Takes place shortly before the Anteiku raid.
Tsukiyama slumps his shoulders, hoping Kaneki will notice. “You are thinking about abandoning me again?”
Kaneki eyes him. “You just want to devour me. Even now.”
He feels hurt, but isn’t entirely sure why. Kaneki shouldn’t trust him. He does want to eat this delectably scented half-ghoul. Besides, at the rate Kaneki’s going, he’s gonna be eaten by someone, so it might as well be at the hands of someone who will appreciate him. Someone like Tsukiyama Shuu.
“Why?” Kaneki asks.
“Pardon?”
“Why do you want to eat me?”
“I don’t anymore.” Tsukiyama presses his hand over his heart and almost wishes it were true. “I did because…well, you’re unique.”
Kaneki rolls his eyes. “Yes, everyone tells me that.”
Tsukiyama collapses onto Kaneki’s lap. “Well, it’s true, mon chere.”
“I wish it wasn’t.” Kaneki absently runs his fingers through Tsukiyama’s hair.
Tsukiyama catches his breath. “That feels nice.”
Kaneki chuckles. “You’re a child.”
“Let’s be adults.” Tsukiyama sits straight up, his face inches from Kaneki’s.
“What are you?”
“Can I kiss you?”
Kaneki’s eyes widen. He doesn’t trust the Gourmet, not at all. But he’s so lonely.
So he nods, and it isn’t long before Tsukiyama has taken off his shirt, because it’s Tsukiyama.
To Kaneki’s surprise, he has a array of spectacular abs. Heat washes over him.
“I bet you have a six-pack too,” Tsukiyama teases. “Shall we find out?”
His fingers tug at Kaneki’s shirt, and, though his words have dried up, Kaneki nods.
“Oooh, you do. Human ribs are amazing, you know.” Tsukiyama winks, and Kaneki has to laugh.
“Kiss me again?”
“Happy to,” Tsukiyama answers, taking Kaneki’s lips in his.
They’re lying side-by-side, their hands exploring each other’s most intimate parts. And the atmosphere around them feels electric and Kaneki feels alive and Tsukiyama –
Tsukiyama realizes, with no small amount of horror, that all this time he hasn’t wanted to eat Kaneki. He’s wanted to love him.
Mercy and Magic 