Raizen's presence seemed to fill the room, his eerie, confident demeanor demanding attention from all of us. The Kurogane mask, still in place, only added to the mystery of who—or what—he really was. His voice echoed through the room, a stark contrast to the tension that hung in the air.
Touka, ever the skeptic, crossed her arms, her gaze cold and calculating. "What do you want with us?" she demanded, her voice cutting through the silence.
Raizen stepped forward, unfazed by her hostility. "I'm here with a proposal," he repeated, his eyes scanning each of us. "A proposition that could benefit both you and your... organization."
I tensed. It was clear that whatever he was offering, it wasn't out of kindness. And the way he referred to Anteiku—'your organization'—sounded far too familiar, almost like he knew something we didn't.
Touka's expression hardened. "We don't deal with people like you."
"I think you'll want to reconsider that," Raizen said smoothly, taking another step closer. He didn't seem worried about our hostility; he appeared more amused, as if enjoying the game. "You see, there are forces at play in this city far beyond your understanding. The CCG... they're only one part of the puzzle. But there's something bigger coming. Something that will force all of us to pick sides."
The words hung in the air, and my mind raced to process them. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my voice edged with suspicion. "What's coming?"
Raizen's smile widened, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Something that will make this war between ghouls and humans seem like child's play. A power struggle that will tear everything apart. And in the chaos, only the strong will survive."
Touka looked ready to snap, but I held up a hand, signaling for her to hold off. There was something about this guy that didn't sit right, but he hadn't exactly given us a reason to outright attack him, yet.
"Why should we trust you?" I asked, my voice steady. "You were part of the Kurogane. They've been hunting us."
Raizen chuckled darkly, as if the question was amusing to him. "The Kurogane were... expendable," he said, as though it was a mere afterthought. "I no longer have any interest in that faction. They were too shortsighted. I've come to offer something bigger than their petty vendettas."
"And you expect us to just follow you?" Kaneki spoke for the first time, his voice quiet but sharp. He had always been cautious, especially when it came to people like Raizen.
Raizen met Kaneki's gaze, his eyes gleaming with an almost unsettling calm. "I don't expect anything," he replied. "But I know you. You're all survivors. You'll want to know more. And when you hear it, you'll understand why you have no choice but to join me."
Touka stepped forward, her kagune flaring for a brief moment. "You think you can just waltz in here and offer us some deal? We're not your pawns."
Raizen raised his hands in mock surrender, his smile never wavering. "I'm not offering you a game of chess, Touka. I'm offering you a chance to be on the winning side when the time comes."
There was a pause, and the room felt heavier. I could feel the weight of his words sink in. The CCG had been a thorn in our side for as long as I could remember, but this... this sounded different. Something about his confidence, his knowledge of what was coming, made me uneasy.
"Why do you want us?" I asked, my voice steady. "Why not work with the stronger factions? Why us?"
Raizen's smile turned into something more sinister. "Because, unlike the others, you understand what it means to fight for survival. You're already in the fight. You've survived against all odds. And I need people like you to be ready for what's coming. To join me in this new world."
Touka was about to speak again, but I stopped her with a look. The feeling in my gut was telling me to stay calm, to listen, even if everything about this guy felt wrong.
"What's in it for us?" I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.
Raizen's gaze flickered toward the door, then back at me. "I'm offering you the tools to survive what's coming. Information. Power. Influence. And more importantly—control. The CCG may think they've won this war, but they're blind to what's truly happening beneath their noses. I can give you the knowledge you need to protect yourselves. To stay ahead of the game."
The room fell into silence as we processed his words. The promise of power, of information, of control—it was tempting. It was dangerous. But it was the kind of thing that could make all the difference in the brutal world we lived in.
Touka was the first to break the silence. "And what's the catch?"
Raizen's smile never faltered. "The catch? There's always a price to pay. But in this case, it's simple. I want your loyalty. I want you to help me secure what's mine. I've seen the way you fight, Touka. You're strong. Kaneki, you've already proven yourself to be far more than a regular ghoul. And you," he said, turning to me, "I can see the potential in you."
"Potential for what?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.
Raizen's gaze was piercing. "For something far greater than what you are now. You've taken the first step, but there's so much more you could become. All I ask is that you open your mind to the possibilities."
Touka scowled, but I could see her thinking. I could see the gears turning in her mind as she weighed his words. She hated the idea of anyone controlling her, of being used for someone else's game, but even she knew how high the stakes were.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. This was dangerous. This was too risky. But... could we afford to turn our backs on this offer? Could we afford to ignore the information and power he was offering?
"We'll think about it," I said finally, looking straight into Raizen's eyes.
Raizen nodded, his smirk never fading. "I thought you'd say that. I'll give you time. But don't take too long. The world won't wait forever."
With that, he turned and walked out of Anteiku, his footsteps echoing down the hall. The door clicked shut behind him, leaving us in silence once again.
Touka, Kaneki, and I stood there, each lost in our own thoughts.
"What now?" I asked, breaking the silence.
Touka's gaze was far away, as if she were looking at something beyond the walls of Anteiku, beyond the city itself. "We can't trust him. But we can't ignore him, either."
Kaneki didn't speak right away, but when he did, his voice was heavy with thought. "This is bigger than we thought. Whatever he's planning, we need to be ready."
I nodded. "We'll need to stick together. Watch each other's backs."
Touka looked at both of us, her expression determined. "Let's make sure we survive whatever's coming."