Chapter Text
WHHHRRRRRRRRRR
Tires of a bicycle race down the pavement near the dead of the night, clicking away as pedals pushed to keep the speed going before skidding across the pavement, leaving tread marks behind as the bike whipped around the corner.
There was rumor about a certain skyscraper in town, of how there were sightings of a ghoul wearing an eye patch at the top. It was only rumors, like a ghost story or big foot sightings. People gossip about it like it was something to be proud of, or probably because it was the same ghoul that had been making the news recently, either way, it was enough for Hide drop everything and check it out. There wasn't a set pattern when the ghoul showed up, so tonight wasn't any guarantee the ghoul would be there.
But it was worth a try, no?
For two months Hide had been trying to find any lead on Kaneki's whereabouts. It was a hobby at first, tracking suspicious people, but now her ability was put to the test when her best friend just disappeared. No one knew where he'd gone.
Or at least that's what they claim.
She even asked Nishio, but he told her the same answer Touka had given her before; I don't know. He just stopped coming to work.
Hide played stupid as always, accepting their answer and pretended to just drop the whole thing, going about her business, helping out with clubs and any other Uni activities. It wasn't till she manage to secure a small job at the CCG where things really began to pick up. With more information to her advantage, she kept herself in the background as the errand girl, asking curious questions when it didn't seem suspicious, till Akira was transferred and partnered up with Amon then it got a bit more challenging. Akira was more sharper than the rest.
It only seemed a matter of time before someone finally tied her as a connection to the very ghoul they had deemed dangerous and were hunting down along with the Aogiri Tree.
Aogiri...
Just what even made Kaneki joined a group like that? He was gentle, kind, sometimes timid and clumsy. Had being turned into a ghoul twisted him in such a way that he did what he did on the news? Was that who he was now?
Kaneki...
Honey brown eyes glanced up to see the skyscraper come into view, her destination reached. If luck was on her side and he was here, maybe she would get some answers. Just maybe..
Tires skidded to a stop as the breaks were press down, coming to a halt before she jumped off, parking her bike near the chain link fence. Tugging her cap off, Hide gather her damp sweat hair, twisting it and rolled it up to a bun to hide beneath the cap more neatly as she pulled it back on. It was a big building, security was bound to be around, walking the premises. If she can get by while avoiding them and make her way to the top, it should be easy.. Right?
A weary grin couldn't help but be given as the blonde tugged on some gloves, taking more precaution before taking off. There was an opening in the fence she slipped through and trek across the ground, keeping low, knowing a place like this was bound to have cameras outside just like inside. Taking a slow and deep breath, Hide bounce on her feet, ready herself for the chase that was to ensue once she broke in.
This clearly was about to be some 007 shit.
Picking up a good size rock, Hide tossed it up and down, feeling the weight as her heart hammered against her rib cage. This was really a whole new different situation she found herself in. Tracking people was one thing, but breaking and entering? That was some serious Go Straight To Jail.
Jogging to the main entrance, she drew her arm back and with a quick whip, sent the rock hurtling towards the glass door, hearing a loud shatter as a hole was made. If the alarm had gone off, it had to been an silent alarm seeing she didn't hear a thing as her foot move to kick more of the glass free, creating a large enough space to squeeze through while being careful not to cut herself on any sharp, jagged edges.
Shatter glass cracked beneath her shoes as Hide stood up, trying to calculate quickly just how much time she had. The guard desk was right there near the front and empty. If there was one walking the premises, if gave her a few minutes head start, if there was a two, less time. She was already taking off, finding the door to the stair case and began climbing her way up.
Adrenaline was helping her by now, feeding into her heart and bloodstream as feet pounded up the steps, her breathing loud and heavy and for the hell of it, Hide was humming the mission impossible theme song because her nerves were already wreck and needed some distraction to help calm and keep her focus; besides, the opportunity called for it. With her mind set, the blonde had figured if she reach the third floor and took the elevator up to four or six floors away from the roof, it should help throw the guard off her trail for a bit. Hopefully.
Her lungs were already burning by the time she made it to the third floor, pushing the heavy door open and almost tripped. She needed a breath, just a little bit as her body screamed for rest, but her brain argued that she needed to keep on going and that's what Hide did. She pushed herself to run down the carpet hallway, running past doors before finding the elevator and began pushing the Up button repeatedly as if that would magically bring the elevator to her floor faster.
A girl can dream right?
Glancing at her wrist watch, three minutes had already pass since she busted in, by now the guard or guard, were most likely at their station, investigating what was going on and probably reviewing the camera feed. Though she kept glancing around, waiting for the doors to open, Hide was making sure to not look up, keeping her face at least from being taken, the cap should been enough to keep her face hidden.
Hearing shouting from the stairs before a loud banging sound, the blonde cursed, her heart pumping faster.
”C'mon... C'mon...!” Hide pushed the button again before having the urge to cry out in relief when the doors open with a 'ding!' Quickly she rushed in and began pushing floor that was six away from the rooftop, just pressing with urgency to get the door closing. Once they finally began to close, to slow for Hide, the blonde found herself collapsing against the wall as the doors finally sealed shut and the metal box jerked before going up.
Hide knew she was going to die of heart attack before she could even get to the roof at this rate. There was at least 42 floors, so the most she could make of it was just try and calm her rampaging heart and relax as much as she could, while going over her not so put together plan. It had been after all, thrown together at the last moment and she was usually better putting together a well thought out plan.
42 floors and she was getting off at the 36th floor which left her six floors to climb. Six floors, good grief the blonde was sure getting her work out today. Hide knew she was going to be dead, this was so not a well thought out plan at all.
"And this is why I'm not some professional spy.." Muttered Hide, rubbing a hand down her face.
Keeping herself against the wall, Hide listened to the whirring of the machines outside her box, trying to not think of the worst scenario, like the elevator getting stuck, and more so that if.. If he was really here, what would she say? What would she do?
As much as she wanted, Hide really would like to punch him in the face for just up and leaving like that. Yes, she understood his life had changed, but dammit, she was still his best friend! And best friends tell each other everything! Did they not?!
She knew Kaneki well unfortunately, knew that he left without saying anything for a reason. Maybe he knew Hide would try and stop him from doing so, or talk him out of it. Or maybe it was the fear of something else..
”...”
Honey brown eyes lowered to the look at the multi color carpet beneath her feet. She knew Kaneki meant well, knew he thought he was doing the right thing, but Hide couldn't help but second guess herself. After all, he was doing things she never thought he was capable of doing.
Being a ghoul had really changed him, hadn't it?
Did he leave for a reason? Or did he leave because of something else?
Thankfully the dinging of the elevator had saved her from anymore of her thoughts, announcing as they reached the floor she wanted. Peeking her head out, Hide looked to see if the coast was clear, being met with dim lights and silence. There didn't seem to be any presence of the security guards around, hopefully her little antic had bought her some more time.
She had, after all, six floors to climb.
Grimacing inwardly, the blonde moved out of her safe haven and jogged down the hallway, rounding the corner before spotting the doors to the stairways and pushed it open. Looking up, she took a deep breath and bounce lightly on her feet, hyping herself up and started to hum Eye of the Tiger. Fitting right? Grinning at her own stupidity, she moved to start jogging up the steps.
If Hide was guessing whether she was fit or not, reaching the top steps where the door leading to the rooftop had answered that. Her legs felt like jelly, she was breathing way too hard for her liking, her sides hurt, lungs burned and it felt like her heart was going to explode right out of her chest like in Alien.
”I... hate.. steps..” Hide complained to no one in particular before dragging herself towards the door, turning the handle and pushed herself through. Fresh air and the glow of city lights greeted herself as she stumbled through, catching herself with her hands. How ungraceful..
Pushing herself up on jelly legs, Hide was fighting her aching body at the moment, especially with her legs to keep her up right. They just wanted to give out just as much as she wanted, to just lay there and die, but she had a mission to do. So far, it seemed like a fail of a mission as eyes glance around the roof top, forcing her legs to move to get a better view of her surroundings.
He wasn't here...
Though Hide knew this may been the case, it didn't stop her from feeling a little bit of a let down, perhaps putting too much faith and hope. Moving to the edge of the building, looking down at the streets below, blonde locks whip about her hair from the breeze, seeing the city lights below and the roaming of cars, even at this time of night. It had been worth a try, right?
Pushing away, a little down, Hide move to head back to the door, unsure how she was going to get out without getting caught, the security guards had to be close on her trail. A small clinking sound caught her ears, freezing her in her tracks. Turning to see what had caused that, Hide notice a red crane on the left far side of the building, but that wasn't what really caught her attention; it was who was on it.
Even with his back to her, his white hair moving in the breeze, she just knew somehow that it was him. Hide moved from the door, all aches and pain forgotten at the moment, shoes scraping against the pavement quite loudly that had her holding her breath, freezing in her tracks once more. He had to have heard that, even she did though it sounded more louder than she thought. She watched as the body shifted, head tilting, glancing back and a singular silvery gray eye making contact.
Hide watch it widen as her own eyes did the same, everything around her just suddenly seem to freeze in place, background noise drowning into silence as her brain try to register just exactly who was she was seeing for the first time in two months.
“Kaneki...?"