myths, magic, and fandoms
Ooh.
1. I feel like “Demons” by Imagine Dragons is pretty applicable to any character/situation in Tokyo Ghoul.
2. “End Game” by Taylor Swift might be something Mutsuki sings to Kaneki.
3. “Angels and Airwaves” by Angel Haze is probably something the two of them have needed to hear in their lives. ❤
4. “Hearts Like Ours” by The Naked and Famous.
5. “Recover” by Chvrches.
“Touka.” Kaneki, pale and weak and sweating, grabs her in a kiss.
Mutsuki watches, happy. Mostly. He misses Sensei. Like he’s watching a dream end. But it’s okay. He has Saiko and Urie.
Doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt though.
“Mutsuki!” Kaneki turns to him next, and Mutsuki starts. “I’m so sorry!”
“You are?” Mutsuki asks. His voice is wobbly.
“To all of you.” Kaneki embraces the Quinx one at a time. Even Aura.
Mutsuki cherishes every moment of his hug before leaving with Urie and Saiko.
Two weeks later, Mutsuki is surprised to see Kaneki on the door of the Chateau. “Sensei?”
“Mutsuki, would you want to get coffee and search the bookstore with me?” Kaneki asks nervously.
Mutsuki hesitates. He shouldn’t. This is not going to help him.
“Touka said you seemed to miss me especially hard, so I wanted to make it up to you,” Kaneki adds.
She did? She doesn’t hate him? Mutsuki brightens. “Yes, let’s go.”
The coffee is the best Mutsuki’s had, and he and Sensei manage to find at least three new haiku books they’ve been wanting.
“Thank you!” Mutsuki beams at Sensei.
“Of course. We should keep hanging out.” Kaneki swallows. “Actually…Urie has asked me to return to the Chateau. But I don’t want to if Touka and I would upset you.”
“No, please do.” Mutsuki clutches Kaneki’s hand. “Please.”
He gets to live with Kaneki again. They can work on a healthy friendship. And maybe Touka can give him some advice on the sly looks Urie’s been giving Mutsuki.
He begins to cry.
“What’s wrong?” Kaneki asks in alarm.
“I’m just so happy,” Mutsuki whispers.
“Ooh, are you sure?” Mutsuki grins. He loves reading fairy tales. He can’t believe Sasaki wants to read them, too.
“Yes,” says Sasaki. “It’d be great bonding time.”
“Would it?” Shirazu asks nervously. “I mean, some of those stories are dark shit.”
“Those are the best ones.” Saiko’s eyes sparkle. She, at least, is on board.
“Not a chance.” Urie crosses his arms. “I’m not reading little brat stories. Jesus.”
“Well, now we know who’s getting struck by lightning at the end of this story,” Sasaki jokes. Urie flushes.
“I’d like to. I think it’d be fun. Something lighthearted for after battle or something,” says Mutsuki, drawing his knees to his chest.
“Nah,” Urie says.
“Could we study the stories, then write our own?” Shirazu asks.
“Yes!” Mutsuki nods.
“Then I’m on board.”
“Have fun.” Urie stands.
“Wait,” Sasaki says.
“Urie,” begs Mutsuki. “Pleeeeeeease.”
“Nope.”
“Please.” Saiko falls prostate at Urie’s feet. Mutsuki clings to Urie’s legs. Shirazu even gets on his knees.
“It’d mean a lot to me,” Mutsuki stammers.
Urie sighs. “Fine. Just, fine. You better pick a good story, Sasaki.”
“Hurray!” Saiko and Mutsuki high-five. Sasaki smiles at Mutsuki with gratitude.
And now Mutsuki feels like he’s floating in a fairy tale.
“I’m headed to Rushima.” Inside an empty interrogation room, Mutsuki waits for the Black Reaper to acknowledge his presence. He shakes from head-to-toe. Don’t you love us anymore?
“Good luck,” says Sasaki dully. He meets Mutsuki’s eyes for a second before glancing away.
“Your hair looks good black. And the glasses suit you!” Mutsuki forces a smile. It’s true. It’s just this angry personality that doesn’t fit.
“Thanks.”
“You’d look attractive no matter what, actually,” Mutsuki says with a giggle. He turns to leave, but why? He might die on Rushima. He might never see Sensei again.
Mutsuki spins around to face Sasaki again. “You know we Quinx love you, right? Even Urie. And I – I adore you no matter what. Even though you’ve abandoned us.”
He chokes up. “We’ve all been through so much. I can’t – you know we’re a family, right? We’ll never leave you. That’s what families do! Right?”
Sasaki’s face whitens.
“I love you, Sensei. And I want to tell you that. I love you a lot, and you mean so much to me, I promise.” Mutsuki wipes his tears off his cheeks.
The reaper’s upper lip trembles. Mutsuki loves him? Urie doesn’t blame him? Saiko cares?
Mutsuki throws himself into Sasaki’s arms. “Please hug me.”
Sasaki obliges. Mutsuki hears him sniffling. “Mucchan, of course I love you all. I’m sorry I’ve been horrible.”
“It’s okay; we’re all horrible,” Mutsuki insists. “Please come back to us. We’re here for you. Always. No matter what.”
Sasaki clutches Mutsuki tighter. For a moment, Kaneki Ken feels loved and safe again, even in is broken family. “Thank you.”
This is all he’s ever wanted.
Touken – Yotsume, girl
Hidekane – Sunny, boy or girl or neutral
Shuuneki – Rin, genderqueer
Akiramon – Kosuke, girl
Seiaki- Kosuke, girl,
Takirona- Nashiro, girl
Nishikimi – Oshin, boy
Irimi/Koma – Fumiko, girl
Yoshimura/Ukina – Eto (oh wait)
Ayahina – Ryouko, girl
UtaRen – Asa, girl
Utatori – Renji, boy
Tsukikana – Rose, girl
Tsukichie – Kanae, neutral
Tsukikyou – Niji. That is all.
Arieto – Kaneki Ken, boy.
Uihai – Masanori, boy
Nakimiza – Chihiro, girl
Yoriko/Takeomi – Iwao, boy
Suzuhan – Yukinori, boy
Matsurie – Danuja, girl
Urisai – Hotaru, girl
Mutsurie – Ginshi, boy
Mutsuki/Kaneki – Kishou, boy
Shiraiko -Gintoki, boy
Saiko/Hsaio – Diana of Themyscira, girl
Maruchika – Kazumi, neutral
Fururize – Hisa, girl
Can this, like, happen?
“Why do you think love is so cheap?” Touka fires Rc shards into Mutsuki’s arm. God dammit, she knows Ken loves this kid, but if he ain’t testing her patience now. “What, you think if Kaneki loves me he can’t love you? Love isn’t a math game, Eyepatch! Kaneki left you because he was afraid of you! And he was afraid because he loved you all! It had nothing to do with me!”
“Then why didn’t he come back?!” Mutsuki screams.
“Because Kaneki wants to hide when he feels like he’s done something wrong – like leaving you!” Touka yells back.
Mutsuki hesitates. He wants to hide. He’s very good at hiding.
“Mucchan!” shrieks a voice. Touka whirls around to see the rest of the Quinx. The screaming one is the blue-haired girl, the first one to agree to work with ghouls. Saiko, if Touka recalls Kaneki’s descriptions correctly.
“What?” sobs Mutsuki. “Go away! She – stole him!” He points wildly at Touka.
Aura appears. “And we’re going to finish this.”
“Oh my god, really,” Higemaru mutters.
“No, Mutsuki. Sasaki – Kaneki – Maman, if you will – he left us because he was too cowardly to face us. Just like you, leaving us for the Oggai, right? Because you don’t want to admit you have problems?” Urie steps forward, tears in his eyes. “Just like me, ignoring all of you at the start? And you – you were the one who hugged me at my lowest. And kept me from damaging myself more. Now I’m returning the favor.”
Urie steps forward and wraps his arms around Mutsuki. “It’s awful being alone. You do it, I do it, Sasaki does it, Saiko does it, Hsaio is part ghoul so we’ll say she does it too, Aura clearly does it.”
“What about me?” demands Higemaru.
“You’re the balm to the rest of us,” Urie tells him. Higa brightens and prances over to Aura. He hugs him, and Hsaio joins in.
Aura looks like he’s never been hugged before.
Saiko rushes over to join Urie and Mutsuki. Touka and a recovering Miza tiptoe closer.
“Is this where Maman is?” Saiko whispers to Touka.
She nods.
Saiko fastens her kagune into a drill and stabs into the flesh of the giant worm.
Touka gasps as Saiko rips forth a bloodied Kaneki with ease. His arms are no longer scaled. He looks whole.
“Ken!” she cries. She and all of the Quinx rush forward as Saiko lays him down atop the kagune.
“He’s unconscious,” says Miza.
Kaneki, however, cracks open one eye. He sees Mutsuki – Touka – Urie – Saiko – Miza and the new quinx, all standing there.
“Family,” he mumbles before losing consciousness.
Mutsuki bawls and Touka hugs him. For Kaneki’s sake, she’ll forgive this poor kid.
Three months later
Mutsuki opens the door to the Chateau. “After you.”
“Thanks,” says Touka, stepping inside to see all of the Quinx, Hide, and her husband gathered in their living room. Aura still sulks in a corner, but he’s inching closer to the rest of them day by day.
“Well? What did the doctor say?” Kaneki wasn’t able to accompany Touka to her ultrasound this morning, because he’s still under house arrest at the Chateau.
Mutsuki exchanges a smile with Touka.
“It’s a girl,” Touka blurts out.
Saiko shrieks, Higemaru cheers, and Mutsuki claps. Kaneki stumbles forward to wrap his arms around Touka. “Another girl in our family.”
Like how does Ken get and maintain these admirers I’m jealous.
“I’ll go first.” Touka sighs. She can’t believe Urie and Marude’s solution was a group therapy session for all of Kaneki’s admirers.
“Now that he’s recovering in the hospital, you can all work out your problems,” Marude said. What a dumbass.
“I first fell in love when he told me he’d care if I died, even though I was a murderer,” Touka says, a sad smile on her face. “I just want to raise our kid together and give them…the childhood we never had.”
“I fell in love with his scent,” says Tsukiyama. “And convinced myself I wanted to eat him instead of love him. Now I just want him to stay alive.”
“Tsukiyama is a bad example for ghouls,” Hinami says quickly. “I love how Onii-chan taught me to read. That’s why I want happiness for him.”
“He was tasty,” Rize says dreamily, still somewhat dead inside after being held captive for years. “I’d still like to eat him.”
“I like Maman because he always loved us when we were brats,” Saiko says, crossing her arms. “Now I just want to hug him and tell him he’s okay every day.”
“I find him fascinating.” Eto grins. “So much potential. I’d torment him day and night.”
“Potential tragedy. People who try to be good because they hate themselves are my weakness.” Roma giggles. “I love sitting back and watching.”
“This is why you don’t have friends, old maid,” Eto shoots back.
“I like him because he’s what I want to be, only I’ll be better because I won’t betray CCG,” Hajime declares.
Hide shakes his head. “Kid.“
“What?!” Hajime huffs.
“Never mind.” Hide sighs. “You know, I’m not sure. I think I always have, but I haven’t recognized it until it was nearly too late. Now I just want him to be happy.”
“What about you?” Hide turns to Mutsuki, who swallows hard.
“Uh…ummm…I like that he showed me kindness when I was a gross murderer,” Mutsuki whispers.
Saiko coughs. “That’s, uh, close to Touka’s.”
“I know.” Mutsuki stares at the floor.
Touka slides closer to Mutsuki. “Ken’s a great guy.”
Mutsuki smiles, tentatively, at her.
Maybe, Touka thinks, Marude wasn’t such a doofus after all.
Touken –
Hidekane –
Shuuneki –
Akiramon –
Seiaki-
Takirona
Nishikimi –
Irimi/Koma –
Irimi/Take
Yoshimura/Ukina –
Ayahina –
UtaRen –
Utatori –
Tsukikana –
Tsukichie –
Arieto
Uihai-
Nakimiza –
Yoriko/Takeomi –
Suzuhan –
Matsurie –
Urisai-
Mutsurie –
Mutsuki/Kaneki
Shiraiko –
Saiko/Hsaio –
Maruchika –
Fururize –
Higemaru/Hakatori (Higetori)
Okay, who did I miss?
updated to include take/irimi and higetori.
Hidekane – Wolves by Selena Gomez
Touken – Warm Blood, Flor
Shuuneki – All My Heroes, Bleachers
Akiramon – Aquaman, Walk the Moon
Seiaki – Rotten, The Naked and Famous
Mutsurie – Unconditionally, Katy Perry
Mutsuki/Sasaki – We Sink, Chvrches
Urisai – Hold Back the River, James Bay
Saiko/Hsaio – Boom Clap, Charlie XCX
Shiraiko – Gone Gone Gone, Phillip Phillips
Tsukikana – XO, Beyonce
Tsukichie – Young Blood, The Naked and Famous
Utaren – Wallflowers, The Chain Gang of 1984
Utatori – Look What You Made Me Do, Taylor Swift
Suzuhan – Let’s Hurt Tonight, OneRepublic
Maruchika – Walking the Wire, Imagine Dragons
Nishikimi – Gravity, Jai Wolf
Takirona – Something Just Like This, The Chainsmokers
Fururize – Bad Blood, Taylor Swift
Uihai – Shut Up and Dance, Walk the Moon
Arieto – F**K with You, Cardiknox
Ayahina – Beating Heart, Ellie Goulding
Yoshimura/Ukina – The Energy Never Dies, The Script
Nakimiza – The Cure, Lady Gage
Aw this is cute.
“My arms aren’t healing very well,” Kaneki admits, offering up his scaly red skin for Mutsuki to see.
Mutsuki’s eyes show no disgust. “Let me show you something, Kaneki.”
Kaneki smiles. He loves the sound of his real name on Mutsuki’s lips.
Mutsuki yanks off his shirt with ease, because he always wears loose clothing.
He’s covered in scars, which hurts Kaneki. “Oh, Mutsuki…”
He pauses. “What is that?”
Mutsuki swallows. He can’t bear to look Kaneki in the eyes. “It’s a binder. Because I am biologically female.”
Kaneki gasps. “Mutsuki, why didn’t you tell me? Hey, please look at me.”
Mutsuki forces himself to meet Kaneki’s eyes.
“You’re my boyfriend. I’m not going to reject you because of who you are. I’m with you because I love who you are.” Kaneki’s eyes glisten.
“You still called me your boyfriend.” A lump swells in Mutsuki’s throat. “Thank you.”
“You are.” Kaneki reaches for the binder. “But…may I?”
Mutsuki nods, but Kaneki fumbles for a full minute. “Uh – ”
Mutsuki giggles. “Here.” He pulls it off, and Kaneki kisses the center of his chest.
He helps Kaneki remove his pants, and he removes his own. Kaneki’s kisses wash over him. Every scar he’s hated is drowned by one kiss.
He will do the same for Kaneki. Mutsuki plants his mouth on the scales. Kaneki is beautiful, and he will show him so.
Mercy and Magic 