#quinx

"Please wait, boss Suzuya." whimpered Hanbee, following his superior, while Juuzou hopped through the hall, ignoring him and sprinting to a figure in the distance.

"Hideeee!" He yelled in glee, greeting the man in front of the conference room, while the Quinx arrived beside him.

"Yoo Juuzou!" Hide smiled, giving him a big high five. "Long time no see! We are finally working together on something."

"Did you know we're prosthetics pals?" Juuzou exclaimed to the rest of the investigators, making Hanbee blush embarrassed. "Please, don't say that.", but Hide played along. "No, he's right. Look, arm and leg! We're like half of Darth Vader!" They both showed off their glistening fake limbs, meeting with confused looks and condescending smiles. Only Haise seemed to join the gag and laughed appaled, making Hide hold his breath for some seconds, recalling the old sound of that laughter.

"Are you done having fun? We have a lot to discuss." Akira appeared behind them like a ghost and restored the serious atmosphere.

When everybody was sat, Haise got up and proudly announced how the effort of both Quinx and Suzuya squads let them gather precious information about the auction Nutcracker and many other ghouls would participate. "Mutsuki and I will be going undercover as victims of the auction and then attack it from the inside," said Juuzou with a smile. The rest of the investigators agreed in silence and then Akira got up.

"This mission is crucial. It's not only about catching Nutcracker, but most importantly it means dismantling one of the cruellest ghoul activities. Also, it will be a chance to destroy the Aogiri." She looked around the room, then her eyes stopped on someone. "The support of all squads is vital. Director Washuu himself asked to include some investigators who are not on the field anymore." She took a long breath.

"One of them is Nagachika."

Hide stopped breathing, his heart sinking in his chest. Of course, he thought They're not done with me yet. He observed every gaze that stared at him, meeting worried eyes and then stumbled on Haise's stare. It was the first time Hide looked at him for so long, fixated on the face that was once home. Haise seemed as upset as the rest of the room, but there was something else, a light of hope.

Hide slowly got up, without ever breaking eye contact, surrounded by a suffocating silence. He knew exactly why Washuu wanted him on the case. All along, it was a test of his loyalty, an eye on him all the time.

"It's been years since I've been in battle and to be honest, I don't miss it." Akira sighed loudly but didn't interrupt him. "But I understand that this mission is a fundamental step in the fight against ghouls and I'm not one to leave people when they need me. I'll be there." He looked directly at Haise, like a silent promise only they knew. Where you go, I'll go.

Akira swung again her quinque, twirling around like a ballerina, hitting the enemy ghoul with critical precision. Hide was far behind her, clutching to the RC suppressor gun given from the bureau. The Auction raid operation had just started and every squad started its motion in perfect synchronization, with fights sprung from every corner of the facility. His job was to be on the sidelines, supporting Akira's squad as he could. She obviously didn't need any help, handling the battle against Naki like a game, her weapon used as an extension of her body.

Hide looked around, while carefully listening to the many voices coming from the transmitter.

"Urie will escort Mutsuki to the ambulance. Oshiba squad, lead to the administrative office."

He couldn't be still anymore, not with the battle raving around him. In silence he got far from his squad, taking the long road into the bushes around the auction building. There was something off: it was all too smooth, too easy as if the CCG knew already everything. He ended up at the side of the building, the map engraved in his brain from the past nights studying it. He needed a place to observe the whole situation and knew exactly how to find it.

"Rank 1 Sasaki will fight alone. Keep the ghoul as far as possible from the administrative tower." Washuu's voice buzzed in Hide's ears and made him stop, with thoughts rushing back and forth. The first impulse was to run to Kaneki, find who he was fighting against, and protect him, but he resisted the urge to sprint away. Director Washuu didn't communicate with him by accident, especially when giving such sensible information about another investigator. No, it was a way to lure him to Haise. There was still a test being held.

Hide took a long breath and proceeded with his original plan, running to the building and hopping to endless stairs, looking away from the corpses scattered around. The smell of fresh blood permeated the air, coming from humans and ghouls' bodies, all equal when dead on the cold floor.

Hide opened the door of the control room and bolted in front of the large screen, surrounded by small displays showing corridors and little rooms scattered around the building. Without even time to check every detail, a crash blasted from the main screen and the image of the main stage was now occupied by two figures in front of one another.

He froze, horrified by the sight before him. Kaneki lay on the ground, wounded and covered in blood, but what truly struck him was the enemy.

His body was skinnier and emaciated, his hair white as snow, but those eyes and voice. How could it be? He was supposed to be dead. But there he was, a half-ghoul, with a kagune growing from his back.

Seidou Takizawa. His colleague, his friend. A ghoul.