Thank you for so many scenarios. You rock. For Chapter 144, Touka, Saiko, Urie, Scarecrow!Hide and Akira somehow end up in the Kaneki conference and remind them that they aren’t alone in this and to rely on others more. (Maybe end with a “Let’s go home”, from Hide 😭)

Thank you for sending them in! You rock too. =) Also, I included Mutsuki because he’s another part of Kaneki’s ‘family.’

“I want to see Touka-chan again,” Shironeki mumbles.

“She’s here.” Shironeki looks up to see Touka’s hands clasping his face. She leans over him, eyes smoldering.

“Maman!” Saiko dashes in to throw her arms around Haise.

Mutsuki and Urie tiptoe in behind her. Mutsuki waves timidly at the kids, and Urie nods at the Reaperneki. “’Sup.”

“Hey, it’s okay, you know.” Akira enters and approaches 240. She kneels besides him and wraps her arms around him. “Shh, shh. It’s okay.”

“Why are you all here?” Kuroneki blinks.

“Because they love you,” says a garbled voice. Scarecrow enters.

“Who are you, brat?” Reaperneki crosses his arms.

He holds up a sign. I’m Hideyoshi Nagachika.

Kuroneki gasps, and Scarecrow crosses over to him. I was never gone.

“What happened – I mean – why – you’re not really here.” Shironeki’s tears flow. Mutsuki would never be in the same room as Touka-chan.

“We are, in a sense. We’re all a part of you, too, right?” Touka smiles.

“Try to confide in us a bit more,” Saiko says.

“We do love you,” Mutsuki says. “Even Urie. Even me.”

“Where did I go wrong?”

Akira stands. “You didn’t trust us. But we trusted you. We’re a part of you. Let us help you, Ken.”

“Can you bite?” Mutsuki asks. “Just one bite of the Oggai should heal you.”

“He’s a kid!” gasps Kuroneki. “And a human!”

Touka scowls. “Oh, because humanity totally matters.”

“Ghouls aren’t evil.” Akira says. “Despite what I taught you. I’m sorry I failed as your mother, Ken.”

The kids begin to sob. “You didn’t fail us, Akira-san.”

“Take a bite. He’ll heal and so will you. And you’ll save GOAT,” says Urie.

“We’ll be with you,” Saiko adds.

Hide holds up another sign. Let’s go home.

Home isn’t a place. Home is where these messy, crazy people are. Reaperneki wipes his eyes, and Haise smirks at him. “Crying?”

“Let’s go home.” Kuroneki stands, and one by one, all the Nekis follow. Haise guides 240.

Let’s go home.

Eto having another interaction with Hide

Eto my Eto.

“Having fun without your friend?” Eto bounces outside Aogiri’s headquarters.

Hide stops walking away.

“You miss him, don’t you?” Eto purrs.

“Ah – courth.”

“Of course,” Eto translates. “Well, I’ll have you know, if all goes well, I’ll be seeing him in Cochlea pretty soon.”

Hige glowers at her from behind his mask. It’s not in Eto’s nature to help. His requests would be pointless.

All he can do is hold up a pen and paper.

You like him because he has so many people who love him. He has what you want.

Eto merely laughs. “You’re absolutely correct, Nagachika.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she adds.

I worry about everyone, Owl.

“You better worry more about your CCG plan, then. Don’t think I don’t know about that.” Eto snickers and turns to waltz away.

Hide grabs her arm.

Don’t think I don’t know you know.

Eto nods with approval. “I’m counting on you, kid.”

Kaneki needs him like he needs his Anteiku friends. He doesn’t need her for anything other than catalysis.

Love. She really does like it, even if she can’t understand it.

Can I ask you for Amon and Scarecrow Hide interacting?

Yessss. This sounds interesting.

“Why did you free me?” Amon asks quietly.

Scarecrow’s response is garbled garbage. With a frustrated groan, he holds up a pen and paper.

Because I have a friend like you. I would have given anything to help him.

Amon pauses. Mayo’s voice echoes in his head. Trust your intuition. “Is this friend the Eyepatch?”

Scarecrow nods. You have to find him. It’s the only way.

“How – how do I go on, like this?” Amon holds up his arms. “I’m a ghoul.”

You live. It may not be stylish, Amon, but live.

Scarecrow hesitates before scribbling again. You deserve life.

“I’ve killed ghouls.” Amon stares at his hands, hands that might as well be stained with blood. “We don’t deserve life if the price is another life.”

Who says it has to be? You are what you are. Your physical body changed; that’s it. You are still you. You are still whole.

Amon swallows. Mado would kill him, or suggest he take his own life.

But he remembers Akira. She should kill him, too.

He wants to stay alive if there’s even a chance of speaking with her again. To apologize for refusing the kiss.

Scarecrow hands him the notepad. Live. You want to believe your life still has meaning? Then believe.

And Amon realizes, with a start, that he does.

Could you rewrite the kiss during 124 (maybe kaneki starts crying because he misses hide and touka holds him and tells him everything will be alright just before they kiss ❤)

“What did you do when you wanted to see Hide?” Touka hugs her knees to her chest and prays for the hole in her heart to heal.

Kaneki settles besides her. He looks up at the sky. “I was never able to do something concrete. Whenever I felt that way, I was consumed by desire to see him again. I held that desire and that was it.”

He laughs bleakly. “Sorry I’m not much help.”

“No, it’s okay.” Touka slides closer to Kaneki.

Kaneki looks at her with tears in his eyes. “I was a lousy friend.”

It may not be stylish, Kaneki, but live.

“I’d give anything to see him again.” He doesn’t really want to remember what happened in the sewers, if he’s honest. He’s too afraid. Maybe he’s doomed to loneliness.

He takes in a shuddery breath.

“It’s okay to cry.” Touka slides her arm around his shoulder. “I can scream for Yoriko and you can cry for Hide and maybe at the end of the day everything will be all right.”

“I hope so.” Kaneki releases a sob, and Touka presses her mouth into his shoulder to scream.

“Feel better?”

“A little.” He hands her a shaky smile. “Here I thought I was supposed to be comforting you.”

“You did. Just by being here, you did.” Touka leans over him and takes his lips in hers.

Kaneki panics briefly. Does he deserve Touka? And then he remembers.

It may not be stylish, Kaneki, but live.

Character they’re most like-

Perrrrfect.

I’ve sorted the characters according to their introductory affiliation.

Anteiku/Re Affiliates

Kaneki Ken – Quasimodo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Nagachika Hideyoshi – Charlotte, The Princess and the Frog

Yoshimura Kuzen – Mufasa, The Lion King

Kamishiro Rize – Megara, Hercules

Kirishima Touka – Nala, The Lion King

Koma Enji – Pumba, The Lion King

Irimi Kaya – Timon, The Lion King

Yomo Renji – Phil, Hercules

Kosaka Yoriko – Princess Anna of Arendelle, Frozen

Hinami Feuguchi – Princess Snow White, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Nishiki Nishio – Mushu, Mulan

Nishino Kimi – Jane Porter, Tarzan

Tsukiyama Family

Tsukiyama Shuu – Lumeiere, Beauty and the Beast

Karren von Rosewald – Mulan, Mulan

Matsumae – Mrs. Potts, Beauty and the Beast

Mirumo – Fa Zhou, Mulan

Chie Hori – Merida, Brave

Clowns

Uta – Hades, Hercules

Itori – Merryweather, Sleeping Beauty

Hoito Roma – Stepmother Tremaine, Cinderella

Nimura Furuta – Prince Hans, Frozen

Rio/Shikorae – Thomas, Pocahontas

Nico – Iago, Aladdin

Donato Porpora – Frollo, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Aogiri Tree

Kirishima Ayato – also Merida, Brave

Yamori – Shan Yu, Mulan

Tatara – Jafar, Aladdin

Yoshimura Eto – Maleficent, Sleeping Beauty

Noro – Floatsom or Jetsom, The Little Mermaid

CCG

Amon Koutarou – Captain Phoebus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Takizawa Seidou – Prince Naveen, The Princess and the Frog

Mado Akira – Esmeralda, The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Houji Kousuke- General Li, Mulan

Mado Kureo – Professor Porter, Tarzan

Marude Itsuki – Zazu, The Lion King

Washuu Yoshitoki – King Stefan, Sleeping Beauty

Washuu Matsuri – Prince Phillip, Sleeping Beauty

Washuu Tsuneyoshi – The Horned King, The Black Cauldron

Kuriowa Takeomi – Kristoff, Frozen

Kuriowa Iwao – King Hubert, Sleeping Beauty

Aura Kiyoko – Queen Eleanor, Brave

Tanakamaru Mougan – Chien Po, Mulan

Shinohara Yukinori – Maximus, Tangled

Hajime Hazuki – Grumpy, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Arima Squad

Ihei Hairu – Rapunzel, Tangled

Arima Kishou – Kida, Atlantis

Ui Koori – John Smith, Pocahontas

Take Hirako – Flora, Sleeping Beauty

Ihei Shio – Bambi, Bambi

Arima Yusa – Pascal, Tangled

Souza Rikai – Kahn, Mulan

Yasuhisa Kurona – Tiana, The Princess and the Frog

Suzuya Squad

Suzuya Juuzou – Rapunzel, Tangled

Keijin Nakarai – Flynn Rider, Tangled

Hanbee Abara – also Thomas, Pocahontas

Miyuki Mikage – Milo, Atlantis

Mizurou Tamaki – Nakoma, Pocahontas

Quinx Squad

Yonebayashi Saiko – Ariel, The Little Mermaid

Shirazu Ginshi – Sebastian, The Little Mermaid

Urie Kuki – Hercules, Hercules

Mutsuki Tooru – Elsa, Frozen

Hsaio Ching-Li – Pocahontas, Pocahontas

Aura Shinsanpei – Scar, The Lion King

Higemaru Touma – Flounder, The Little Mermaid

could you please write some fluffy hidekane to heal my aching heart? In an au where Hide isn’t in the awful state he’s in now? Maybe w some cute tickling?

“Not gonna lie, bro, you’re a terrible ghoul and a terrible human.” Hide shakes his head as Kaneki turns down dinner again. “A great person, though.”

Kaneki laughs. “You’re welcome to try the meat.”

“I’m actually curious, but I prefer hamburgers.” Hide scowls. “Someday, I’ll figure out a way to help you eat cheeseburgers again!”

“It’s really okay if I never can.”

“It is not!” Hide sounds scandalized. “Food and meals are one of the best ways for an introvert to talk to people! Half the time you can just focus on food!”

“You wouldn’t know anything about introversion other than what you’ve read,” Kaneki teases back. He’s been sassy more often lately. Hide likes it.

Kaneki sidles up behind Hide and runs his hands along his boyfriend’s sides.

Hide chuckles. “That tickles, Kaneki.”

“Good.” Kaneki goes straight for Hide’s feet, and soon Hide is rolling on the ground, screaming.

Hide pins Kaneki to the floor. “You know, I couldn’t have survived what you did. Especially since I can hardly bear your ticking. I admire you.”

Kaneki’s heart flutters. He’s still not used to being admired or loved.

But here, with Hide in his arms, he’s willing to accept it.

This has to happen. Kaneki and Hide finally reuniting, and Kaneki’s reaction to Hide’s silence and scars (I sense a lot of tears and hugs to come).

If we get anything less than an entire chapter of feels, I will rebel.

“Sasaki! Or should I say Kaneki?” Marude Itsuki, Washuu Matsuri, and Urie Kuki march into the 24th ward, alongside a ghoul Kaneki recognizes as Scarecrow.

After returning to find GOAT in chaos while Ayato and strange 24th ward inhabitants held his former colleagues hostage, Kaneki is not in the mood for more familiar faces. Or any, really, except Touka.

Because he almost lost her and their baby today.

“Is this your negotiation?” Tsukiyama looks amused. Hirako crosses his arms and glares at them.

Urie looks desperate, like a little kid reaching for his father. “No, I’m the one who insisted. Kaneki – you have no reason to believe us – but we’re on your side.”

Scarecrow shuffles forward.

“You know him as Hide,” Urie says.

Kaneki’s face pales, and Touka inhales sharply behind him.

“Why should we believe you? Can’t he speak for himself?” Tsukiyama steps in front of Kaneki. He does not want anyone upsetting his friend any more today.

“No,” Urie says. But Scarecrow is scribbling on a notepad and handing it forward.

Tsukiyama takes it and shows it to Kaneki.

Hi Kaneki

He recognizes this handwriting. Kaneki lets out a cry.

Touka grips her husband and guides him forward. “I swear if this is a trap, I’ll eat all of you.”

Marude likes her fire.

“I’ll help,” says Tsukiyama.

Urie swallows as his former leader’s eyes meet his.He remembers their last conversation. Now Mutsuki is held captive, and he failed to save him again.

Scarecrow squeezes Kaneki’s hand too hard, just like Hide used to.

He coughs and begins to untie his mask. Urie reaches over to help.

Kaneki can’t breathe. He still has his orange hair and one eye, but his nose is just nostrils, his mouth and jaw are consumed by scars, and he’s missing half an ear.

Still, he’s trying to smile.

Kaneki’s eyes fill with tears. “What happened?”

He remembers Touka behind him, and the child she carries. He needs to face the past to savers future.

“Did I do this?”

Hide scribbles on the paper. I told you to.

Kaneki shakes his head. “Hide, this – this is why -”

I’m so proud of you.

It may not be stylish, but live. Remember? Hide winks at Touka and writes more.

You made it stylish.

Kaneki cries harder. He’s too afraid to hug him, to afraid to ask for forgiveness, but no, he needs to face his fear. He reaches out.

Hide holds him tight. The Kaneki Ken he knew wouldn’t have reached out.

His friend is back, and they can survive together. Stylishly.