angsty Shuuneki during this current arc, please?

Ooh angst is fun. I love angst. 

“So what you’re saying,” Kaneki says, “is that I’m aging. At a fearsome pace.”

Tsukiyama clamps a hand over his mouth to keep from screaming. Nishiki affirms, and all he can think is that no, his Ken is going to die. 

When Kaneki exits the room, he bumps into Tsukiyama, who has tears in his eyes.

Kaneki swallows. Shuu knows, doesn’t he?

“You’re like a fine wine. Better aged,” Tsukiyama blurts out.

Kaneki’s cheeks turn pink. “Thank you, Tsukiyama.”

Tsukiyama bounds along beside him. “What can I do? Do you want to eat me? And all my Rc cells? Just tell me and I’ll do it.”

“Tsukiyama, calm down. Nishiki’s a scientist. Maybe everything will work out.” Kaneki sighs.

He doesn’t believe that. He hasn’t believed that since all those years ago, when he couldn’t eat a hamburger.

“Don’t give up. Not yet.” Tsukiyama shoves Kaneki backwards. “I’m counting on you. You don’t get to take the easy way out and die a martyr this time. Promise me.”

Kaneki glares at him.

“Please!”

“Fine. I promise I will try to survive.” Kaneki nods. 

“Seal it with a kiss?”

Kaneki’s eyes widen. He’s with Touka now. He can’t. 

“You know.” Touka’s voice booms behind them, “If it’s what will seal your survival, I don’t mind you giving him a kiss.”

Afraid Touka’s heard too much, Kaneki kisses Shuu as quickly as he can.

It hurts, but now Tsukiyama’s grateful for any and all contact with his friend. Kaneki can’t die. Not yet.

Ayato and Hinami get lost together in the 24th ward and Touka (who is there and safe and it’s all FINE) and Kaneki worry until they eventually find their way home.

Wait, everything’s totally fine, what are you talking about? O_O

Hinami doesn’t want to ask if Ayato knows where he’s going, but as the minutes tick by, her silence is become more awkward than the question would be. They pass tunnel after tunnel, some fallen down, and she can’t sense any humans or ghouls around. 

“Um, Ayato…”

He spins around, eyes huge. He has to say it before she judges him! “I’m lost.”

“I know,” she says with a nervous laugh.

“I’m sorry. I’m a loser.” Ayato kicks the crumbling tunnel wall.

“No, you’re not!” Hinami gasps. She grabs Ayato’s hands. “I wanted to take a walk with you; it’ll just be a little longer than we both anticipated.”

Ayato smiles at her. She always knows how to keep him calm. Hinami is a treasure. 

“Wait, wasn’t I supposed to teach you dancing at some point? We can find out way back here.” HInami claps her hands. “Unless you never meant to actually learn.”

“What do you mean; of course I want to.” Ayato coughs, and Hinami shakes her head at him.

She tugs him just a bit closer, and suddenly his heart races. He wants to say something clever, but only comes out stammering.

————————————————————————————-

“Kaneki, have you seen Ayato and Hina?” Touka is hungry, pregnant, and 100% not ready to deal with his little brother.

“No. I gave him a few hours off.” Kaneki frowns. “Why?”

“It’s been four hours and no one’s seen them.” Touka stomps her foot. “There’s only so many places they could be!”

“They probably got lost.” Tsukiyama shrugs.

Touka glowers at him.

“Don’t shoot the messenger. Besides, I trust Hinami’s instincts to get them home.” Tsukiyama scrambles away before that pregnant ghoul eats him. 

But when it’s eleven o’clock, seven hours now, and no one has heard, even the Gourmet must feel concern.

Kaneki is pacing back and forth, Touka is growling, and Yomo is trying to calm her down “for the baby.”

He just hopes his nephew isn’t making one.

“Oni-Chan!” Hinami races into headquarters, Ayato on her heels. “I’m so sorry! We got lost during our walk!”

“There’s a lot of space underground,” Ayato adds lamely. 

Touka throws her arms around Hinami. “We’re just glad you’re okay.”

Ayato feels someone tap his shoulder. Kaneki Ken tucks the pack of his shirt in before anyone notices.

He’s kinda grateful for this brother-in-law, and even more so for Hinami. 

Tsukiyama confronts Kaneki over what happened during the Rose arc.

“What’s wrong?” In the tunnels under the 24th ward, Kaneki knows Tsukiyama is not happy with his pacifism. He also knows Tsukiyama may not be pleased about his recent marriage. He’s prepared for many accusations.

But not this one.

“I can’t sleep,” Tsukiyama admits. Dark circles ring his eyes. “I keep thinking about Karren.”

Karren, Kanae von Rosewald, the ghoul Kaneki killed.

Sort of. He was trying to kill Tsukiyama. That doesn’t really make it better.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why?” Tsukiyama glares at him. For once, he needs to say it. “Why did you insist on killing me, when you remembered me? Why did you kill her – she deserved so much more –”

“I don’t – I don’t know,” Kaneki says lamely. “Because it was my job, I think. And not all my memories of you are pleasant.”

Tsukiyama cries. “So I killed her.”

“No!” Kaneki gasps. He hates what he’s done. Sometimes he wants to die for it. “I did! It’s my fault. I’m in the wrong. Geez, how many ways can I say it? I didn’t – I really thought she needed to die.”

“I needed to before her!” Tsukiyama wipes his eyes. Sometimes he wants to voyage back in time and save her at his own expense. “I don’t deserve her. I never did.”

“I don’t serve Touka. Touka thinks she doesn’t deserve me. You should see how most people view their worth.” Kaneki takes a deep breath. Shame, shame, he deserves an avalanche of shame. “But you didn’t deserve to be hunted down like an animal, especially when you were suffering so much – and yes, Shuu, you were.”

Tsukiyama rests his chin in his hands. “What do I do now? I can’t get her back.”

“You live your life, the life she died making sure you could live.” Kaneki swallows. “And I could sure use some advice on moving forward, same as you. Maybe we can learn together?”

Tsukiyama reaches for Kaneki’s hand. “In the name of Karren.”

“In the name of Touka.”

“I’m guessing Yomo’s a good place to start?”

Koori proposing to Hairu lol

So much Uihai. I love it!

Ihei Hairu nearly collapses as soon s their meeting ends. She swears Marude just asked questions to hear himself talk. 

“Coffee?” Ui asks her, and she nods eagerly.

“I’d die without it after whatever the hell that was,” Hairu mutters, and Ui has to chuckle, though he feels guilty, too. After all, he was the one who asked Marude to take up extra time.

When they arrive at Re cafe, Hairu’s favorite, he orders a latte for both of them, as planned. The blue-haired manager winks at him. She’s been planning this for a week. 

Hairu looks down at her cup and gasps.

Will you marry me? is written in the foam.  

“Now!” he hears Shio whisper, and Hirako’s dog totters into the cafe, a ring box adorning its collar.

Ui drops to his knees. “Will you – I mean – can you – do you want to marry me?”

His fingers scrambled to open the box. A beautiful pink diamond, just the color of her hair. Arima helped him pick it out.

Hairu shrieks. “Yes!” 

And then she tackles him, peppering his face with kisses. 

The Quinx Squad and Arima Squad file in, Saiko with balloons and Hirako with chocolates. Sasaki heads right up to the manager to thank her.

“Koori,” she whispers in his ear, “you’ve made me the happiest person alive.”

something a little nsfw for Tsukiyama and Kaneki, please? <3

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.

Takizawa is injured and Akira and Amon find out.

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.

The Quinx go to a club and drink a wee bit too much.

Dis fun.

Alternate Universe where Shirazu is totally 100% alive.

“Alrighty, everyone. Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Mutsuki looks up in surprise.

“Da club.” Shirazu’s hands are wrapped around Urie, and Saiko appears on Mutsuki’s left, Hsaio on his right.

“Uh.”

Aura is dragged forward by Higemaru. “We’ve been played,” he grumbles. 

And so all seven Quinxes find themselves in a club with music so loud Mutsuki can feel it in his teeth.

The solution, as Higemaru assures him, is to drink.

Mutsuki then finds himself crying and babbling on about how inadequate he feels. He leans on Urie, who meanwhile has been drinking to muster the courage to confront Mutsuki. Or just survive the chaotic club atmosphere. 

“You’re so handsome,” he finally manages to slur, and then Higemaru interrupts by dragging them both onto the dance floor.

Saiko pouts as Shirazu and Aura begin grinding on each other. “Men are dumb.”

“You’re not.” Hsaio drops her glass onto the floor. It shatters into what she finds a pretty pattern.

“I’m not a man.” Saiko thrusts out her chest. 

“Neither am I.” Hsaio grins. “I’ve always wanted boobs like yours.”

“They hurt my back.”

“Can I touch them? Are they squishy?” 

When Haise Sasaki arrives per a concerning call from Higemaru, he finds Hsaio and Saiko feeling each other up at the bar. 

Urie is vomiting in a bathroom urinal as Mutsuki pats his head. 

On the dance floor, Shirazu and Higemaru play patty-cake over Aura’s unconscious body. 

He sends an image to Arima. Ui was right. We’re unethical. I quit.

Don’t leave me with this, Arima texts back. I’d rather be with ghouls. 

Finally, Akira responds to them both. If you ever send me these images again, dear child, I’m sterilizing myself. 

But consider all of the cast with lightsabers.

Oh my word

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

Anteiku/Re Affiliates

Kaneki Ken – After inheriting a very special bright red/Darth Maul two-sided saber from the fallen Rize Kamishiro, he finds himself hunted by the Dark Side.

Nagachika Hideyoshi – His is light blue, like Luke’s. 

Yoshimura Kuzen – He’s long retired his purple lightsaber, except when he brings it out to clean up after his daughter, Darth Owl. It used to be his lover Ukina’s, from whom he learned how to wield it. 

Kamishiro Rize – She was exceptionally skilled with her two-sided saber, but is currently saber-less. 

Kirishima Touka – Hers is dark blue and she wields it well. 

Koma Enji – Green.  

Irimi Kaya – Green. This is why she and Koma first fought in the 20th ward, before Yoshimura convinced them there was room for two green sabers.

Yomo Renji – Darksaber all the way.

Kosaka Yoriko – Yellow-green, but she would rather not use it. 

Hinami Feuguchi – Yellow, two-sided, and she possesses uncanny skill. 

Nishiki Nishio – green and cracked. 

Nishino Kimi – green (this is how she met Nishiki). He then cracked her crystal by accident, and learned the power of love by her forgiveness. 

Tsukiyama Family

Tsukiyama Shuu – the gourmet’s is indigo to match his hair, and he adores it to the point that he talks to it. Still, he pines after Kaneki’s two-sided saber.

Karren von Rosewald – Servants weren’t supposed to have sabers, but Shuu bought her a rose pink one for her birthday one year. She’s loved him ever since.

Matsumae – the family bodyguard possesses a darksaber. It still thrills her every time she lights it.

Mirumo – passed down the indigo saber to Shuu.

Chie Hori – her tiny green saber was so delectable she and Shuu had to be friends.

Clowns

Uta – Darksaber, but with a cracked crystal. He and Yomo used to make a fierce darksaber team. 

Itori – Hers is bright pink but rarely used, unless you’re counting when she gets drunk and waves it about Helter Skelter pretending she’s a Samurai. 

Hoito Roma – She seemed to have an ordinary red saber. Instead she literally has a four-sided saber she uses for utter destruction. 

Nimura Furuta – he started the series by pushing pipes onto Rize so he could steal her lightsaber, but now that Kaneki has inherited it, he hired Kanou to make a duplicate. Someday, though, he will get the real one. 

Rio/Shikorae – is not trusted with one. Probably for the best.

Nico – pink but cracked. 

Donato Porpora – Purple, cracked.

Aogiri Tree

Kirishima Ayato – dark blue, just like Touka. *pouts*

Yamori – Sabers cauterize wounds. That’s boring. 

Tatara – Green – half of a two sided saber. 

Yoshimura Eto – Darth Owl has a fierce purple lightsaber and exceptional skill.

Noro – Darksaber. 

CCG

Amon Koutarou – Blue-white and pure. 

Takizawa Seidou – blue, but he cracked the crystal while insisting he could make his own.

Mado Akira – green. She made her own, nice and neat. 

Houji Kousuke- the second half of Tatara’s green saber is his. This is the root of their enmity. 

Mado Kureo – His fascination with lightsabers has lead him to have a collection of every color, plus every cracked version. He was missing a green one before Akira made hers. 

Marude Itsuki – It used to be yellow. Inspired by Yoshitoki, he also decorated the label. It did not turn out well, but thankfully, Juuzou Suzuya wrecked it. 

Washuu Yoshitoki – yellow. He’s decorated the label. 

Washuu Matsuri – spent half his childhood (literally half) whining for one. Now he has a yellow one and isn’t not as exciting as he hoped. 

Washuu Tsuneyoshi – He wishes it was purple, but alas, his is yellow. 

Kuriowa Takeomi – He got so good at beating ghouls up with his hands his dad was reluctant to hand down their family’s white saber. 

Kuriowa Iwao – He used to have a white saber. Now he has an orange one, because he gave the white one to Takeomi.

Aura Kiyoko – Blue and damn does she use it well.

Tanakamaru Mougan – Pink. He loves the color. 

Shinohara Yukinori – Green, “the color of life,” he used to remind Suzuya.

Hajime Hazuki – white. Someone take it away from him.

Arima Squad

Ihei Hairu – hers is lemon-colored, and she’s nicknamed it “Sunlight.”

Arima Kishou – His is ordinary light blue. But he can beat even the most powerful sabers with his technique. 

Ui Koori – His is green. Sometimes Hairu tells him they’re lemons and limes, and he enjoys this.

Take Hirako – he ordered light blue to match Arima. 

Ihei Shio – Pink. He and Yusa swapped colors. 

Arima Yusa – white. He didn’t care for the color, but Shio really wanted pink.

Souza Rikai – purple, which she’s very proud of. 

Suzuya Squad

Suzuya Juuzou – green and two-sided. He insisted on green to honor Shinohara. 

Keijin Nakarai – Yellow to match his hair.

Hanbee Abara – Darksaber. He feels silly with it.

Miyuki Mikage – Green, like his boss. 

Mizurou Tamaki – Orange

Quinx Squad

Yonebayashi Saiko – light blue, and she enjoys wielding it, because then she gets to pretend she’s someone from Feudal times. 

Shirazu Ginshi – orange, cracked, and he loved it for its imperfections. 

Urie Kuki – purple, but cracked, and the crack is growing bigger.

Mutsuki Tooru – green, and he’s determined to become as skilled as Kaneki. 

Hsaio Ching-Li – dark saber. Beware her skill.

Aura Shinsanpei – his is dark blue, and he’s either way too fierce or too timid with it. There is no middle ground.

Higemaru Touma – pink, and he likes to light it up for no reason other than he enjoys the sound. 

After Furuta and the CCG go down, Hajime, Mayuzumi, and the other Oggai have to be dealt with. Which is to say, Goat should try to rehabilitate them, since they won’t be expecting that.

I’m like 95% sure most of the Oggai are getting out of this alive. Hopefully Ishida agrees.

Hajime stares at the carnage before them. Today they’ve lost Furuta and Kanou, the closest two they’ve had to a father, and now they’re public enemies number one. Human experiments. Abominations. 

“Doesn’t matter. We were made to die, right?” Mayazumi laughs. Hollow laughter.

“You know you’re screaming inside,” Hajime mutters. But he’s not ready to go down without a fight. If they try to exterminate them – and they will – he’ll make sure some of them die, too.

Someone taps his shoulder, and he looks up to see the One Eyed King himself, Kaneki Ken. He’s backed by Kirishima Touka, Hirako Take, those bratty Squad 0 kids, and Ui Koori.

“Hi,” Kaneki says.

“Remember me?” A tall, dark-haired man Hajime doesn’t recognize appears behind the rest of them.

“No?” He grins. “Are you an executioner?”

“I’m Amon Koutarou. I was there the day you came into CCG.” The man lowers his eyes. “Kids like you were why I stayed with CCG so long.”

“Sucks to suck,” Hajime replies.

Amon crouches down to his level. “Yeah, it does. It especially sucks to have your family killed by ghouls. To have them take everything from you.” He swallows. “And yet, they gave me back my life. They gave you your powers – which are pretty spectacular, by the way.” 

“What are you saying?” Mayazume crosses his arms.

“Get to the point,” Hajime says.

“Would you Oggai like to live with me and Mado Akira? Since we know best what you’re going through?”

Hajime laughs. “You’re fucking kidding me, right? When are you gonna kill us?”

“Never,” Kaneki says, exchanging glances with Amon. “We want to help you. We like you.”

“No, you don’t,” Mayazumi says.

“You can’t.” Hajime scowls.

“Try me.” Amon smiles wryly as he holds out his hand. “I know a thing or two about handling lots of kids. So try all of us. Try life a little longer.”

“I’ll kill you if you’re lying.” But Hajime grabs his hand all the same. What else can he do?

something angsty, maybe what you think Tsukiyama is thinking during this current arc?

Tsukiyama is happy for Kaneki and Touka. He really is. 

But he’s lonely, and Karren isn’t coming back, and now Kaneki is officially taken, or touken. He chuckles at his own wit.

He knows he doesn’t value life. Not like he should. 

He remembers breaking into homes and taking eyes for snacks all too easily, laughing as he feasted on flaky old man shin, setting up dozens in the Ghoul Restaurant.

He is the last person who should be involved in GOAT, and yet here he is, feeling like he knows better than its leader.

Kids are kids are kids. He doesn’t want to kill the little twerp Hajime. But if it’s us or them, Tsukiyama will ensure it’s them

Kaneki wants peace by pacifism, and Tsukiyama wants to believe in it himself, but he can’t.

For them to live – for Touka to carry that baby she isn’t hiding as well as she thinks – people must die.

Just like for him to live, Karren had to die.

Or did she? Chie said there ought to be another way.

He wishes he could see one.

Karren died to ensure his survival. He will honor her sacrifice until the end of his long, long life.

(And when he does meet someone else, he’ll name their firstborn/first adopted Karren, and save Shuu Jr. for the second).