“Don’t you dare!” Yomo’s S/O dives in front of Touka as Suzuya throws another knife. It hits what feels like their lung, and they stumble to the cement tunnel floor. But it was worth it, they think woozily, to protect Touka’s stomach.
“[Name]!” Touka cries.
“Go!” yells Hinami as Touka hoists them onto her shoulders. She can’t use her ukaku and carry them. There’s no choice left but to run.
—
When Yomo awakens, Uta and Itori hover over him. He can barely move. “Where is everyone?”
“Attending to your nephew-in-law, who’s become a giant kagune dragon,” Itori says cheerfully.
“What?” Yomo stares at them. “Touka? Ayato? [Name]?”
“Touka and Ayato are fine.” Uta sighs. “[Name]…”
For a moment, Yomo forgets about Kaneki. “Where are they?”
“They’re alive. But they got themselves hurt protecting Touka,” Itori says, no warmth in her voice.
Yomo’s heart quickens. “Where are they?”
Uta points to the bed besides Yomo.
He sits up and freezes. Their face is deadly white. A knife handle still protrudes from the oozing wound in their chest.
“The knife is still in them, impeding their regeneration,” says Uta grimly. “But if we remove it, we’ll probably sever a major artery.”
Yomo’s hands shake. Of course [Name] would nearly die for Touka. Their gentle, kind spirit was the reason he first fell in love with them. But now…
“Do they have a chance?” he rasps.
“There’s always a chance,” says Itori, patting their shoulder. She rather liked how happy they made Ren.
Yomo stumbles over to their bed to hold their hands. I’m here. I’m not letting go.
He needs them. He needs their light. Their smile, the way they say his name. Their compassion. They’re the best thing in his life.
“I wonder,” Uta muses, “if we could get our hands on some of that dragon…”
Mercy and Magic 