"Ryouko," she replied, her smile small but sincere. "Just call me Ryouko and this is my daughter Hinami. My husband died two years ago." Her voice faltered slightly before she composed herself.
"Please, don't move. You're still hurt." She stepped forward, gently placing a hand on my shoulder to stop me from sitting up.
I leaned back slightly, my chest still burning from the wound that refused to heal
"Ryouko," I said softly, looking at her. "Thank you... for helping me, It must have been a burden. I owe you."
to which she shook her head and smiled, "It's not ...I found you gravely wounded, and I did what anyone would have done in that situation"
Before I could refuse any further, she interrupted me, her voice gentle but firm. "Please, you're wounded, and you're our guest.
It's my responsibility to care for you, at least until you're better. How about this, Its already late so would you like to have dinner with us?"
"dinner?" I was taken aback, as I planned to leave immediately to not impose on her further.
"yes...I insist", she said while her daughter behind slowly nodded.
Her tone left no room for argument, and I couldn't bring myself to upset her after everything she'd done.
"very well...I guess T will take up the offer" i said with a weak smile.
Sighing inwardly, I followed her to the small dining area, with Hinami trailing behind us.
The apartment was modest. A small table, enough space for no more than four, and a sparse living room with just the essentials.
It was tidy, but the kitchen caught my attention. It was spotless, almost too clean. It hadn't been used much, and it made sense. Ghouls didn't cook their food.
We sat at the table, Ryouko on one side and Hinami on the other.
Ryouko handed us plates, and I quickly noticed the meal before me.
Raw meat. Fresh and Cold.
The typical ghoul diet. She must've assumed I was a ghoul too, given the severity of my wound.
Any normal human would've been dead by now, so her conclusion made sense....to some extent at least.
Cause if it were Other Ghouls, they would have already killed me and gone by their day.
I hesitated for a moment. I'd never eaten raw meat before.
~You should eat it, Grey. You're a dragon in blood and physique, it won't harm you.
But in fact, Raw meat is more nutritious for a growing dragon like you. I suggest you should get used to it, and try to eat it whenever you have chance.~
Now that I think about it, Ddriag has a point.
I am no longer Human. I am what many consider to be a Beast, a Creature of Might...A Dragon.
I need to adapt, My body has evolved, and now my mindset has to. And I'll start with eating this raw flesh.
Looking down at the plate again, I realized I wasn't repulsed or disgusted.
My body didn't reject the idea....It felt natural as if I was eating any other non-veg food. I could feel it, the craving.
Without wasting any more time took a bite, and to my surprise, it wasn't bad at all.
My draconic nature seemed to enjoy it, and before long, I was munching down.
Across from me, Hinami quietly ate her meal, occasionally glancing my way.
Meanwhile, Ryouko watched us both with a soft, contented smile. I could tell she was happy that I had accepted her offer, and that I was sitting at her table.
It made me realize how much she valued this simple act of sharing a meal.
Midway through dinner, Hinami looked up at me, her voice shy but curious. "Um… what's your name, oni-chan?"
I smiled warmly at her. "It's Grey, little Hina."
She repeated it quietly, as if committing it to memory, then asked a question that caught me off guard. "Mom, why aren't you eating with us?"
I paused mid-bite, glancing at Ryouko. That's when it hit me.
There were only two plates.
Ryouko hadn't served herself.
My eyes darted toward the kitchen and spotted two brown takeout bags on the counter.
That was her dinner.
I remember, Ryouko couldn't hunt for herself. Her husband had been the one to provide food for them before he died, and now she had to rely on the kindness of others—probably from Anteiku.
Tonight, she had given her portion to me, a complete stranger, while she went without.
A wave of respect—and sadness—rushed through me.
"I… I ate already, honey," she said with a gentle smile, trying to keep her daughter from worrying.
'A white lie'
It was clear her only concern was for her daughter's well-being. Everything she did was out of love and sacrifice.
I felt a tightness in my chest at the thought, but I kept my expression neutral, returning her smile as I continued eating.
I wasn't going to call her out in front of her daughter. Some things were better left unsaid, especially between adults.
I'd find a way to repay her. I had to.
'This woman...is far too good for this cruel world.'
And I knew I couldn't just stand by and let that kindness be her downfall, especially when I liked her in the anime.
As we finished eating, I suggested that Ryouko and Hinami take the only bed in the bedroom. "My wounds are good for now," I said, trying to ease her concern. "I can sleep in the living room."
Ryouko hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure, but eventually nodded.
She accepted the offer and gently led Hinami off to bed.
Once they were settled, I found myself on the small balcony, looking out over their Backwater district.
The night was quiet, peaceful even, but not the kind of place that felt right for a young girl and her mother. It wasn't the kind of environment that nurtured hope or dreams—just survival.
I stood in the cold night air, sealing the blood that had slowly been dripping from the wound on my torso.
Despite my efforts, the injury still lingered, a thin layer of flesh barely covering it.
'I need a plan...a good one'.
I needed to figure out when or what point in the Tokyo Ghoul story I am currently at.
My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the sliding door opening behind me.
Ryouko stepped onto the balcony, a warm wool shawl draped over her arm.
"It's cold out," she said softly, her voice laced with concern. "Please use this, it should keep you warm." She gently placed the shawl around my shoulders, her touch as kind as her words.
"Thank you," I replied, feeling the warmth of both the shawl and her compassion.
She smiled faintly and turned to leave, but before she could walk away.
I couldn't let her go without addressing the real concern that had been running in my mind all the while.
"Ryouko-san," I called, stopping her in her tracks. She turned slightly, her smile still in place. "hmm?"
"Did you eat?" I asked,
She hesitated, her smile faltering just a fraction before she replied. "I've already told you, I—"
"Ryouko," I interrupted, more firmly this time, my voice serious as I called her by name.
"Did You eat?"
Her eyes widened slightly, the weight of my question sinking in.
There was a long pause before she turned fully to face me.
Her expression a mix of sadness and resignation, but there was a gentleness in her eyes that showed she wasn't bitter about her situation.
She knew I was asking for the truth, and there was no point in hiding it any longer.
"I.....I didn't, Grey," she confessed quietly, her voice soft but steady.
"But it's not an issue. Adult ghouls can go longer without fo-" she added, trying to comfort me, to make me feel less guilty for taking her portion.
"Ryouko-san,"
"you're a kind woman and a good mother. This environment, the way you have to ration food, especially for a growing girl like Hinami and a Young woman like yourself... it's not a healthy way to live."
Her eyes dropped to the ground, a shadow of guilt crossing her face.
She knew it too, but what could she do? She couldn't hunt, couldn't fight.
Her gentle nature, her beliefs, and her experiences had shaped her into someone who couldn't resort to violence, even for survival.
She is well aware of the consequences of such beliefs... and at some point, she has to pay the price of her choices, the question is how costly will it be?
The weight of her helplessness hung between us, and it hurt to see her struggle with that reality.
After a pause, I spoke again, this time with a sense of determination.
"I have a proposal."
Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, cautious but curious.
"Let me hunt and provide for you and Hinami. You saved my life, and this is the least I can do for you in return.
Let me carry this burden for you," I said, unconsciously reaching out and gently holding her hand. There was a familiarity in the gesture, a warmth I couldn't explain, as if I knew her more deeply than I should.
Maybe it was because I had watched and read about her life in the world of Tokyo Ghoul, but right now, all I wanted was to help her.
She looked at our hands, then back at me, her lips parting slightly as if to say something, but she hesitated.
The conflict in her eyes was clear—she wanted to refuse, but at the same time, she knew I was right. Without a proper meal or someone to share her worries with, Hinami's health, and her future, could be at risk.
"I don't want to impose on you," she began softly, but I cut her off with a gentle squeeze of her hand.
"Ryouko," I said, my voice filled with sincerity. "Please. Let me help. You've done more than enough for me, and I want to do something for you in return. For Hinami."
For a moment, she remained silent, her gaze flickering between my eyes and our joined hands.
Finally, with a deep breath, she nodded, a soft, grateful smile tugging at her lips.
"Alright, Grey," she whispered. "Thank you."
I smiled at her as we stood there in the quiet of the night, sharing a moment of peace.
But then, I realized I was holding her hand.
Embarrassment washed over me as I gently let go, clearing my throat and turning back toward the balcony to hide my face.
'FUCK, what must she think of me now? Holding her hand like that after barely waking up here just a few hours ago...' The thoughts swirled in my head.
'She must be thinking I am a creep...How would she know that I already knew her from the anime and manga I used to enjoy in my previous life.'
As I wrestled with my thoughts, her voice cut through the air, soft and warm.
"Good night, Grey," she said with a smile.
"Good night, Ryouko," I replied, feeling a wave of relief wash over me.
She didn't seem to think I was weird after all.
With that, she turned and went back inside to the bedroom.
I stood on the balcony for a while longer, the cold night air biting at my skin as I stared into the quiet, rundown streets below. This wasn't the ideal environment for a young girl and her mother, but it was all they had.
I'd taken it upon myself to protect them now, stepping into the role of The Man of the House...once again.
'mum..' I thought as some memories flashed just for a moment before fading away back into my head.
After some time, I went back inside, settling down in the living room on the old tatami mat.
I reached for my spatial ring, curious to see what items I still had, since I couldn't access my system inventory.
'I should've kept more in my ring as a backup,' I thought to myself as I checked the contents.
The ring only had two sets of hanfu and a mask I had intended to wear at some point but had discarded, preferring to craft one from my shadows instead.
Well, I have a bunch of paper slips along with an unholy amount of silver and gold liangs.
'Guess I'll be using these now...'
I didn't have any physical weapons on me, but my soul weapons were always with me.
I summoned Soul Calibur and Soul Edge from my soul sea, their forms manifesting in front of me.
After a moment's thought, I decided to stick with Soul Edge for nights.
'No need to attract attention with holy magic or anything flashy, especially when hunting under the cover of darkness.'
I sent Soul Calibur back into my soul sea, then changed out of my worn and tattered hanfu into a fresh set from my ring.
Sitting down, I placed my weapons aside and lay on the floor, ready for tomorrow.
If anyone had seen me, they might have laughed.
A Dragon, The One who aimed to be the supreme emperor of the worlds...sleeping on the floor of a rundown apartment, While giving away the only bed to a widow and her child.
To some, it might have seemed like a disgrace.
But to me, there was nothing more important than ensuring the happiness and comfort of Ryouko and Hinami.
After all, there is No Greater Honor for a Man than taking care of those He calls Family.
With that comforting thought, I drifted into sleep.
"ZZZzzzzzz"