Touka was sitting on the airplane seat feeling anxious. Yoru was sleeping peacefully in Kazuki's arms next to her.

«We are not on the air yet and I can feel your fear, Touka. Calm down». She looked at him and gave him a rushing smile. She had never travelled with an airplane before and the trip was a little too much for her... But the truth was, she wasn't feeling anxious for that. Actually she had bigger problems to think. The next day of the incident, only the huge fire was transmitted by the news and the fire department claimed all the praise about the children that were saved. They didn't mention her or Kazuki or about the existance of ghouls. She knew that the small community the ghouls had created on London was powerful and much more appreciated by the humans but she didn't expect them to cover them so much.

She smiled sad, realizing that she was leaving all this kindness and protection behind her and she was in a plane to her home. Tokyo. The city that destroyed her in more ways she could ever imagine, that humans were hunting them down and steal their kagunes and used them as human boosts but... She was born in Tokyo. She was raised there. She had fallen in love, married and started a family there. She swallowed hard. She wasn't ready to see him.

Kazuki caressed her palm. «Relax. Everything will be ok. I promise» She looked at him and smiled kindly.

Her sweet Kazuki. They hadn't talked since the night they returned from the fire. She took Yoru to the doctor, she checked his vital signs making Touka lose a couple years of her life before the doctor confirmed with her that her son was ok. "He just blacked out Touka. His tests are clear and he will wake up in any minute" were her exact words. And she was right again. 10 minutes later, when Touka was unlocking her door Yoru woke up in Kazuki's arms. He told them about a big explosion that he heard, the windows broke and black smoke filled the room. He passed out from the shock as the rest of his classmates. He asked them about his friends and teacher with a worried look and when Touka calmed him down he left a big sigh and asked for food.

Touka was in the kitchen making him food when he felt Kazuki's presence.

«We must leave first thing in the morning if we want to not get involved with the fire». Touka wiped her hands and turned to look at him.

«I know. But what I am supposed to tell him? » He watched as her son was playing in the living room oblivious about the mess his mother had created.

«You don't have to tell him about Kaneki yet. You must ensure firstly that he is capable to be around the kid first. If he has lost his mind then...»

«I won't keep Yoru away from Ken! » she growled at him between her teeth. «he's his father. He deserves to see him».

«Even if that put Yoru in danger? » Touka spurted.

«Ken will never hurt his son, Kazuki! And watch your mouth because I swear...» she stopped when she noticed Yoru looking at them with curiosity. She sighed, took the plate and went to the living room. She gave him his food and watch him play for a little while. They didn't speak again that night. She said goodnight to him and put Yoru to sleep. She only received a text an hour later informing her about the time they would travel, her boarding pass and the hotel information.

She hasn't slept much. She tried to lay down and sleep but her anticipation was too much for her to relax. She made her and Yoru's suitcases and finished a couple of articles because she didn't know when she will return.

If she would ever return.

She was dressing her son when he made the question she wasn't ready to answer.

«We are going to visit dad when we will be at Tokyo, mommy? » Touka fought back her tears and managed to smile.

«If you want to see dad, yes we will see him». He gave her his brightest smile, the one he was saving when they were talking about his father. Touka had told him that his father was a great man. A fighter that lost his life for her and him to have a chance and for ghouls to not be afraid anymore. Yoru, even at the age of 3, was proud of his father. He was always speaking of him with such love and admiration. And he never used past tenses. He always mentioned Kaneki as "my dad is..." It broke her heart every time but now that she was thinking of it... «Yoru?» She asked while she was buttoned his coat.

«Dad is not dead, I know it. I always knew it. I don't feel like he is gone. He is just sleeping, isn't he, mom? » Touka stopped her action. She looked at him, Kaneki's big grey eyes were looking at her with love and she just stood up with tears in her eyes and she went to the living room. Yoru followed her and climb on her lap. She just held him tightly and he wrapped his arms around her neck

«Yes little rabbit. He is just sleeping...»

Two hours later she was in the airplane, sitting on her seat with a smiling flying attendant telling them the instructions in case of emergency and Kazuki typing on his laptop. Business class was making the whole experience for Touka really remarkable. Kazuki didnt use Tsukiyama's ticket. He had booked three tickets for them online. Touka insisted of giving him the money for the two tickets but he refused politly.

Nineteen hours, eight drawings and three coffees later, Yoru was making his first steps at Tokyo. He was impressed, Touka could see that and she was feeling better. Except for one thing. They arrived at the hotel where Touka washed and fed Yoru and put him to sleep. The trip had messed up his sleeping schedule and she needed to fix it. Touka took a shower herself. Kazuki had booked two big rooms, one for him and one for Touka and Yoru. He always giving her the space she needed and she appreciated it on top of everything else. She sat to her bed with her black hair dripping on the mattress and her fingers hovered above her cell phone. On the back of Tsukiyama's invitation was a phone number. Touka had saved it and now she was pressing the call button.

She didn't know what she wanted to achieve with it. But she knew she couldn't appear at Tsukiyama's mansion with Yoru like nothing happened. Kaneki, she like it or not, wasn't himself and she had to admit that she was a little scared of how he was now.

If she could manage to make him listen to her... Tsukiyama would never like the fact that she was alive but he cared about Kaneki disturbingly much and at least he would want the little prince by his side. She looked at Yoru's sleeping form next to her. Little prince... He could have grown up with such love by Kaneki... It was so unfair....

«Yes? » A familiar, deep voice answer the phone and Touka froze on her seat. She tried to speak but no words could escape her mouth. «Are you planning to talk or...? »

«Ayato? » Her brother from the other side of the line went silent. Touka could hear his rapid breath and now she was scared of his reaction. She felt her heart beat faster and an inviable barrier that she didn't know she was caring, now was being lifted from her shoulders. She had mourned for Ayato. She was mourning for the life she left behind and all those things she lost but she had a special place in her heart for Ayato's loss. After all those things she had been through to protect her little brother, his loss had created a huge, uncovered wound that now was healing painfully and slowly and she couldn't believe her own ears when she heard him talk.

«Onee-chan?» his voice was barely a whisper and Touka could feel the emotions he always hid from her now threated to drown him.

«Hello little brother...»