quiet mornings.

“We can go out together.” Placing aside the complicated terms he uses as an excuse, it’s a pleasant idea she can follow along. Akira removes the blankets to stand up, Maris Stella flinching briefly at the change in her environment but soon settles down again. 

“Not like this, though.” And she freezes still at his commentaries. It’s not something one can say so nonchalantly. despite she can understand why and how he would wear something for a month or over it. It’s certainly a switch from the life of any other human, though some ghouls put effort on blending in society. Seems she would have to help him come back into that world.

She sighs, her head shaking. How could she not notice till now? His dirty clothes stained the bed. Not like she was overly worried but she can’t let him live in such circumstances while in her care. Of course, that’s not something that will be spoken loudly when it should be an obvious process. 

Akira could be really clueless when it came to kind actions.

“Strip.” No, that was wrong but she refuses letting her pause cut so quick. It ruins the moment, the shock it can inflict. She allows the silence to settle instead. Maybe it’s the inner desire of teasing him that provokes the uncomfortable instance, but who can tell with such an empty stare? 

“Acquaintances, then.” Such a moniker was just fine with her, it was such a neutral, distanced term. It almost fit them well.

She reclined in her own seat, her body leaning against the table before the two of them, her chin resting on her hand. She was watching the other, eager to see what her reasoning was – there were only a few possibilities thereof, but, that did not diminish her curiosity, nor did it diminish her attempt to hide her own intentions.

Sometimes, watching someone squirm was all part of the fun. Oh, but this hardened investigator likely wouldn’t give her such satisfaction; that was fine, too. 

At the mention of that name, Eto couldn’t stop a soft, brief giggle from leaving her. So, that one was what this was about? She wasn’t surprised, goodness no, as she had heard all about how Takizawa Seidou would cry out a few names from his time with Dr. Kanou – Akira Mado had been one of the most frequently uttered, that doctor had reported. Really, it wasn’t that strange at all, she thought.

“Takizawa Seidou,” Eto repeated the name, carefully sounding out each syllable. “What can you do for that one, hmm? A good question.”

Her smile widened, and Eto leaned in just a bit, their conversation being the most important thing in this entire building.

“I’m really curious – what do you think you’re capable of?”

“What do I think I am capable?” Her gaze falls on the ground. Pensive. What a terribly vague question. For that, a vague answer can only match. “I won’t be able to tell till we reach that point.” Bleeding for him is a start, something she already had reached thus far -- dying is the farthest a human can reach. Akira Mado, despite reputation; was still made of flesh and bone. 

They all bleed eventually. 

Ghouls included. 

Their mystifying existence turned into a more common one after coming into such a conclusion, specially under the presence of Owl. Death’s certainty had never been more relieving than now, fear dwindling into nothingness. She musters a smile, one that intends denoting a relaxed nature unfitting of her. She is confident in her tactics, her composure and control -- but this already has crossed the line, leaving a confused Mado that doubted in a minimal percent.

“I never had a chance to face you properly. Haise did a wonderful job on his own, as a mother I am proud.” So she talks whatever crosses her mind, doesn’t calculate. What’s the point in doing so when the unpredictable best-seller author was in front of her?

“You may have taken my mother but somehow, lead me to become one. Indirectly, of course. Do you understand? Your influence is far too vast, I am concerned on your activities upon this city and the eventual effect.” 

Mostly on Takizawa Seidou.

@stoicismus

As he looked at her, Arima’s expression was indecipherable as usual. The woman he had called to meet in a coffee shop. The mother of his child, though the two of them had no relationship at all besides subordinate and boss. As he was incapable of deciphering the feeling of others, he had no idea what she must have felt having to look at him once more even in this world where she had left the CCG. 

He could merely contemplate. The thoughts he had were what gave him such a particularly complex expression on this day. Oh, but he could not keep quiet forever. He was the one who had requested to see her after all. “I’m not going to criticize you or anything. Actually to me, the idea of lineages, of choosing a career simply because of who your parents were, that thinking seems limited.” He said, though that was not the half of it.

People called Akira a pure bred investigator, but she had not literally been bred for that purpose. He was being, fart too blunt as usual though, Arima’s eyes darkened a she stared at his coffee. “I just wanted to ask, you’ll still talk to Haise won’t you? He might get lonely, otherwise.”

He is a mystery. Always and forever. It’s not something that keeps her awake at night, anyhow. Their strictly professional relationship had allowed her a few peaks in who he was and as her eventual ranks up, managed to observe even further the famous Arima Kishou. Thus, why she kept a calm demeanor in front of him. He was strong and a tad intimidating but Akira wasn’t too far behind him. She could proudly admit seeing him as any other else, aside of a superior and the Father of Haise.

“Thank you for understanding. I will keep in touch, regardless. If the CCG needs support, I will see what I can do.”

“Don’t tell me you plan keeping the custody of Haise, Arima. Mmmm, visiting him in the weekends should be mandatory, then.” Despite her serious face and voice, she is teasing him. Eyelids shut down, pausing only for the joke to settle -- Akira may be many things, but comedy genius was not among the repertory. She coughs by when the silence becomes too overbearing, even reaching for her own coffee.