«Mommy?» His mother finished zipping his jacket. «Will dad like me?» She smiled.
«Of course he will baby. You are the most perfect little boy. How could he not?»
«But he is crazy now, isn't he?» Touka's hands froze on her son's shoulders. She knew she couldn't fool him. He was a mini Kaneki. His cleverness and observations skills were remarkable even for a 3 years old boy. They were many times that she couldn't keep up with his logic.
«He is... not himself.» Touka chose her words carefully. Her son's grey eyes were looking at her patiently. "That's why... »
«I can't meet him.. »
«Yet. But I promise that moment will come soon enough. We need to make your father feel better don't we? But we don't want to scare him.»
«Am I such big responsibility?» His eyes watered and Touka hugged him fast burying his head on the crook in her neck. He hated when her son was crying. Mostly because that broke her too.
«Of course not little bunny. It's just... I don't know how he will react. I want to keep you safe. »
«Daddy will never hurt me. He loves me. You said that!» Yoru mumbled between his sobers.
«I said that and I believe that. But right now he is sick. We must be careful around him ok?"
«Are you sure it's a good idea?» Kazuki who was standing a few meters away asked her and she threw a death glare at his side. «Yoru can stay with me. Why do you want to put him under so much stress?»
«Do I have to remind you that he is Kaneki's son and not yours?» Her irritation towards him only increased with every second. She could ignore Ayato's and Tsukiyama's warning but what about Hinami's? She valued her opinion. Since she said that he is scaring her, then something must have been off with him. Could she ignore the last 3 years and how supportive was he with her and her kid? Of course not. But she couldn't ignore that feeling in the pit of her stomach that alerted her every time he was around Yoru. She had made the lines more than visible and was honest with him from the beginning. But how could she be sure that he was telling her the truth too? She was grateful but careful.
«Of course not Touka. I will not say anything else. I am just worried. I can't protect you there.»
«I never thought I would need protection against kaneki...» She whispered to herself.
«But then again, I know how far can you go in order to protect Υoru. You two will be Ok. Just remember that I am one call away.» Touka smiled slightly and nodded. Kazuki came closer and put a kiss on her forehead and on top of yorus head. «I am sorry I wasn't more supportive...»
«It's ok» she interrupted him.
«No it's not. 3 years are a long time Touka. In all these years I have been protecting and did the best for you and Yoru. I guess I forgot you aren't my real family in the end.» He smiled genuinely. Touka returned him the smile. A light knock on the door interrupted them. Hinami's head appeared on the doorway.
«Everything is ready. We can go to the mansion.»
«Kaneki?» Kazuki asked. Hinami straightened her back out.

«Out.» She answered enigmaticly. Touka raised her eyebrow but Yoru's grip which became tighter didn't let her analyse Hinami's reaction. «Onee-chan, just take Yoru-kun to the mansion. We will handle the rest.»
«We?» Touka couldn't help but ask. Hinami opened the door to it's limit to reveal Nishiki standing there.
«I called the big guns.» Hinami smiled and Touka let a small laughter escape her lips. «Ayato is downstairs waiting in the car. You should hurry...» Touka nodded and turned to Kazuki.
«This is not a goodbye." He said to her and she smiled. «Bye Touka»
«Bye...» she replied and grabbed her bag. She reached the ground floor, paid her bill and exited the hotel. Ayato appeared in front of a black car and helped her with her bag. He took Yoru and put him on a baby seat and Touka joined her brother on the front seats. He started the car in silence and hit the road fast.
«Just tell me you didn't drugged him to put him out.» Touka asked quietly when Yoru fell asleep while they were exiting the highway.
«He just went out.» Touka released a sigh. «Don't be relieved. He hasn't gone out in a long time. At least at morning. That alerts me. Keep your eyes open.»

«You are expecting him to attack the car?» Touka tried to sound funny but there was a high possibility.
«No. But that would be interesting. Tsukiyama would probably have a heart attack after that. He loves this car.» Touka found it amusing that Tsukiyama loved anything else besides Kaneki. Although he seemed to restrain his obsession when he was talking with her, Ayato knew best. "Kaneki is still his number one obsession. Then it comes the car.» Touka smiled.
«Good to know things haven't changed that much.» They reached the outskirts of Tokyo in no time. Ayato was a very careful driver and always careful in case someone was following them. He entered the forest, in Touka's surprise, but kept driving on a small path that seemed neglected. But the jeeps wheels didn't have any problem with the fallen leaves or the roots. They reached an opening where a great mansion was standing. It seemed new and well cared and that surprised her. She didn't expect ghouls to be living in a mansion such as this. She was used to the underground and that kind of luxury seemed... odd.
«Its a good upgrade from the underground don't you think?» He stopped the car but didn't exit it. He took a deep breath and turned to face her. «Look, I know I am not the best brother you could have. Hell, I am not even in the first 100 but, I care about you. And my nephew.» His eyes wondered to the kid on the back seat. «Be careful of Naki. And his gang. Tsukiyama thinks he can lock you in a room until Kaneki is ready but we both know that's impossible.» He released his breath. «I think this is a suicide mission. But i am willing to die for Yoru and you. And Hinami. And Nishiki. And not because it's the noble thing to do. But because for the first time in my entire life I feel that's the right think to do. This is the right way to protect you." Touka reached for his hand and closed it inside her palms. Ayato froze.
«No one will die. Not if I have a word in this.»
«I forgot you are the queen.»
«I am the queen to a mad king. Great!» They both exited the car.
«Take the kid. I will take the bags.» Touka opened the back door and released Yoru.
«I want uncle Ayato to carry me.» He said rubbing his eyes sleepy. Ayato froze.
«You heard him. Carry your nephew.» Ayato took a step back, with the most precious expression on his face.
«I... I prefer the bags.»
«Are you saying you prefer a bag than my son?» Touka was burning with rage.
«First of all, there are two bags. And second, it's not that I prefer them exactly but he is alive. What if I drop him?» Ayato's eyes were full of panic.
«You have carried him before!» She screamed at him.
«I was sitting on a chair!» He yelled back at her.
«Take him!» She pushed the child in his arms but he didn't budge.
«No!»
«Take.my.son» Yoru' s big grey eyes were begging Ayato and he dropped the bags in defeat. He took the child and Yoru hugged his neck tightly.
«See? It wasn't that hard!» Touka took the bags and they entered the mansion. If she thought it was luxurious from the outside, the inside must have cost twice the annual income of both Anteiku and :re. She was in awe.
«Don't let my little Prince free. He may hurt himself.» Tsukiyama appeared on the top of the staircase.
«You aren't afraid he might break something?» Tsukiyama raised his shoulders.
«Possessions can be replaced. People can't." She didn't expect such a caring response from Tsukiyama. She thought he would probably force her to tie yorus arms and legs in order not to break anything as soon as she saw the luxury and the expensive decorative objects. "We must hurry. Naki followed Kaneki to his outing but he didn't tell me when they will be back. I hate the relationship those two have now.» Touka followed Shuu to a big room on the east corridor when he told her to drop her bags. Ayato was just one step behind her with Yoru always safe in his hug.
«You don't know where they went? What if they followed Ayato or Hinami?»
«That is impossible. When Nishiki came to pick Hinami and Ayato, Kaneki saw them. He wouldn't follow them even if his life was depending on it.» Touka frowned.
«What happened between Kaneki and Nishiki?» Shuu and Ayato exchanged a look.
«That's not our story to tell, Touka» Ayato replied casually. Touka was worried. She was sure that whatever happened between them must be too important to break their valuable friendship. She sat on the bed the same moment that they heard the main door open. The guys froze solid.
«Shuu?» Ayato mouthed. They heard the perky steps on the staircase and they both relaxed. Hinami's walking pace hadn't changed. She knocked on the door politely and as soon as Touka invited her in, the girl opened the door.
«Nishiki?» Ayato asked.
«He found Kaneki on our way home. Ayato stayed to keep an eye on him and inform us when he is about to return». Touka noticed a light bruise on the girl's chin. She probably stared for too long which caused Hinami to drop her face in order to prevent her from staring.
«Where is he?» Shuu asked relieved that his king wasn't following them.
«At the ruins.»
............................................................................................................................................
«Kaneki was standing in front of the ruins of what used to be :re cafe. His biting mark always burned him whenever he was passing by in front of an area that he and his late wife shared memories but two days now, his mark hadn't stop itching, burning and pulling. He hadn't felt that way not even when Touka had first bit him all those years back when she was fighting Shuu. He pressed his cool palm above it. His black hooded coat with was hiding his form from any unwanted stares but the fabric let the cooling breeze reach his heated skin. The ward was an ever ending cemetery. Only a couple of stores and a hotel were still working. Not many people were walking down the streets anymore either. Kaneki let a sigh. He felt Naki's presence on his left, guarding him quietly. He was the only one that he could talk about his loss and the feelings it left behind without having to face that look in their eyes. The pity. Naki only holds sadness. He lost his father figure, Kaneki lost his wife and unborn child. Not the same, but the feelings of emptiness and despair were shared between these two men.
Kaneki didn't mind the "mad king" title that he had earned. He didn't mind anything or anyone anymore. He turned to face the top of the CCG base building. The smoke had stopped months ago but it was still standing there. It was still there to remind him what those people took from him. Not that he could ever forget. He turned to face the hotel he found Ayato, Hinami, Nishiki, Shuu and that other guy. That room... the smell in that room.... Kaneki start walking towards the hotel. He didn't believe that Ayato and Hinami would ever betray him and surely not when Shuu was with them. His approach last night wasn't the appropriate. He entered the hotel, he could feel Naki's surprise but didn't say anything. He reached the reception and asked for that room. The girl looked at him with suspicion and Kaneki pulled his hood further to hide his face, that now his scales completely covered. The girl informed him that the room was empty since that morning and she gave him the key. Kaneki walked upstairs and reached the door. While holding the key he hesitated to open it. What was he expecting to find? It wasn't bad for Hinami and Ayato to be hanging out with Nishiki. But what was Shuu was doing with them? He was becoming paranoid. They didn't have anything to hide, yet here he was, to prove that the feeling that was haunting him since last night was true. He pressed the card further and stepped into the room. The big window was replaced, the sheets freshly made and that smell from last night was covered with chlorine. He felt an unknown presence and turned to face a strange guy.

«Are you searching for someone, my king?»