“What’s wrong, Shuu? You’re never nervous,” Mirumo says in immediate alarm.
“Oh, it’s a good thing! I want to get married.” Shuu grins.
“You still look uneasy.”
“It’s to a woman named [Name],” Shuu blurts out. “She’s a human.”
MIrumo’s eyebrows lift. “Oh my.”
“I love her and I trust her with my life. As she clearly does to me.” Shuu clasps his hands. “Dad, I want our approval more than anything except – except her. I want her most.”
“Good,” Mirumo says wryly, as Tsukiyama bows his head. “Otherwise I would have to oppose this union.”
“You mean – you don’t care? At all?” Tsukiyama brightens. “That she’s human?”
“Not a bit. In fact, I find it romantic. I hope to meet her soon.” Mirumo draws his son closer. He wraps his arms around him. “Any woman is lucky to have you, Shuu.”
Hana met Mirumo in the manner of classic love stories – at a ball for Tokyo’s upper class ghouls.
Hana was beautiful, but barely eighteen and extremely excited to attend a “real ball.” Her rambunctious behavior earned her date’s ire for seeming “uncultured.” Mirumo overheard this, saw his chance, and swept in.
“The lady can dance however she wants,” he said. “I, for one, found it lovely to watch.” Turning to Hana, he added, “Will you teach me?”
They left her sputtering date by the blood wine table, and Hana taught Mirumo her wildest moves. She also expressed admiration for his flexibility.
She liked him, especially when he offered to walk her home instead of her loathsome date. By the next day, when he showed up at her door with delicacies and flowers, she was smitten.
As for Mirumo, he still likes to tell the tale of how he fell in love on the dance floor.
unplanned pregnancies are my favorite angst trope.
“Dad?” Tsukiyama Shuu’s voice is tentative, nervous. He knocks on his father’s door with a racing heart.
Mirumo turns around, half expecting to see Shuu depressed again, or half-dead.
But no, he’s just pale and sweaty. “Are you sick?”
“No – I just, I need to talk to you.”
Now Mirumo is terrified. He pats the couch across from him.
Shuu settles his lithe frame on the velvet cushions. His shoulders hunch over,a and he wrings his hands.
“Shuu, what is it?”
“It’s [Name].”
Mirumo recognizes the name of the human his son’s been spending day after day with. Have they figured out what he and his son are? Have they broken up? Will Shuu be catapulted into depression again?
He’s not prepared for the next words. “They’re pregnant. It’s mine.”
Mirumo stares at his son, who trembles slightly.
Words rush out of Tsuikyama’s very red face. “They knows who I am, what I am, I love them, and we want to keep it. I – I will marry them, but the – the problem is the odds for our child are – they’re bad, you know…”
Mirumo clears his throat. Shuu falls silent as his father walks over to him and sits besides him.
Mirumo’s arms wrap around Shuu. “Shuu, it’s okay. We’ll figure this out. We’ll get the best doctors involved, ghoul doctors.”
Tsukiyama gasps with relief. “You’re not mad at me?”
“Shuu, you’ve obviously never looked at how long your mother and I were married before you were born. Must be a family tradition.” Mirumo chuckles. “But now I would like to meet this human who’s stolen my son’s heart.”
Shuu laughs. “They’re downstairs, waiting.”
Mirumo claps his hand as he follows Shuu out his door. “I’m going to spoil my grandchild rotten.”
The Tsukiyama mansion looms ahead. You straighten your shoulders and adjust your top with your sweating palms.
“He’ll love you,” Tsukiyama assures you.
“Will he?” You lift your eyes to Tsukiyama’s. “I don’t think he was expected, uh, someone like me.”
“A human? It’ll be a pleasant surprise, that’s all.” Tsukiyama kisses your lips, lingering for just a bit more fun.
“Shuu,” you laugh. “Please don’t make your father hate me already.”
“Pshh. He’ll enjoy that I’m entranced by you, ma chere,” Tsukiyama says with a grin. “Well, shall we?”
You nod, and your boyfriend grabs your hand to lead you into their estate.
Your mouth opens at the ornate rotunda in the mere foyer. Tsukiyama tugs you past the elaborate staircase, into a side room. He hesitates just before crossing the threshold, and you realize he too is nervous and trying to seem brave for your sake.
“Father, I’d like to introduce [Y/N].” Tsukiyama bows slightly. “And, ma chere, this is my father, Mirumo Tsukiyama.”
Mirumo’s eyes widen slightly as he smells your humanity. But he quickly crosses the room to offer you his hand. “Please, dear, call me Mirumo. It’s a pleasure to meet the person who’s delighted my Shuu.”
You laugh with relief. “Thank you, Mirumo.”
“Not scared of ghouls?” Mirumo winks. “You know, I once dated a human, too, but they were too frightened of my intentions once they discovered my true nature. I appreciate the kindness you’ve shown towards Shuu.”
You blink. You shouldn’t be surprised Mirumo would offer such personal information, because after all, this is Tsukiyama’s dad. But still. “Well, of course. I care deeply about Shuu, for whatever and whoever he is.”
Tsukiyama brightens. Dating you is going to be an excellent adventure, especially now that Father is comfortable with it.
– Tsukimama is a very glamorous, intellectual woman (qualities she has passed to her son). As such, Mirumo once built Tsukimama a library straight out of Beauty and the Beast for Valentine’s Day.
– Before they were married, Tsukimama and Mirumo decided to eat chocolates even if it made them sick. Just to say they did. They wound up collapsed in Tsukimama’s small apartment, taking turns vomiting all night.
– That’s how they knew they were perfect for each other.
– Tsukimama once bought Mirumo a glittery red suit specially made for Valentine’s Day. He’s worn it every Feb. 14th since.
– Tsukimama and Mirumo started their Rose garden one Valentine’s Day. Every time Mirumo sees their garden, he still smiles with those memories. Tsukimama would have loved Karren and her care for the roses.
– Mirumo has centuries-old bottles of blood wine stored in his cellar. He only breaks them open for Valentine’s Day and their anniversary, to share with Tsukimama.
I feel like at some point this was probably canon.
“Dad…I miss Karren.” Shuu wipes his eyes.
“I know, my boy.” Mirumo pats Shuu’s head.
“It’s just, like, I liked her…really liked her. Even when I thought she was a boy. Even when I was lovestruck for Kaneki.” Shuu glances at his dad. Sweat beads his brow. “I’ve just been convincing myself I wanted to eat him, but I wanted to love him this whole time.”
And he threw me off a roof and killed Karren.
“Shuu…I know.” Mirumo smiles.
“You do?” Shuu starts.
“No one is that heartbroken over food, not even a Tsukiyama,” Mirumo says with a smile. “I think you and Karren – or Kanae – would have been a wonderful couple.” He winks. “Your mother and I were bisexual, too.”
Shuu’s mouth drops open. “You are?”
“Is it that surprising? We tried to raise you to be open to whatever sexuality you wanted.” Mirumo half-smiles. “I’m proud of you, Shuu, and who you are and whomever you become.”
Shuu grabs his father and wraps his arms tight around him. “Thank you, Papa.”
Mirumo hasn’t had a hug like that since Shuu was little. Tears fill his eyes. “I love you, Shuu.”
“So, Tsukiyama.” Matsuri brushes back his hair. “I take it your conditions are to your liking?”
Mirumo is NOT in the mood. He glances out through the bars. “I wouldn’t even treat my animals the way you treat ghouls.”
“I wouldn’t treat animals the way you treat humans,” Matsuri shoots back.
“There’s a point,” Mirumo concedes. “Or is it?”
“Huh?” Matsuri backs away as Mirumo sniffs the air. A Tsukiyama, with their impeccable breeding, might just guess his secret.
“Well, that makes more sense.” Mirumo crosses his arms, a satisfied smirk on his face. “You were saying?”
“What makes sense?” Matsuri asks innocently.
“The Washuus’ real motives. Self-hatred?Living a lie?” Mirumo glances at the ring on Matsuri’s left hand. “Forced marriage, I presume?”
“You stupid ghoul,” Matsuri growls, reaching through the bars to pull Matsuri’s hair.
“You know, you could live free,” Mirumo suggests. “My son is bisexual, and I support him regardless. Can you say the same for your father?”
“Shut up,” hisses Matsuri. Is he that obviously gay? “You’re my prisoner, you -”
Mirumo cuts him off by opening the door. “In your rush to mock me, you forgot to lock it.” He shoves Matsuri against the wall. “You and I both know you don’t want to be here or do this. I offer you another way forward, sir.”
His face is very, very close to Matsuri’s.
Matsuri squirms,
Mirumo leans forward and kisses Matsuri. His hand slides into Matsuri’s pocket.
“Huh?!” Matsuri is too shocked to move.
“Thank you,” Mirumo says, shoving Matsuri into the cell and holding up the key he took from Matusri’s pocket. “Have a nice time lying to yourself.”
“Get back here!” wails Matsuri, but Mirumo heads outside to where Chie Hori and the :Re managers await. “Time to rescue my son.”
And that is the story of how Mirumo actually escaped from the investigators.
“Thank you, Daddy.” Tsukiyama draws close enough to embrace his father. With these metal detectors, they’ll save Kaneki. He just knows it.
He knows Mirumo’s been scared of his association with Goat, too scared of changing to world to help the. Until now. Because when it comes down, Mirumo loves his son.
“Remember my advice,” Mirumo says.
“Don’t die and eat well,” Tsukiyama repeats with a laugh.
Mirumo touches Tsukiyama’s cheek. “You’re so thin, my boy.”
“Yes, well, we’ve been starving a bit. We’ll be okay. I’m still better than I was when Kaneki died the first time,” Tsukiyama jokes.
“Shuu,” groans Mirumo. “Never put me through that again.”
He gasps then, and jerks.
“Dad?” Tsukiyama’s eyes widen. The salty, metallic odor of blood is unmistakable.
Tsukiyama pulls back to see a gaping hole in Mirumo’s chest.
“DAD!” he screams.
A cloaked agent of V stands behind Mirumo, quinque in hand. He chuckles, but he’s immediately run through by Ui Koori.
“Mr. Tsukiyama,” gasps Ui, scrambling forward.
Tsukiyama catches Mirumo as his father crumbles to the ground. Blood oozes from his lips. “Dad! Dad!”
“We need a medic!” Ui yells into his radio. “Come on, Mr. Tsukiyama, you can’t die yet! You haven’t gotten revenge on me!”
“I’m…not…Mr. Tsukiyama anymore,” Mirumo manages. His eyes fall on his son. “I’m so proud…of you…”
“Dad,” whimpers Tsukiyama.
Mirumo gasps in one last breath before falling limp.
“No!” wails Tsukiyama. Tears stream down his cheeks. “No! I called him. It’s my fault.” Dad died because of my love for Kaneki, for real this time.
“It’s not,” Ui assures him, seizing the gasping V agent. “I promise.”
First Karren, now Dad. Tsukiyama sniffles. “We need to find Kaneki. I can’t lose anyone else!”
Mercy and Magic 