~~~~~~
A human is targeted, Tsukiyama sucks, organized religion is bullshit.
~~~~~~

A scream coming from the conference room startled you, and you rushed out of the staff only room to see what had happened.

When you frantically pushed the door open, you saw Kaneki sitting up on the couch, heaving in deep gulps of air, looking frightened.

"Are you okay? What happened?"

It took a few moments for Kaneki to catch his breath, and he looked up to meet your eyes.

"I'm okay, just a nightmare..."

You pursed your lips, walking into the room and coming to sit in front of him on the coffee table.

"Was it about Tsukiyama again? Or was it something different?"

Kaneki sat silent for a moment before answering.

"It was Tsukiyama again. I was being dragged, there were other Ghouls trying to eat me, and I saw him and asked him for help, but then he tried to eat me, too. That's when I woke up."

You frowned at him in sympathy, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"He won't hurt you anymore, I won't let him."

He turned towards you and gave you a small smile.

"Thank you, Y/N."

You shrugged.

"No problem, that's what friends are for, right?"

He nodded.

"Yeah. I know I'm not that strong, but I'll protect you, too, if anything happens."

You smiled gratefully.

"Oh, stop. That's enough to make a girl blush you sap."

His cheeks tinted a light pink as he smiled wider.

"Then I guess I better do it more." He said with a slight mischievous gleam to his eye, a rare sight.

You let out a laugh.

"Wow, okay! You're sure feeling flirty today. What happened to the guy that was so scared to even breathe around a woman?"

Kaneki shrugged nonchalantly.

"Rize ate him."

You laughed again.

"Dark humor is a good look on you." You grinned.

Kaneki smiled again.

"You should do that more." He said.

"Hm? Do what?" You asked.

"Laugh. Your laugh is pretty."

This time you really were blushing, your face heating up ever so slightly despite the chill from the AC.

"Hush." You mumbled, clearing your throat and standing up.

"Get some more rest, you need it. I'll be downstairs if you want me to bring you a coffee or something."

Without waiting for his response, you left the conference room and leaned against the wall in the hallway, taking deep breaths and trying to get your face to cool down.

You hadn't felt like this in a long time, what was going on?

Maybe it was nothing.

~~~

"You hear the news? Another Dove's moved in."

"How many does that make now?"

"The way things are heading, I'm scared to go out alone."

"Remember the good old days when the 20th ward was safe?"

You strained your ears to hear the conversations of the Ghouls around you, each of them at their own tables expressing their worries.

Not that you'd blame them.

You put another plate into the small dishwasher beside you as Kaneki handed you the cup he had been slowly drying in order to pay attention to the conversations as well.

Footsteps coming from beside you both made you look up briefly.

"That will be all for today, Kaneki. You as well, Y/N."

Both you and Kaneki looked at Yoshimura in confusion.

"I've asked Kaya and Enji to take things from here."

Both you and Kaneki's nodded, putting down the new dishes you had both grabbed.

"Oh, alright. But sir, where is Touka?"

That's right. You hadn't seen Touka since yesterday. You had just assumed she had the day off, she usually wanted to be by herself when she had those. But now that Kaneki had brought her up as well, you started to wonder.

"She called in sick, so I'm filling in for her." Kaya stated, walking around to the front of the counter.

Your eyebrows furrowed.

Touka was sick? But if she was, you would've been told by her. She told you everything.

Was she okay?

Your inner worry was interrupted by Yoshimura's question.

"Hey, Kaneki, Y/N. Why don't you two pay her a visit?"

You saw Kaneki hesitate for a second.

"I don't know if I should." He said warily.

Yoshimura held up a finger, pointing upwards with a smile.

"It won't be too much trouble. After all, she's just upstairs."

You shared a look with Kaneki and nodded.

"I'll get changed and meet you up there?" You asked.

He nodded.

"Yeah."

~~~

You both stood in front up Touka's door, although Kaneki was still hesitant to be here.

You saw him eyeing her nameplate with curiosity.

"Ayato Kirishima...?" He mumbled to himself.

You didn't provide him with an answer, as it wasn't your place to explain, and went to knock on Touka's door.

However, before you had the chance to, it opened and Ryoko stepped out.

"Hey, I'm leaving! Thank you for keeping an eye on her! Hinami, be a good girl, and do whatever Touka says, okay? Bye! Uh-!" She called out to the apartment then turned to leave, but stopped as she did when she spotted you and Kaneki in the doorway.

"Oh, hi there." Kaneki said nervously.

You waved at Ryoko. "Hi."

She smiled at the two of you, bidding you both a goodbye as well, before taking her leave.

You both turned back to the apartment to see Touka, standing in the entry hall with her arms crossed.

"Well?" She questioned. "Are you two gonna come in or just stand in the doorway like weirdos?"

You both awkwardly nod then walk in, following Touka into her apartment.

You and Kaneki take a seat at her table while she stands at the kitchen counter. Kaneki sits tense with his hands in his lap, while you sit leaning back on your hands, watching as Hinami writes in her notebook.

"Well?" Touka asks into the silence of the room, causing Kaneki to make a stuttered noise of acknowledgment. "So what are you two doing here?"

"Oh, uh, we heard you were sick, so we thought we'd check on you, that's all." Kaneki says, still a little bit awkward.

The purple haired teen looks between the two of you, looking unimpressed. "Mm-hm. So, what'd you bring me?"

Kaneki rose a brow. "Nothing. Sorry."

As the two converse stiffly, you pay attention to Hinami, sending her small smiles every time her gaze flickers up to you for brief seconds.

The younger girl returns the gestures before turning her focus to Kaneki.

"Hey, Kaneki, what is this word?" She points at the book she's been looking at.

Kaneki turns his head to her, scooting closer to her on his knees and looking over her notes and the book.

"Uh, let's see. That word is 'orange osmanthus.' " He says.

"Is that another flower?" Hinami asks.

"Mm-hm." Kaneki nods.

You see Touka slightly roll her eyes as she turns to her counter.

"I'll get some coffee started." She says, in her usual uninterested tone.

"Hey," Kaneki starts. "Wait a second and I'll do it." He says with slight concern.

"No, you're good." Touka says. "You're helping Hinami with her reading."

"But if you're not feeling well, then you should rest." The black haired teen insists.

You watch the back of Touka's head as she washes her hands.

"I'm fine. I just ate too much."

You furrowed your eyebrows at that.

Touka was never one to eat too much when she was feeding. Was there something going on?

You hear let Kaneki let out a soft gasp.

"Ate too much of what? Do I really wanna know?" He asks a bit hesitantly.

The doorbell rings before anyone can give him an answer.

Touka tenses slightly then goes to the door, looking out of the peep hole.

"Yoriko." She mumbles, then opens the door.

Both you and Kaneki get up to look at the door, maybe a bit more eavesdropping on your part, because you're apparently a menace to society.

"Yoriko." Touka says with a shocked, but happy sounding voice. "Hey, what's up?" She asks.

"I'm sorry," Yoriko says apologetically. "I should have called. But you weren't at school so I wanted to make sure you're all right."

"You came by to check on me?" Touka questions with slight shock.

"Yeah, and also..." she trails off, then looks over Touka's shoulder, apparently only spotting Kaneki around the corner, and a shocked expression takes over her features.

"Uh-! Touka! Don't tell me that you two...!" She says indignantly.

Touka looks over her own shoulder back at Kaneki with a slightly disgusted expression.

"Oh, no, that's just Kaneki!" She says, as if that would explain anything.

Yoriko narrows her eyes. "I get it." She says with slight irritation. "I made you these dumplings." She holds up a small pot. "Share them with him."

She hands Touka the pot, careful to not shove them into her in her frustration, then begins to walk off.

"Uh, listen. I think you've got the wrong idea!" Touka says, trying to defend herself, but Yoriko continues walking away. "Hey, Yoriko, wait! He's not the only one-... here. And she's gone."

Touka sighs as the door closes as she faces it with a dumbfounded expression.

After a few seconds of silence, Kaneki speaks.

"So, did I do something wrong, or am I okay?" He asks.

Touka groans, then turns around, walking back into the kitchen and putting the pot onto the counter. Both you and Kaneki hover over her shoulders as she opens it, the air wafting out one of the most disgusting smells you've probably ever experienced. And that was saying something.

You cover your mouth and nose at the smell. You never would understand how humans enjoyed that kind of stuff.

"Jeez, seems like such a waste." Kaneki says, peering at the dumplings.

Touka turns to him with a slightly angry expression.

"I'll eat it. It must have taken her hours to make this for me."

You look at her in shock. "Touka, you can't be serious."

Kaneki is equally as shocked as he comes to a realization.

"Wait, you've been making yourself sick eating human food?" He asks as Touka grabs a pair of chopsticks from a drawer and breaks them apart, picking up a dumpling with them.

"Yeah. So what?" She asks in frustration.

You narrow your eyes at her. "Wasn't it just a few weeks ago that you called me an idiot for starving myself? How is this any different?" You gesture to the food.

She returns your glare. "It's not the same. You did that out of guilt, I'm doing it out of obligation."

She begins to eat the food, gagging it down and forcing it down her throat.

You grit your teeth at her comment. She didn't know anything about why you did what you did, and you had intended to keep it that way. With a scoff, you head to the front door.

Kaneki watches you leave with a shocked expression. "Wait, Y/N, where are you going?" He follows after you.

You opens the front door and step out. "If Touka wants to damage her body, then hey, all power to her! But I'm not gonna let her judge me and be a hypocrite. I'm going back to my apartment."

You move to leave, and Kaneki still follows you, closing the front door behind him and reaching out to grab your wrist before you can get too far.

"Wait a second." He says. His grip on your wrist is gentle, but he's still holding you in place. If you really had wanted to, you could've immediately pulled away, but you didn't.

"What's there to wait on? I just want to leave."

"And I respect that." Kaneki says. "Look, I get it, what Touka said was out of line. Given, I don't really understand, but it's not my place to understand unless you want to tell me. Just... you were starving yourself?"

You stay silent, clenching your jaw.

"Y/N, hey." Kaneki reaches out and puts a hand on your shoulder, turning you to face him.

You avoid his gaze, removing your wrist from his light grip, and turning to walk away from him.

He stares at you with a dumbfounded expression as you walk away, then he follows you again.

You ignore his attempts at trying to talk to you until you reach your apartment door.

Kaneki stands behind you, a guilty look on his face.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have pushed your limits like that, I-."

"The day of your accident, what all do you remember?" You interrupted him.

"I- what?" He asks.

You turn to him, an underlying look of fear in your eyes.

"What do you remember about your accident with Rize?"

Kaneki stammered to answer.

"I mean, I remember her biting me, and stabbing me with her Kagune, and I remember brief flashes of immense pain, but my memory is foggy. I vaguely remember the steel beams falling, and I remember her getting crushed, but... nothing else."

You nod.

"You remember telling me that Itori said that someone was spotted near the beams that night?"

Kaneki nods.

You hesitate, pursing your lips and leaning against the wall beside your door.

"You're alive because of me." You said.

Kaneki's eyebrows furrow.

"What? What do you mean-?"

"I'm the one that killed Rize."

Silence hangs in the air after you speak.

"You- you what?" Kaneki's voice is quiet.

You clenched your jaw tighter, grinding your teeth together.

"I killed Rize. She was causing so much unnecessary death, so many innocent men. I was tired of it. I didn't want to see another person die, so right before it happened, I was coincidentally in the area, and... I heard the screams, so I took care of it."

Kaneki looked conflicted, his eyes flickering about your face.

"I don't understand. What does this have to do with you starving yourself?"

You gulped, clenching and unclenching your fists.

"Rize was my friend. My best friend. And I... I was leaking all of her hunting grounds to the CCG, so that they could catch her. I was tired of the death. After I killed her, I... I felt so guilty that I couldn't eat, and I..."

Tears prickled at your eyes, threatening to spill, but what right did you have to cry? You didn't-.

Arms wrapping themselves around your shoulders stopped your spiral, as well as making your body go rigid.

The warmth of Kaneki's arms finally made the tears fall, and you wrapped your arms around his waist and cried into his shoulder.

He was silent as he comforted you, rubbing one hand between your shoulder blades, and using the other to put on your waist and rub soft circles into your hip with his thumb.

In the midst of your crying and hysterics, you could've sworn you felt a kiss being pressed to the side of your head, but you were probably just imagining that.

After a few minutes, your crying ceased, and you stood with him in the middle of the hallway, the afternoon sun was coming in through the windows, and bathing both of you in light.

Kaneki pulls back just slightly to look at your face. Your cheeks were pink and puffy with smeared tear streakes, and your eyes are red rimmed and wet.

He wipes some of your tears away, and goes to speak, but his phone buzzing in his pocket interrupts him.

He pulls his phone out, looks at it, then sighs in defeat.

"I completely forgot that I had a session with Yomo today." He looks up from his phone at you.
"Will you be okay? Do you need anything?" He asks.

You shake your head, wiping your eyes.

"No. I'm probably gonna catch up on sleep for now. Go see Yomo, I'll be fine."

He nods, taking a step closer to you briefly, ever so slightly leaning in, before he clears his throat and backs away.

"I'll see you later?"

You nod.

"Yeah, later."

He gives you a smile, along with a soft squeeze of your shoulder, before making his way back down the hallway.

You watch him leave with a longing you're not sure how to identify.

It's probably nothing.

~~~

A rapid knocking on the door of your apartment woke you from your sleep. With a groan, you pushed the blankets off and got up out of bed, looking out the window and noticing how dark it was outside. Had you really slept that long? You wondered briefly how Kaneki's training with Yomo went.

You got up and left your bedroom, turning on the the light for the genkan and unlocking the door.

Opening it, you furrowed your eyebrows.

"Kaneki?" You questioned, still somewhat tired.

The boy in question looked at you with a frantic expression.

"I need your help." He said hurriedly.

You walked out of your apartment, closing the door behind you.

"Why? What's going on?"

He dug around in the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it to you.

"It's Tsukiyama. He's taken Nishio girlfriend, and she's human, he'll kill her if we don't hurry."

You read over the note again and again.

That rat fucking bastard.

"Nishio? He's dating a human?" You looked back up at Kaneki.

"It's a whole thing, I can't explain it right now. Look, I know you and Nishio have issues, but please, help us. I'm not letting more innocent people get hurt because of me. First it was you and Hide, and now it might be Kimi. Please, Y/N. You're the only one I can think of that could stand up to Tsukiyama. I'd ask Touka, but with how she is right now..."

You placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Kaneki. Calm down. I didn't say I wouldn't help. Nishio might be an asshole, and we might have issues, but I'm not heartless. I'll help. Did Tsukiyama say where to meet him exactly?"

"A church somewhere here in the 20th Ward."

You nodded.

"Easy enough. Just gotta sniff out the bastard. Let's go."

The two of you rushed down through a few flights of stairs, and when you reached the door of Anteiku, you opened the door and were instantly met with the sight of Nishiki, hunched over on the ground, and looking like absolute shit.

"...Wow, you look awful." You peered down at his rather pathetic looking form with a slight sneer.

The older man glared up at you from his place on the ground, opening his mouth to retort, before Kaneki spoke up.

"Please, you two, we don't have time. We have to go help Kimi." He helped Nishiki up off the floor and shouldered his weight despite their height difference.

"C'mon, we have to hurry."

~~~

Tsukiyama had been smart enough to put the churches address on his stupid letter, so it wasn't hard to find him.

The church was grand, like something you'd see in 1800's Europe.

You could smell the bastard just from standing outside the door.

"Okay, here's what's gonna happen." You started. "I'm gonna find a window and sneak it, take him by surprise. You two head in, keep him distracted."

Kaneki nodded, a determined look on his usually anxious face.

Nishiki nodded too, and with that, the three of you separated.

With the help of your Kagune, you scaled the side of the church, searching for an open window. Or maybe a window to break.

Unfortunately, your hope for vandalism was snuffed out, because there was an open sky light on the roof.

Slipping through, you dropped down onto the carpeted ground of the upper floor, hiding among the pews as you looked down at the ground level, where Kaneki and Nishiki were confronting Tsukiyama.

"Give Kimi back, you sick freak!" Nishiki growled out, already advancing towards the gourmet Ghoul.

"Apologies, but I simply cannot do that." He stepped out from in front of the piano he had been playing to in front of the altar, where Kimi was tied up and blind folded on her side.

"I'll be needing her to add spice to tonight's entrée. It is essential that she remain as fresh as possible for sweet Kaneki's pleasure." The man said with a purr to his voice. Gross.

"Hah?!" Nishiki exclaimed in shock.

"Do allow me to explain." Tsukiyama held a hand up to his face dramatically, flamboyantly, as if he were preparing to tell a dramatic tale.

"I shall feast upon sweet Kaneki! But, even as I do, I want him to feast upon her!" He held out his arms as he finished his words.

Your lips curled up in disgust for the man. Damn pervert.

"You son of a bitch." Nishiki sneered, a low and threatening growl in his tone.

"But, that's so disgusting..." Kaneki said in bewilderment, a shaky and shocked edge to his voice.

"Disgusting?" Tsukiyama repeated. "You wound me. But, still, if that's how you really feel about it..."

In one quick moment, Tsukiyama was up in Kaneki's face, a finger against the younger man's chin, keeping his head tilted up.

"Then, Kaneki, I think it's important that you realize it is your flavor which has driven me to this. And you sure as hell better realize how delicious you will be." He said sadistically.

'Wow, he sure has some weird foreplay.' You thought against your better judgement.

Nishiki glared at Tsukiyama and aimed a punch towards him, but Tsukiyama was quicker and punched him in the stomach, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt and throwing him into the pews.

"Nishio!" Kaneki exclaimed in panic, while you stiffened from your place up on the top floor, peeking through the slits in the railing, waiting for your moment to strike.

"Why don't you take a load off for a bit?" Tsukiyama quipped towards Nishiki while Kaneki prepared a punch of his own, letting out a cry as he aimed for Taukiyama's head.

Tsukiyama, sensing his movements, dodged each and every one, a cocky smile on his face.

"Oh, my. You're rather clumsy, aren't you? Toddling about like a freshly hatched chick." He teased Kaneki's efforts.

He caught Kaneki's fist and held up his own.

"Pay attention. This, my friend..."

Tsukiyama reared his fist back, then sent it flying towards Kaneki's face, hitting him square in the jaw, making the smaller of the two go careening backwards on the ground with a cry.

"...Is what a real punch feels like."

You were on the verge of gouging this fuckers eyes out and feeding him his own limbs. You couldn't stop the growl that curdled low in your own throat when he had punched Kaneki.

Kaneki got himself back up and tried to attack Tsukiyama again, only to miss each time, while the purple haired man continued to tease him.

He kicked Kaneki into one of the pews, making the boy let out a choked out noise as it took the wind out of him.

"Well, my darling, what sort of attack would you like to see demonstrated next?" Tsukiyama approached Kaneki's heaving form on the ground, prepared to dish out more pain.

You couldn't take this anymore, you needed to act now. So, you flipped yourself over the railing on the top floor and fell towards Tsukiyama, sharp nails at the ready.

In a swift movement, you scratched along his face, fingers digging into his eyes.

"How about that one? It's a regular sneak attack." You sneered.

"Y/N, thank God..." You heard Kaneki mutter, clearly appreciating your arrival.

"I must admit, this is rather embarrassing..." Tsukiyama groaned out, poking at his eyes with his fingers.

"It's been quite awhile since I've been scratched." He looked up, showcasing the long and jagged scratch that went from one eye to the other across his face.

You faced the man with a glare, not quite in the mood for banter.

"I told you that if you had ever went near him again, that I would tear you apart. You of all people should know that I don't go back on my word." You growled, scowling with narrowed eyes.

"You and Miss Kirishima really do have the same tell, no wonder she's so fond of you. Always so quick with violence and threats." He chuckled.

Tsukiyama dabbed at his eyes with a cloth, clearing up the blood before pulling it away, showing his face to now be fully healed.

"He's not hurt..." Kaneki gaped in shock at Tsukiyama's completely healed face.

"I remember a time when you had that live body of yours honed like a sharpened blade. It must have weakened considerably over the years, or that scratch would have taken more than seconds to heal." Tsukiyama said cockily.

"Think of it as a warm up for what I'm actually going to do to you, you sick fuck." You took a defensive stance, half of your body shielding Kaneki's.

"Oh, my goodness. Such a feisty little girl. Still..." Tsukiyama threw off his suit jacket.

"It's always been the heart of your charm, my lovely." In a single second he was racing towards you, ready to attack, but you dodged at the last second.

You sent a kick his way, sending him staggering back just a tad, but it did little to deter him. You really had grown weak.

"Do you really think that's enough to beat me?" Tsukiyama taunted, holding up his fists.

You sent a barrage of kicks and punches his way, but the slimy bastard kept dodging them.

He kept blathering his mouth, taunting you, but you ignored him. You weren't going to give him the satisfaction of a response. You wanted to make him pay for hurting Kaneki the way he's done.

As he was distracted with his reminiscent monologue, you kicked him in the face, sending him to the ground.

"Do you ever shut the fuck up?" You scowled.

Tsukiyama wiped his mouth of the small trickle of blood that leaked out.

"I'm not ashamed to admit that I was quite smitten with you back in our younger years. However, Miss Kirishima has always been my favorite out of the two of you."

You sneered in disgust.

Before you could retort his perverted comment, you saw Kaneki come flying out of the corner of your eye, landing a swift kick to Tsukiyama's face, sending the man backwards against a pew.

You smirked to yourself, impressed. There was that flutter in your chest again, which you chose to ignore. Again.

"We're leaving, and we're taking Kimi with us. Tonight, you're going hungry." Kaneki had a glare on his face when he peered down at the gourmet. It was an unusual sight, seeing his face so serious.

"That was a good kick, I mean it." Tsukiyama had a small smirk on his face. He chuckled when he saw that both you and Kaneki were coming down on him with more kicks.

However, before either of you could land a hit, the man dodged, using his fists to counter both attacks and punching you both in the stomach, sending you and Kaneki back with choked gasps.

You landed on the ground while Tsukiyama grabbed Kaneki by his wrist, twisting his arm.

"Where were we? Oh, yes."

The man kneed Kaneki on the elbow, effectively snapping his arm in half.

Kaneki let out a blood curdling scream as he fell to the ground and clutched his now broken arm.

You watched helplessly, clutching your stomach as Tsukiyama licked his lips at Kaneki's helpless form, raising his arm up in preparation to strike him.

"Now, let's have a taste." He purred.

Your eyes widened in horror as Tsukiyama stabbed straight through Kaneki's stomach with his bare hand.

Despite your earlier fighting, you were still too weak in terms of stamina due to having starved yourself. You weren't fully recovered yet. So, you had to watch in shock as Tsukiyama brought his bloodied hand up to his lips and licked it, all while Kaneki screamed in pain.

Once the gourmet tasted Kaneki's blood, his eyes widened in awe and pleasure, letting out what seemed to be a moan.

"Très bien! So exquisite!" He exclaimed in starstruck delight. "A symphony of flavor in perfect harmony!"

The man interlaced his fingers together, rubbing the blood all along his hands as though he wanted it everywhere.

"Oh, yes. It's even greater than I imagined! And now that I've had a taste, I want something even more extravagant! I can't allow my morsel to die like this. No, not before he's feasted on my offering!" Tsukiyama stared hungrily between Kaneki and Kimi.

You growled lowly in your throat and pushed yourself up off the ground, attempting to send another kick his way.

He blocked it with ease.

"Once upon a time, your fierce heart set mine aflutter. Sad to say, that's no longer the case."

His Kagune began to curl around his arm.

"Something's lit a fire in your eyes and you grow softer as you meant."

It happened way too fast. And in the blink of an eye, he impaled you right through the stomach with his Kagune.

You choked on your own blood, your ears ringing and filtering out his words as the fluids filled your throat.

You landed on the ground in a heap, curling into a ball and clutching your wounded abdomen. Normally, you'd already be regenerating, but with the way you've been eating, or haven't been eating, your body didn't want to cooperate with you.

"Y/N, no!" You heard Kaneki cry out.

Kaneki began shouting at Tsukiyama, but you couldn't hear any of it. You were too blinded by the pain, and you felt a strong urge to vomit.

You took a shuddering breath and tried to push yourself up, but your arms buckled beneath you.

It was like the fight with Nishiki all over again...why were you so useless...?

As you tried to push yourself up again, an arm gently and shakily wrapped itself around your middle, helping you up.

Kaneki wasn't looking any better compared to you. He was pale, and had a similar gaping hole in his stomach. However, his was steadily growing smaller as he healed himself.

Despite yourself, and the situation, you leaned against him. He was warm, and his scent was a strange mix of coffee and a hint of vanilla that was distinctly Rize, although it was masked by the overwhelming smell of him.

There was that flutter again...

Ignore it. Now wasn't the time.

You heaved and panted as you glared at Tsukiyama, who stood at the altar over Kimi's tied up form.

You were going to kill him...

Even if it wasn't tonight, you were.

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Nishiki get up and charge towards Tsukiyama, his voice raw as he screamed.

Tsukiyama punched him in the face, but Nishiki just got back up, running at the gourmet again.

Eventually, Tsukiyama managed to stab Nishiki through the gut, similar to how he had done you and Kaneki.

The man practically vomited blood as he was impaled, landing on the ground in a heap.

"You don't stand a chance, if you can't use your Kagune." Tsukiyama taunted. "It is the source of our strength. The most powerful weapon we possess. If your Kagune is an engine, human flesh is the fuel. If a Ghoul has a poor diet, he'll find his kagune's strength severely diminished."

You let out a weary, weak laugh as you leaned your weight against Kaneki, who was still holding you up.

"Yeah. I know that all too well..." you panted, glaring at Tsukiyama through your hair.

"I didn't expect guilt and grief to make me so much weaker..." you wheezed out.

"Well, enough of that." Tsukiyama ignored your words and turned to face Kimi again.

"Now, for tonight's main event."

In a futile effort, Nishiki pulled himself up and grasped at Tsukiyama's shoulder in an attempt to get him away from the human woman on the altar.

"You're becoming quite the pest, Nishio." Tsukiyama scowled.

"Let her go..." Nishiki rasped out.

Tsukiyama grabbed Nishiki by the face and threw him to the ground, stabbing him with his Kagune repeatedly.

"Damn you! Stop annoying me! Stop annoying me! Stop annoying me! Stop annoying me!" His voiced was crazed with anger, and eventually Nishiki stopped moving.

"See? That's what happens when you get me all riled up." Tsukiyama scoffed and once again turned back to the altar.

But, Nishiki grabbed his foot this time, still trying to stop him.

"I've got nothing...I'm alone in this world...except for Kimi...she's all I've got...lay a hand on her and I'll kill you...I swear...even if it kills me..." He groaned out.

Even as he lay there, bleeding out and weak, Nishiki still would do anything if it meant Kimi got to live.

You and Kaneki watched on. He was fully healed, while you were still struggling to stay upright.

In the back of your mind, you distantly wondered what that felt like. Wanting to sacrifice everything just for the person you loved. Willing to die for them, willing to kill for them.

That damn flutter won't go away...

God dammit! Ignore it!

"What can we do...?" You heard Kaneki mumble as he tried to figure out the best way to keep this from happening.

"If we want to use our Kagune, we have to eat..." he began to form together a plan.

"Hey, Y/N." Kaneki gently squeezed your side in an effort to get your attention. You lifted your head and met his gaze.

"Who's stronger when in full strength? You or Tsukiyama?" He asked.

You panted out your reply, still clutching your stomach.

"Last time I fought him, we were about even." You said weakly.

He nodded.

"Okay. I have a plan."

You returned his nod, listening as best you could as he began to explain.

Up at the altar, Tsukiyama dropped Nishiki to the ground again, leaving him in a bloody heap.

"Tsukiyama!" Kaneki yelled.

When the man looked over, you were now seated behind Kaneki, leaning against his shoulder.

You gently pried the collar of his jacket away from his collarbone, leaning in.

"Here goes..." you mumbled, your lips brushing the skin of his shoulder.

"Look away..." You whispered against him. Feeling his nod, you took a deep breath and opened your mouth, your teeth grazing him before you sunk them in.

Kaneki let out a hiss of pain as your teeth punctured his skin, but you felt the shudder that ran through his body when you bit him. Blood steadily began to pool along the deep ridge of his collarbone, and you licked it away, soothing the wound with your tongue before pulling back and swallowing.

His taste was nothing that you could describe. Maybe Tsukiyama was right in some regards, but you'd never admit that. Especially not when you had smelled the electric jolt that had went through Kaneki's body when you had licked away the pain.

Tsukiyama was screaming from his place at the altar.

"HE BELONGS TO ME!!" He screeched.

You rose to your feet, the wound in your stomach quickly beginning to heal now.

Tsukiyama sent his Kagune your way in a fit of rage, but you deflected it when yours began to emerge.

"Do you think he's yours?" You sneered as you regained your strength. "No way."

Kaneki stared up at you from his place on the floor.

"I hate to break it to you, Tsukiyama..."

Your Kagune slowly began to unfurl from your shoulder blades, wispy pinks mixed with purples.

"But nothing here belongs to you."

It's been...two years since the last update?!?!

Ngl I have no excuse other than writers block lol. It's a bitch.

But I hope the long chapter makes up for it?? Plus, we're steadily making way with the relationship between Kaneki and Y/N!!

I kind of always wanted to start them off early, as opposed to how him and Touka are in canon. Idk about you guys, but I can only stand so much slow burn.

Obviously, Y/N doesn't quite want to accept her feelings yet, nor does she want to acknowledge them lol. We love dumbassery.

However!! We are getting mutual pining!! These two dum dums smh.

Word Count: 6074

Edit: how do you guys like the new cover? :3 it's probably my favorite