Kaneki's POV:

"How intriguing..." Uta grinned sadistically. I could feel his stare -- it burned as his gaze roamed my entire body. He stood from his chair and took a step towards me. "How did it happen?"

"I- I already told you," I said as I stuttered nervously. "Rize died, and her organs were transplanted into me so I would live."

"Interesting.. so it would seem a Ghoul's organs are all it would require to become one," Uta smiled slightly, cocking his head to one side. "And vice versa as well, I would imagine... That being, a human's organs would be all it took to turn a ghoul... human."

"Turn a ghoul human?" I thought out loud, making Uta once again smile pleasantly. "If that were possible, people would have tried already." I felt myself slowly becoming more and more tense - aching to leave and go home. Now that I think of it, it was stupid of me to meet Hide in the first place. I should have stayed home.

"So... Kaneki, was it?" Uta confirmed he had my name correct before speaking again. "Well, I have to ask... does anyone else know of your transformation? Have you told any family or friends?"

"I live by myself... I haven't told anybody," I said, looking down towards the floor. "I spoke with my friend today, but he didn't notice anything was different."

"Ah.. and do you think any ghouls could have caught on to it? We're quite perceptive, you know."

"No, I don't think so," I searched my brain for information, trying to remember all the encounters I had, had that day. Other than meeting Hide at Anteiku, I spent most of the day at home.

"Well, that certainly is a relief," the ghoul said with a soft sigh. "That means I won't have to share you with anyone else."

"What do you mean share?" My voice became shaky.

"I meant that I won't tell any ghouls you exist. You'll continue to live your life the way it is.. I won't include you in our feuds or drama," Uta said, stroking the back of my hair carefully. The blood which had matted my hair from the previous feeding smeared onto his hand, however, Uta didn't even pay it attention as he continued to brush the knots from my hair.

"You'll really keep me a secret?" I managed to croak out. "Will it keep me safe?"

"As long as you stay quiet, it will. But I can't guarantee you won't do something to draw attention to yourself," his hand shifted from my head to the back my my neck, and soon Uta was caressing my cheek - rubbing it in small circles with his thumb. Normally, I would have reacted more negatively, but given the situation, the sensation was almost calming. "It's late, so how about you stay here for the night? There could still be doves wandering around. Anyone is under suspicion to them, especially when that one is soaked in blood. I'll draw a bath for you."

Uta retracted his hand and stepped away from me. My chest lurched at this action, as the feeling of his hand on me had put me more at ease, and as much as I wanted him to continue to hold me, I also wanted to wash myself off. The blood was starting to dry, and it was becoming extremely uncomfortable.

"Thank you, Uta," I lowered my head in appreciation. He lead me into his bathroom, which looked surprisingly normal. It wasn't the same black color as the rest of the house was, and it contained only what bathrooms should normally have. Kneeling next to the tub, Uta began to fill it with hot water. Steam rose from the surface of the water, and I could feel the urge to submerge myself inside pulling me forwards. Unwillingly, I took a step in Uta's direction, the idea of a hot bath nearly making me drool. I would have gotten in fully dressed had Uta not stopped me.

"There's no need to wet your clothes too - you'll only make a larger mess," he said, fumbling with the top few buttons of my shirt. Within about a minute, all the buttons on my shirt had come undone, and my shirt slid off my shoulders and to the floor easily. "They're a bit torn.. perhaps you can just borrow something of mine. Finish undressing and clean yourself off. There's towels in that cupboard over there for when you're done."

Uta then left the room. I removed my shoes, socks, pants and underwear before stepping into the bath, one leg at a time. It took a moment to adjust to the heat, but soon I was able to sink down in the water up to my neck. Although quickly going red with blood, the bath was very pleasant, and I started to let my mind wander...

When I opened my eyes, Uta was sat on the floor next to me. He had a cloth in his hands and appeared to have been washing my chest and arms. I was only slightly surprised by his appearence.

"I'm nearly finished," he said casually. "You fell asleep, so I took it upon myself to wash you. After all, there's nothing worse than waking up in a cold bath."

"I feel like such a bother. Am I not in your way?"

"Not at all," Uta said. "After all, I get lonely here sometimes. Itori barely ever visits me. It's nice to talk to somebody."

"Oh. I'm glad," I said quietly. I didn't know how, but being here seemed to take any stress off of my shoulders. After all, just earlier I had been a complete mess. But now, I felt safe almost. Like a glass wall had been built around me, I felt like there was an invisible force field protecting me. Even being here, with a ghoul, I could go about without worry.

After I had dried off, Uta lent me a black tank-top and a pair of shorts to wear and brought me to his bedroom. He had a king-sized bed with onyx colored sheets, and a pair of matching pillows.

"You can sleep in here with me," Uta climbed underneath of the blankets and lied down.

"With you?" I gasped quietly, a bit shy.

"Where else?"

"Oh, uh, sorry," I felt myself flush with embarrassment. Climbing in next to him with haste, I tried my hardest to keep my distance. The bed was large, so it was quite easy to keep to one side, however I was still uneasy sleeping next to someone I didn't know.

I suppose he did help me.... I shut my eyes. Even after falling asleep in the bath, it still felt good to have my eyes closed. I was utterly exhausted, and wanted nothing more than to go to sleep for a week. But maybe having befriended a ghoul will help me out. It was a long shot, but maybe he'll be just the protection I need to stay alive. I found myself smiling at the thought right before losing my conciousness, falling into a deep, comfortable sleep.