«That was an insult! And what the fuck are you doing here?» Ayato winced and stood up. How in hell didn't he hear Nishiki approaching? How in hell did he let his guard down?

«Ayato!» Touka scolded him as he was searching the place with his eyes for any invisible threats.

«Ayato, I work here. Now sit down». Nishiki fixed his glasses and Touka looked at him. His hazelnut hair was longer and slicked back. He was dressed in black pants with a black apron and a white t-shirt. His silver band was shining around his finger and Touka felt a jolt of jealousy stirring inside her hollow heart. «Touka...» he called her name and she rose her head. Her eyes met his and he cracked a sad smile.

«Hello shitty Nishiki» Nishiki smiled brightly at her and Touka mimicked him.

«I am glad you have not rotten in a cell made specially for you in a CCG basement».

«You think I will let myself get captured?» Touka rose her eyebrow.

«If that meant that your child would be safe, then yes. You would let yourself get captured». Nishiki gave a side look to Ayato, who's guilt was written all over his face. Nishiki's answer surprised her. She never had thought of it. She always believed that her freedom was a requirement for her son to be safe and breathing but now, seeing her brother's face and thinking what Nishiki said...

«Did you think I was captured? Is that why Kaneki attacked the headquarters?» Ayato avoided her eyes and took a deep breath.

«It crossed our minds once or twice...» His voice was extremely quiet. Touka could barely hear him «Without your dead body, you can't blame us for having all kinds of assumptions...»

«What kind of assumptions? » She knew she would not like the answer. She could feel it in every cell of her body that she would explode from hearing his next words that were about to come from Ayato's mouth. And she wasn't wrong.

«That you chose... to leave Kaneki...»The sharp noise of flesh slapping flesh made the couple that was standing at the register ordering their take out coffee, turn their faces to their direction. Ayato knew she would react like that. He rubbed his flushed cheek with his gloved fingers and sat down. Nishiki grabbed her hand to prevent her from hitting her brother again.

«Touka please, keep your boiling blood calm and sit down!» He growled at her and pushed her down «and you, Ayato. Stop being a jerk for once!» Nishiki gave a quick look inside at the counter and at the kitchen. «Give me ten minutes and we will leave this place ok?» Touka crossed her arms on her chest and closed her eyes. Ayato gave him his empty cup.

«Whatever, just bring me another coffee...» he murmured and Nishiki gave him a death glare that the youngest Kirishima didn't seem to notice. Touka examinated her own cup once Nishiki left. She already had thought all the possible scenarios that the Goat members would had assumed about her since the moment she found out that Kaneki is alive. The privileges of the sleepless nights. Since her body had never been found, abandoning Kaneki and his dangerous life would be a good hypothesis from everyone else apart from her brother. Her own flesh and blood. He knew she wasn't a quitter. He knew she never gave up on people. She did the same for him. That was his expertise not hers. Abandoning people. She was more hurt than offended. Yoru shifted uncomfortably in his stroller and he opened his grey eyes slowly.

«Mommy?» Toukas train of thought stopped instantly and she became focused on her son. Her beautiful little boy. Who would care about anyone's opinion when she had those big grey eyes looking at her with such love? Screw her brother's opinion and assumptions and screw everyone's hypothesis. Her choice kept him alive. Both of them. And at the end of the day, that was all that mattered. Touka took her son in her arms and caressed his sleepy face. Kaneki's sleepy face. She took a deep breath.

«Yes my love. Are you hungry?» Yoru nod and lay on her mother's arm. Ayato cracked a smile hearing his childish voice. Touka stretch her neck to spot Nishiki, who was coming out of the kitchen with her brother's coffee.

«Do you have a breastfeeding room?» Ayato chocked with his coffee meanwhile Touka and Nishiki looked at him irritated «What?»

«Do you still breastfeed?» Touka was prepared to yell at him that he didn't leave their mother in peace with his constant need of breastfeeding since he was born but she didn't say it. She could hurt him with that knowledge and she didn't want that.

«Yes. I could do it right here but I don't think it's a picture you want to imprint in your brain». Ayato made a disgusted face

«Hell, no!» he yelled and turned his face to the side. Nishiki helped Touka get up with Yoru in her arms and guide her to a baby room next to the kitchen.

«Be careful» Nishiki told her once she was inside the room. Touka frowned and looked at him.

«What?» she asked as she was sitting at a chair.

«Ayato isn't here for a good reason . I left Goat the moment I saw what Kaneki is capable of doing in order to avenge your death. Ayato is dangerous Touka. You may think he is your brother but he is far more than that». Touka looked at the child in her arms. She had her mobile phone safely tucked in her pocket and Yoru was waiting patiently. She had a bad feeling from the moment she sat in the café with Ayato but she chose to ignore it.

«If he had informed Kaneki...» Nishiki nod negatively.

«I don't mean Kaneki. The upcoming war against people that Kaneki declared, has best privileges for far more people than him. I don't say that Ayato sold himself to someone else but... You remember Ayato, Touka. He isnt normally that quiet and well behaved. Maybe Hinami influenced positivly but he is still a soldier». A knock on the door informed Nishiki that he must leave the room. «Wait for me to come and get you before you exit». He left the room and Touka undress herself to let Yoru eat in peace. Ayato was weird from the moment she met him but she couldn't believe he would betray her like that. He may be cold and harsh but he didn't want her dead. And she hoped that now that he met Yoru, he would like to keep him safe. As for her... She could take care of herself. Her puzzled look didn't go unnoticed by her son.

«Will we meet daddy?» he asked as soon as he finished his milk. Touka whiped his mouth and cleaned herself.

"Not today, Yoru." She stood up and went to the door, determined to ignore Nishiki's warning and her own instinct when he heard a loud noice and glasses crashing. Her eyes turned red and she was ready to release her kagune when something hit the door hard. Touka hugged her son tightly and moved towards the opposite wall from the door. As an ukaku user, speed was her big advantage and she chose that as her tactic. As soon as the door would be opened she would run outside with Yoru safely tugged in her arms and her kagune as a shield, projecting numerous spikes to every direction. She was afraid she may hurt Nishiki or her brother or an innocent human but saving her son's life was her number one priority . She saw the doorknob twist and she was ready to act when a covered in blood ayato opened the door fast, kicked a bruised Nishiki inside and close the door behind them.

"What the hell?" Touka asked pissed. Ayato threw her Yoru's baby bag and Touka grabbed it with her free hand.

"Those bastards from CCG followed Ayato in the café. They called back up and attacked the store".

"It seems that they consider you are human and my meal and wait for you to be safe. You don't look like your former self so they didn't recognize you".

"They killed humans?" Touka was in deep shock. CCG members were human. Or artificial one-eyed ghouls. But they had never hurt a human. At least without a reason.

"They are outnumbered Touka. They will do anything in order to take the advantage again. Headquarters just took all the attention from the media. Every day we scout and attack minor bases to force them to return to the headquarters to give the final strike. I should have been on a raid right now, backing up Hinami." That's why he was so nervous and weird all this time. He was ditching Hinami to be with her.

"Are you crazy? You left Hinami unprotected?"

"Hina isn't the weak little girl you remember sister. " Hina? Touka rose her eyebrow for just a second before remembering the situation and looked nervously at her squad.

"We need to get out. We need to go and help Hinami!" All the noises stopped suddenly. That dangerous silence terrified the three ghouls that were looking at each other with a frightening expression. A gentle knock on the door was heard but no one answered.

"You are an extreme pain in the butt, Ayato-kun." Hinami opened the door with a bright smile on her face. Her kagune was exposed, her eyes shining black and behind her, five CCG members were lying lifeless on the floor. Hinami retreated her kagune and her eyes turned to normal.

"Nishiki-sama!" Hinami greeted him with a hug and helped him get up. " Its been a while. The girl?" Touka rose her head and looked at Hinami straight in her eyes. The girl put her hands on her mouth to prevent her from screaming. "Onee-chan?" Hinami's voice was barely a whisper.

"Hello Hinami." Touka greeted the girl while a single tear was travelling on her cheek...