– She’s tall and muscular, like her dad. She has Banjou’s oval face, but Jiro’s eyes. Her hair and eyes are a dark teal color. Her hair is perpetually in a high, tight ponytail.
– Also like her dad, she is kind, and has healing properties in her indigo bikaku kagune.
– As a result of her kindness and size, she is bullied somewhat often. Ichika and the Nakimiza brood often look out for her, though she’s perfectly capable of defending herself.
– She loves sports.
– She is a surprisingly good dancer – unlike Banjou, quite graceful.
– Unlike many ghoul kids, she took a liking to human food quickly. She likes helping out in Yoriko’s bakery as a result.
– Rize tentatively tells Banjou about her past, and he is horrified and cries for her. This surprises, and comforts her, and their relationship begins.
– She initiates their first kiss.
– Banjou is very emphatic that they won’t have sex unless she really wants to.
– He buys her little gifts of food; she buys him pet insects, because they fascinate him.
– Rize DEFINITELY insists on watching horror movies, because they end with her laughing while he cries on her shoulder and she likes feeling brave.
– If Rize and Banjou ever had kids, Banjou would be Rize’s slave for nine months and then the baby’s slave.
Touka sips the terrible decaf coffee Hide brewed just for her. “Man, I always heard about people hating their in laws but this just takes the cake, you know?”
“You can eat cake?” Saiko asks.
“In laws? You mean, you really are married?” Takizawa laughs. “Holy shit!”
“Does that make you my mother?” gasps Higemaru. “Because I am down with that. She’s a badass.”
“I hate her! I hate her! She’s not our mother!” cries Mutsuki. “She – she stole Sensei away! That slut!”
Ayato rises, but Hinami yanks him back.
“Touka is actually pretty cool for the rabbit who killed my dad,” Akira says, tossing her a wry smile. Akira keeps her hands massaging Mutsuki’s shoulders.
Aura spits out his coffee. “She what?”
“Say it, don’t spray it,” says Nishiki with a glare.
“Oh come off it, we’re all killers here.” Kurona primly lifts her mug.
“Mutsuki, Kaneki left you because he couldn’t face himself,” Tsukiyama says quietly. “He’s never been good at that. Not that I have either. He craves a family but fears the hurt that comes with love. It was his failing, not yours. Not Touka’s.” He smiles slightly. “He told me the list of people he cared about once. Believe me, you Quinx were included.”
Mutsuki sniffles. “Really?”
But I am awful. I kill families. But Akira is rubbing his back, and Urie has approached him, and Saiko looks at him with kindness he doesn’t deserve. Did he leave the Quinx home, too?
“Really.” Tsukiyama nods.
Mutsuki lets out a little sob, and that does it. Saiko springs up and embraces him. Even Touka has to smile.
“Wait, wait, wait!” Ayato stands up. “Touka! Does that mean you really are – the rumors – the decaf -”
We’re assuming this is post-ghoulification and reunion for our friends.
“He’s pretty bad,” Banjou says, eying the babbling Takizawa. Truth to be told, the injuries will heal. But this kid’s mental state makes Kaneki look normal.
“He’s missing three limbs. Of course it’s bad,” Kurona shoots back. She points at Banjou. “You! Are not going to let our sibling die.”
Kaneki isn’t sure how he feels about her insistence on calling them siblings, but if it helps her, fine.
“Move, Eyepatch King.” Mado Akira appears in the room, shoving the One-Eyed King aside so fast he crashes into the wall. She’s not really sorry.
Amon Koutarou rushes in behind her. “Seidou!”
“It’s Owl now, right?” Akira winks at Takizawa’s bloodied mouth.
“No!” he wails. “I did it! I killed Mom and Dad! I drank their blood!”
Akira exchanges a glance with Amon.
“I’m impossible.” Seidou grins.
Taste like home cooking, Seidou?
He feels like such an object. Even now. He can’t reclaim his personhood no matter how desperately he desires.
“I mean, yes,” Amon says, perching on the bed next to Seidou. “But we love you for it.”
“My life is shit.” Tears stream down his face.
“We like your life. I nearly gave up mine for you!” Akira jabs her finger at him, and the delirious ghoul pauses for a moment. “And it was worth it, God dammit!”
“Dammit, like I’m damned.”
Amon clears his throat. “I was raised by a priest, remember. You’re not damned, Seidou.”
“And if you were, we’d break down hell for you.” Akira kisses the top of Seidou’s head. “We love you.”
He pauses. “Really?”
“Please believe that.”
For a moment, looking at their compassionate faces, he feels like nothing happened. For a moment, he dares to believe them.
Mercy and Magic 