When they learn of their Romanian heritage, the Kaneki trifecta decide to get in tough with their roots, starting with learning the Romanian language, cause having a secret language is awesome. (One phrase they could exchange is “Fratele Meu (means “my brother”- for Rin to her brothers) and “Sora Mea” (meaning “my sister”))

Do you know Romanian? That’s awesome.

“Fratele Meu, can you pass the sugar.” Rin waves at Kaneki.

“What does that mean again?” Suzuya frowns.

“Of course, Sora Mea.” Kaneki winks and hands her three sugar packets. “What do you think it means, Juuzou?”

Suzuya sighs. “Brother and sister?”

“Yup.” Rin empties the sugar packets in her coffee.

“Multumesc,” says Suzuya. “See, I am learning!”

“You are indeed.” Rin nods.

“What are we learning?” Tsukiyama Shuu pirouettes into the room.

“That you’re a gurmand,” says Suzuya, stuffing his mouth full of chocolate.

“Sacre bleu! That sounds like an insult,” cries Tsukiyama.

“Ţine-ţi limba după dinţi,” replies Rin sweetly.

“My heart!” Tsukiyama clutches his chest.

“He’s politely declined your command,” Kaneki says to Rin.

“When the fuck did I move to Europe?” Touka storms into Re. “You guys, yelling in all sorts of languages is going to scare off all my customers!”

The Kaneki trifecta have their last conversation with Alucard, their ancestor, before he has to go back to London to the plot of Hellsing. He tells them the true story of Prince Vlad of Wallachia (sold to a Sultan as a child who raped him for years before he killed him, rose as a prince who fought and killed for his God only to be killed by his people, and sell his soul to the devil). He tells them what Van Hellsing taught him: “Only a man can kill a monster”.

“Please tell us more.” Rin leans forward eagerly. Kaneki is dutifully taking notes through his tears, and Suzuya is clutching Kaneki’s shoulders.

Alucard sighs. “There’s not much more. I suppose my words apply to all of you now.”

“Which ones?” Kaneki looks at his notes.

“I’m sorry that happened to you,” Suzuya says.

“And I’m sorry for what Madam did to you,” Alucard replies. “But, Kaneki especially: to become a monster as I am, is to admit you were too weak to remain human.”

Kaneki flinches. “I had to.”

“So did I, I thought.” Alucard stares into the distance. “Only a man can kill a monster.”

Kaneki looks at Suzuya.

“You can’t kill a monster using monstrous methods.” Now Alucard looks at Suzuya, who swallows.

Mr. Shinohara? Monstrous methods?

“Rin, you’re the full human among your family.”

“Me?” she squeaks. She’s always felt insecure in her humanity. “Are you saying my humanity is…important?”

“I don’t think your humanity means anything,” Alucard says bluntly. “But I think your compassion and empathy surpass your brothers’. That’s more important than your species. And if you want a path forward for both species, you’ll have learn a new way of fighting, beyond embracing the violence.”

Rin sniffles. “Do you think any of us can?”

“Together?” Alucard looks in each of their eyes. “Yeah, I do.”

(A semi-crossover with Hellsing) The Kaneki siblings (Kaneki, Suzuya and Rin together!!) find documents from their father and discover their ancestral roots extend outside of Japan, all the way to Romania and their many greats grandfather is none other than the Impaler, the prince of darkness, and Count himself, Vlad Tepes, aka Dracula (Alucard in Hellsing)

The Kaneki Trifecta®

“Kaneki, look at this. Suzuya, get your ass over here, too.” Rin waves them to a table in Re.

“What are those?” Suzuya’s eyes widen at so much reading.

But Kaneki is already devouring the papers. “Where’d you find these?”

“I’ve been concocting my own little investigation into Mom.” Rin sighs. “Didn’t it ever strike you as strange that one of you was kidnapped, and the other made into a half-ghoul? Like, that can’t be a coincidence.”

“And?” Suzuya nervously nibbles on the chocolate squares Kaneki hands him, one after another.

“We’re not entirely Japanese. We’re…Romanian?” Kaneki frowns.

“Like vampires?” Suzuya grins.

“No, but actually.” Rin rifles through the documents. “Vlad Tepes is our ancestor.”

“Who?”

“Dracula,” Kaneki says, surprised. He loves that book.

“Do you think there’s something special in our blood, then?” Rin asks.

“Maybe?”

“Mom’s side checks out clean.” Rin swallows. “This seems like the best red flag I’ve found.”

“But why target us now?” Suzuya asks. Chocolate is smeared across his cheeks.

“I mean, there’s no proof they didn’t target Dad as well. Maybe that’s how he died. There’s not much information on the accident, though, so this is just speculation.” Rin shrugs.

“We need to talk to Nishiki about this. If – if Vampires are real – if part-vampires can live like normal humans, why can’t part-ghouls?” Kaneki’s body surges with hope.

“Precisely.” Rin smiles at him.

Suzuya hugs them both. “Well, I love having ghouls and vampires in my family.”