If there was one thing that Ayato prides himself on, it would no doubt be his strength; he’s changed over the years (for the better, much to the collective relief of both himself and everyone he knows), but this is the one thing that has remained the same about him. Most ghouls would never come even close to reaching SS rank, especially not while so young. He had been an executive of Aogiri Tree and commanded a small army of talented fighters. The Black Rabbit was well known and—most importantly—feared by humans and ghouls alike.
Here, however, he is no one. It bothers him. Power is the one of the very few things that he had control over, and now he couldn’t even use his damn kagune. He can hardly think of anything more frustrating than the feeling of weakness that he has here; he’s unaccustomed to it. He doesn’t know how to be weak.
It makes him feel like a human, almost. Steel should not be able to break his skin, but it can now. Something so small as a pin-prick can draw blood, and it’s infuriating. The only real thing separating him from the humans now is still his diet—he has to eat, regardless of how powerless he is.
The ghoul finds himself in District 1, effectively lost amongst the buildings and their ever-changing locations. It feels like something out of a dream, but he finds it useful. If it’s easy to get lost here, then it means that it is easy to never be found. Easy to pick someone off the street and drag them off somewhere. Out of all of the places he’s seen in Hive City, District 1 would likely be the best hunting grounds. He’s not going to let himself fall back into old habits, but... again: he has to eat. And while he knows Touka is likely providing the same aiding services at her coffee shop that Anteiku once had, Ayato isn’t keen on peacefully relying on handouts in order to survive.
It seems as if he is not the only one who thinks this, though. Hands in his pockets, Ayato drifts down the streets with the slightest of scowls on his face. Someone else’s scent is everywhere, and it’s nearly overpowering. Another ghoul. He hasn’t the faintest idea of who it is and he would absolutely prefer to keep it that way—at least, he would like to avoid whoever it is who has been doing their hunting here until he can regain the use of his ukaku. He knows can kill a man with his bare hands. A ghoul might prove be a different story.
Briefly, he wonders if this is what it feels like to be a weaker ghoul in his own territory back at home. How fucking annoying.
@gluttonx
