"Long story, short. That's how I ended up here" Touka was sitting at her bed. Yoru was tucked in his crib and Kazuki was sitting in a chair across the room, being sleepless guard and all. Shuu was listening carefully all this time without interrupting her.

"I don't blame you Kirishima. You protected your family. Your unborn child. You took our king's wish for you to be safe and live. That transmittion ... I heard it too. But instead of fleeing I went forward to my king. I am not judging you. I guess if I have to think about another life I wouldn't do it. But my life is devoted to the king. That's how things are. I don't blame you for him turning like that. Loss is an emotion that leaves us naked and unprotected. "

"You are not supporting his plans for human extinction?" Shuu put a palm above his heart looking offended in a dramatic way.

"We are not planning an extinction, Touka! We respect human life. Besides, it's our food! Our plan isn't to extinct the human race. It is to extinct CCG one eyed ghouls. With the hacking in the TV transmition we managed to attract attention. That's what we want. Scare humans to make them lock themselves in their houses to not have unnecessary losses. Attract CCG out for them to make mistakes and eliminate them. Our plan is to create a peaceful unit that can negotiate with the president and find a solution for both sides, humans and ghouls."

"And what about gathering all ghouls back to Tokyo? Did you do it to attract more attention?" Kazuki asked angrily tapping his foot on the wooden floor.

"Well, look what it brought us besides attention!" he said to him spitting his words and pointing at Touka. "I am not going to speak about strategy and plans any more in front of someone that is against our king."

"How dare you?" Kazuki was now on his feet ready to burst.

"How do i dare? Arent't you here only for claiming Touka as yours? You tried to raise her child as yours! Don't you dare underestimate my power and knowledge Kazuki-kun. I know very well who you are, why you left Tokyo and what were you doing all this time in London." Touka looked at the both men confused.

"What's going on here? Kazuki?" Kazuki threw a death glare at Shuu and left the room slumming the door behind him. "What did you mean with all of that Tsukiyama?" Shuu remained to look at the door for a few more seconds before turning back to Touka and smile like nothing happened.

"No worries, Kirishima-san." he smiled gently. "I do have a question for you though and I would like you to be honest with me." Touka looked at him confused. "Are you planning to return to Kaneki's life?" She was expecting his question. She was mentally preparing herself to give him an answer but now, that he actually asked her, she found herself hesitant to answer. Shuu, watching her inner struggle showing on her face he put a hand on her knee and she turned to look at him. "Let me put it another way ok? Do you still love him?" Touka's eyes watered.

"Yes. When I saw him today... I never let him go. I still love him and maybe more than before." She hated herself for letting Shuu watching her in her vulnerable state. She hated herself for shedding so many tears since the minute she stepped her foot back to Tokyo. But she couldn't help it. Her brain was bombarded with memories and her heart was aching for him. In London, she had managed to restrain herself. Any familiar sense or feeling, wasn't enough to break her. But here, with the knowledge they are breathing under the same sky, they are sleeping under the same stars and they are so far away yet so close... She wanted to scream, kick, destroy and release her kagune.

"That's all I need to know. You saw how broken he is. Maybe you can fix him. And if you fail, I am sure this little guy will do the trick." They both turned their heads to face the tiny crib. They had changed rooms, with the hotel workers apologizing for the "ghoul invasion" and they put them in a suite free of charge. Not that Touka cared about luxury or that stuff, but at least there was not cold air to bother her son's sleep. "You need to come to the mansion. Now that you are here, we are expecting CCG to attack the ghouls that visit Tokyo for our gathering. You may have used a fake passport and use "safe" dates to fly but they will track every single one of them. We don't really care about the others, most of those that received an invitation are SR or SSR ghouls and can take care of themselves. But if anything happens to you, I won't forgive myself for having a chance to make my king happy again and lost it."

"How do you think is possible to live under the same roof and him not find out? Yoru isn't so quiet as he looks." Shuu stood up and went to the crib. He saw the little boy sleeping with his tiny lips open and he gave a tired smile.

"He is a mini Kaneki." he murmured more to himself.

"Yes, so don't you dare have any perverted thoughts about him."

"Kirishima-san!" his voice was loud making Yoru move but still be asleep.

"He look so peaceful. So calm. I intend to keep him like that. I don't want him between any war or fight."

"I can't promise you the world you are dreaming for him Touka. But I can ensure you, I will use any means, I will try everything and put all my powers to give him a better world." Silence fell between them with only the sound of the rain falling outside able to heard,

"Do you think mansion is the best option?" Touka broke the silence, whispering.

"It's the safest option."

"I will regret it..." she murmured to herself.

"Probably." he answered to the question she never asked. "It's crazy in there. Always busy and crowded. But you will have your brother and Hinami-chan. I am sure Nishiki will return too when he hears what I can offer him. And Kaneki doesn't leave his room. He is locked in there most of the times so he won't know a thing. "

"You are underestimating his intelligence." Touka turned to face him. His eyes were still fixed on her son.

"I don't. You underestimate the hole in his chest. He can't think straight. He can't stop being in pain. Return to us, Touka. Put him out of his misery." Touka didn't answer him. She stepped away and turned to look from the big windows and the destroyed city. The faded lights and the empty roads. The rain that looked like it can wash away the destruction and the blood that had been shed all these years. She was selfish. She may have needed to protect herself and her son but what about all the other kids that are in danger by the blood thirsty agents of CCG? Why does her kid has a chance when all those kids, haven't? She caressed her arms as a light shiver hit her body.

"First the destruction of CCG. If we come out alive, then we will talk about me and Kaneki. Priorities Tsukiyama." She heard him releasing a breath that she was unaware he was holding.

"Priorities, Touka-chan."