A scenario from Souta/Nimura’s childhood in the garden?

TW for sexual slavery and Tsuneyoshi being a lecherous skank.

“Souta, come meet my new cousin!” Ihei Hairu tugs Souta by his hair.

“Ow!” He winces. He’s been across the garden to avoid the screams of the latest birth. He doesn’t like people screaming.

“Come on!” Hairu races across the grass to the central tent, and Souta dutifully follows.

“Look at him!” Hairu holds up a chubby-cheeked infant with a wisp of white and blue hair. “His name is Shio! Isn’t he the best?”

Shio cries, and Hairu gasps. “Oh no!”

She shoves the baby into Souta’s arms, and to his amazement, it quiets down.

“Oooh, you’ll be a natural papa someday,” says Shio’s mother, circles under her magnificent eyes. She’ll have a month to hold and nurse Shio, before another Washuu warms her bed.

Iyo and Rize approach, but their faces are considerably more downcast. They’re nearing the age when their bodies change, and soon they know this will be their future.

“Can I hold him?” Hsaio Ching-Li pouts.

“You’re already holding Yusa.” The one-year-old hangs on her hips, and two-year-old Rikai has her arms around Hsaio’s legs. Furuta tightens his grip on newborn Shio.

“Congratulations.” Arima Kishou strides in and bows towards the exhausted ghoul. “Tsuneyoshi is here.”

And indeed, the demon Washuu himself sweeps into the tent.

Furuta nervously offers his dad the baby. Everyone holds their breath for his approval; but Furuta is too giddy that Daddy’s fingers brushed his to care.

“He’s a beautiful child,” Tsuneyoshi pronounces. Shio’s mother sighs in relief.

As Tsuneyoshi leaves, Furuta watches his eyes linger on Rize, whose chest is beginning to blossom. She wraps her arms around herself.

This isn’t fair. He doesn’t want her treated like this. Rize doesn’t want this.

Souta knows he has to save her.

Ayato coming back and finding the base destroyed, many of goat dead, Miza tending to a “sleeping” Naki and his sister, Hinami, Tsukiyama and the half-hassed bastard missing.

Ayato smells the blood before he emerges from the underground. He hears the army of ghouls murmur behind him. He hears a sob.

“Miza?”

Ayato stops short.

Children – the Oggai – dead. The white suits are now bloodstained. And Miza sobs at Naki’s side.

He’s dead. Ayato’s stomach rolls. “Miza, where is Touka? Hina?”

“Yomo sent them on.” Miza wipes her eyes. “Who – who are these people?”

“The people we’re fighting for,” Ayato says grimly. “Looks like we’re having a battle sooner than expected.”

He sounds calm, but inwardly – Touka! Hinami! And that half-assed bastard. Where are they? Uncle Yomo?

Up ahead, he sees two CCG investigators moaning on the ground.

“Bind them,” Ayato orders. He’ll tend to them later.

Further still, he sees a stumbling figure in a torn trench coat. “Yomo!”

The Raven’s eyes widen. “Ayato.”

He rushes towards his uncle. “Where are the others?”

“Follow me,” Yomo says firmly. He immediately slouches over, and Miza props him up.

“Lean on me.”

More wails come from around the corner. Arima Yusa is punching Hirako Take over and over and over in his shoulders.

“Take!” Yomo gasps.

“Where’s Shio and Rikai?” Miza asks with dread.

Hirako turns his bloodshot eyes to Yomo. “I couldn’t save them. They – ”

He breaks down in tears, and Ayato snaps his fingers.

“We have to keep moving. Bring them along,” he orders. Two more ghouls pick up Hirako and Yusa.

A distinctly human smell comes from tunnel 14.

Many investigators.

Ayato motions for the wounded to stay behind. “Miza, watch over them.”

She nods, and he prepares to attack. No one is hurting Touka and Hinami. He can’t even imagine them dying yet.

“Charge!”

Ayato flies forward on his ukaku.

Touka meets his eyes. HInami is with her, and the Aogiri children – surrounded by CCG agents.

“Back the fuck off!” Ayato screams. If he’d been a second later, they’d have killed his sister and – and her, his butterfly.

A little investigator, that tiny Arima, turns around to face him.

Suddenly, Ayato screams.

That’s Arata’s kakuja.

“Dad!” screams Touka, firing Rc shards towards the investigator.

The investigator tries to move, but the armor locks.

“You bastard!” Ayato feels himself crying, but he sends the investigator head over heels towards Touka.

Touka hurls his quinque across the tunnel.

“The only reason I’m keeping you alive is that Kaneki loves you,” she hisses. Suzuya looks horrified.

“Speaking of Ken, where is the half-assed bastard?” snarls Ayato. Most of the investigators have surrendered, and those who haven’t have been killed. Kaneki won’t like it, but this is fucking war.

And that armor hurts him.

“He saved me and got caught up ahead,” Hinami cries.

“You won’t win!” Ayato yells at Suzuya before grabbing Hina by the hand. “Everyone who’s not guarding the prisoners, with me!”

“This way!” Hinami leads Ayato down the tunnel, treasuring every second by his side.

Masanori admires his father’s ability to ride horses and wants a horse of his own. But first…he needs to learn how to ride.

“GIDDEYUP!”

Ui enters his small apartment to find Masanori yelling atop Hairu, who scampers about on her hands and knees.

She whinnies at the sight of her husband and gallops towards Ui.

“What on earth?”

“I want to ride horsies like you, Daddy. So Mommy is teaching me.” Masanori stretches up his arms for a hug, which Ui gladly returns.

“Mommy’s probably a tame horse.” Ui smiles. To raise this kid, he’s had to develop his own mischievous side. “I’ll try to buck you off.”

Masanori sticks out his tongue. “You’ll fail.”

He climbs on Ui and cheers. “Go, horsie!”

“Neigh!” calls Ui, clamoring forward and shaking his head.

————————————————–

“Is this already on Youtube?” Yusa whispers, peering into Ui and Hairu’s windows.

“It’s live streaming.” Shio smiles as Eto likes the video.

“We can teach Masanori to ride, too,” Rikai suggests.

“Assuming Ui doesn’t kill us.” Shio giggles as Saiko comments her approval below the video.

—————————————————

Ui’s phone lights up. Hirako.

Neighhhhhhhhhhh

He shrieks and stumbles, but to his relief, Masanori hangs on. Maybe he’s ready for a pony yet.

“Shio!” Hairu screams, running out of the apartment. “Get back here, you brats!”

ui feeling guilty about shio’s death

My hear! *narrows eyes* He better mourn in the manga because I’m still crying about it in real life.

Ui watches Hajime toss his kids’ heads before Kaneki.

He wants to feel numb, but all he feels is despair.

Hairu’s relative.

His kid.

The kids he trained for years. The kids who never failed to make him smile – even during this fight, Shio’s dramatic dive drew a smile.

Surely they weren’t traitors. Hirako was to blame, the coward who’d grabbed a hysterical Yusa and run before Hajime had taken the last Arima.

Shio was gone.

Rikai was gone.

They’d been alive an hour ago. They probably woke up this morning happy.

Ui feels tears in his eyes. This isn’t fair.

He blames Kaneki. He blames Hirako. He blames Hajime and Furuta and himself.

If he’d not hesitated, he could have shoved Shio out of the way.

He failed to save him.

He’s lost more family.

But two kids lost more. Their lives.

Ui watches Hajime taunt Kaneki. Why is he on the side of those who’d laugh at children’s deaths? Kaneki looks as anguished as Ui feels.

“A word, Hajime.” Ui shoves past the brat and kneels before Kaneki’s torso. “Tell me the truth.”

Tell me why they died for you.

Au where yoshitoki has a spine and supports matsuri to choose his own way and stands up to tsuneyoshi for matsuri also also for Furuta

Bless you. I love Yoshitoki.

TW for sexual assault and homophobia.

Washuu Yoshitoki paces back and forth in his office. He’s caught Matsuri writing love notes to Urie Kuki three times in the last few months.

It’s wrong. Matsuri is married to Iyo until they produce a child, and in that time he ought to be faithful to her. Yoshitoki never betrayed Matsuri’s mother – he even tried to find her last year, until Tsuneyoshi found out.

Has he taught Matsuri nothing about honor?

Yoshitoki tries not to laugh. He’s a ghoul killing ghouls, someone who bred a child and then allowed his family to take away its mother. The mere notion of honor is preposterous.

“You’re not really worried about that,” Marude says from behind him, ever the voice of reason.

Yoshitoki winces.

His son – Tsuneyoshi’s grandson – is gay.

“There’s nothing wrong with him being gay.” Marude watches Yoshitoki carefully.

“I know.” Yoshitoki breathes in deeply. “But Tsuneyoshi doesn’t.”

How can he explain their secrets to his best friend without betraying him?

Suppose he arranges for Iyo to divorce Matsuri. She’ll be happier, and so will Matsuri.He’ll have to ferret her away to freedom of sorts, lest she face Tsuneyoshi’s wrath.

How can he explain this to Marude?

“I don’t know your secrets,” Marude warns, “but I want to help you.”

Yoshitoki half-smiles. “Contact a divorce lawyer.”

“Shouldn’t you consult Matsuri first?” Marude raises his eyebrows.

“Yes, yes I should.” Yoshitoki sighs. Nothing is normal in this family. Matsuri can wait.

Tsuneyoshi, however, summons a Washuu family meeting the next day. This can’t be a coincidence. Yoshitoki swallows.

“Wonder who’ll die today?” Furuta giggles as they enter Tsuneyoshi’s quarters. His half-brother is a strange one Yoshitoki can never figure out. Souta despises V, yet he always angles himself directly in front of Tsuneyoshi, desperately angling for attention he never gets.

Arima nods at Yoshitoki, impassive as ever. He stands with Ihei Hairu, surrounded by Zero Squad children and Hsaio Ching-Li. Iyo and Matsuri stand close to the door, Yoshitoki and Furuta beside Tsuneyoshi’s desk.

Tsuneyoshi turns his dark eyes to Matsuri. “Is this woman not pleasing you, grandson?”

Matsuri chokes, and Iyo turns deathly pale.

Yoshitoki hangs his head. This is all his fault.

“Your father here was looking into a divorce lawyer,” snipes Tsuneyoshi.

Matsuri goggles at Yoshitoki. “Dad?”

“Matsuri.” Yoshitoki stares at him. “I know.”

“Don’t we all know?” Furuta jokes. His face falls when Tsuneyoshi yields no response.

Matsuri shakes. “I – I can’t -”

“What’s wrong with Iyo? I rather liked her.” Tsuneyoshi’s eyes rake over her. “Not man enough?”

“He’s man enough to know he likes men,” Yoshitoki says quietly.

“What was that?” Tsuneyoshi’s voice is deadly.

“Stop manipulating my son. You’ve taken his mother; you’re not taking his love life on top of that. And you’re not stealing Iyo’s, either.” Yoshitoki can’t believe the words running out of his lips. When was his soul replaced with Marude?

“Father, I don’t understand.” He pleads. “You can’t even respect Souta enough for attention. Why is our family mere tools to you?”

Tsuneyoshi glares daggers at Yoshitoki. “Do you want to die under a quinque?”

“It won’t be mine,” Arima says quietly.

“Souta would, right?” Tsuneyoshi smiles at Souta, and for a moment, the boy’s face brightens.

“It’d be all of us against you, old man.” Furuta sniffs.

Yoshitoki remembers the parting kiss from his wife, the plea that he raise their child well. If you have to fight for him, fight.

And he responded, I will.

He’s long hated that he never fought for her. He will damn sure fight for her son, and all the sons and daughters of the Washuus.

Yoshitoki yanks open the office door. “Let’s go, Matsuri, Iyo.”

To Tsuneyoshi’s ire, the entire family files out of his office.

“Get back here.”

“We’re done lying!” taunts Furuta. “Well, lying for you.”

He angles himself closer to Yoshitoki, with the same eager eyes he bestows on Tsuneyoshi.

Yoshitoki smiles at him, and Furuta gasps with happiness.

“Father.” Outside the mansion, Matsuri has tears in his eyes.

“I know you think you’ve disappointed me. You haven’t – I’ve been the disappointment of a father.” Yoshitoki embraces his son. “I’m sorry I ignored your pain.”

Matsuri hiccups. “I love you, Dad.”

Ui decides to intervene and save Shio and Rikai and runs away with them and Hirako and Yusa. (Don’t kill Hajime though please.)

Ishida might as well have beheaded me instead; it would be less painful am I right?

A scream catches Ui’s attention. He turns his gaze away from Yusa as Hajime’s kagune hurtles through Shio’s knee.

Rikai is diving forward, but another tentacle aims for her throat.

“I taught you better!” yells Ui, and then he stabs Hajime.

The Oggai’s eyes widen. Blood spurts from the child’s mouth. “You…”

I just stabbed a child. Ui wishes he were dead.

Hirako recognizes the look on Ui’s face – the dead look, the look he wore after Hairu was killed.

Shio scrambles back on his feet and hacks off Hajime’s kagune while Hirako tends to his leg. “Mister Ui, you saved me!”

“You do love us,” says Rikai. Shio throws his arms around Ui, who remains frozen.

“Ui, will you hear us out?” asks Hirako.

“I can’t leave him.” Ui watches Hajime writhe on the floor, growling and wailing in language that deserves its own spot in hell.

“Then let’s help Hajime.” Shio grabs the kid’s arm.

“Don’t touch me!” shrieks Hajime.

“Poke him,” hisses Yusa. Hajime nearly killed his best friends. His family.

Shio acquiesces, and Hajime hisses. His hands are bound behind him, and Ui can’t believe those are his own hands doing the binding.

Whose side am I on? Who do I fight for?

He sees Shio and Rikai’s faces. Oh right, them.

“Let’s go.” Hirako lifts Hajime by his shoulders, and Ui takes his legs.

“Jesus fucking Christ put me down! AHHHHHHHHH!” Hajime howls. “Ui, you traitor! You son of a bitch! I hate you!”

“We don’t hate you,” says Shio sadly. “I wouldn’t have tried to cut off your head.”

“Liar!”

“You really think Shio would lie? You know you’ve had better training than that,” scoffs Ui.

Where is he going? Why is he following Hirako to treason? To hell?

He sees Shio, Rikai, and Yusa, feels Hajime thrashing against him. These kids will be the death of him, but honestly…

He can see Hairu doing the same thing.

Can you do Kaneki/Sasaki returning to his CCG family and being forgiven by them and welcomed with open arms? I need this

I need open arms now too after that … knife to the heart that was 143.

Go, Touka had urged him. You can’t live a lie anymore.

And here he is. Standing before the Quinx – Mutsuki is held back from his arms by Urie and Aura – before Suzuya Squad, before Nimura Furuta.

“I…I know I hurt you all.” He looks into everyone’s eyes, except Furuta.

“Yeah, and you hurt my aunt,” snaps Aura.

“It wasn’t him,” Hirako Take says from behind Kaneki.

“Huh?” Aura pales.

“It was me.”

Aura’s face blanches, and Shio, Rikai, and Yusa leap in front of their leader.

“Calm down, tall angry man,” begs Shio. Despite herself, Saiko laughs.

“Why?” Ui spits.

“Because Arima…Arima killed himself,” Kaneki whispers.

“That sounds convenient.” Iwao Kuriowa cocks an eyebrow.

“It’s the truth,” Yusa snaps.

“We all saw it,” says Rikai.

“Urie, Mutsuki, Saiko…I know I hurt you. The world has enough hurt in it; I need to stop the hurting.” Kaneki wipes his eyes. “I’m not on the ghoul’s side anymore. I’m not on the human’s side anymore. I’m on the side of working together.”

Furuta scoffs. “Are you buying this shit?”

“Work together, like in one-eyed ghouls? Not the failures we are.” Hsaio points to herself and Furuta.

“Exactly!” Shio beams at her.

“What?!” yells Higemaru.

“Haise…” Suzuya steps forward. “Just so you know, I’m supposed to kill you now.”

“Please don’t,” Mutsuki says, and Saiko prepares to launch her kagune.

“I don’t want to,” Suzuya finishes. How can he kill the only other person who looked at him with Shinohara’s eyes? “So if there will be more fighting, it won’t come from Suzuya Squad.”

“Or the Quinx,” Urie says.

“You can’t be serious.” Furuta laughs nervously.

“We are. Also, we actually like Haise, Director.” Hsaio plants her hands on her hips. “Let’s confess everything. Right here, right now.”

“No.”

“So there is something to confess?” Hirako challenges.

Furuta knows he’s caught, but Kaneki steps forward. “I’m not going to hurt you, Furuta.”

“Mamman!” Saiko launches herself into his arms, and Urie and Mutsuki follow with Suzuya.

“Oh, what the hell.” Aura joins the rest of the Quinx. So his Squad founder didn’t maim his aunt. He’ll settle a duel with Hirako later. Right now, he sees love pouring from everyone towards Kaneki Ken, and he wants some of this love.

Hajime regretting that he killed his two friends

“They made me work for it,” Hajime says with a grin.

And in that moment, he truly feels proud. He didn’t hesitate, even when Ui Koori did, even when Yusa screamed Rikai and Ui stepped in front of him. And then Shio had dove in front of Ui, yelling don’t touch her, and it happened so fast, but he won. Hajime won.

Would Mom and Dad be proud of him?

He doesn’t fucking care.

In the next week, though, Hajime finds himself crying himself awake at night. He remembers Shio’s awkward hugs and Yusa telling him about the realms of Narnia, Middle Earth, and the Wizarding World. He remembers Rikai’s shy smiles.

They were weak. He was strong. Why does he care?

Because now there’s no one left to love him, though Hajime will never admit this to himself.

Ui hasn’t looked at him the same since. Now his expressions might as well say you ghoul, ghoul, ghoul.

Hajime throws back his head and laughs. He can’t afford emotion. Furuta taught him well. The Bureau Chief likes him.

When he finally drifts back asleep, he’s awoken to two dark figures in his room.

“Who the fuck are you?” His voice, which has only just begun to deepen, cracks. Fuck.

It’s Hirako and Yusa, isn’t it, come to kill him.

“Do you remember me, Hajime?” A flashlight turns on, and Amon Koutarou stands there, flanked by Mado Akira.

“Traitor!” Hajime snarls at Akira.

“When everything came down, I didn’t betray my friends,” she replies stonily.

Hajime snarls.

“We’re not here to hurt you.” Amon extends a hand. “I was transformed by Dr. Kanou, too. We’re here to take you home.”

If Hairu was still alive. Hairu mourning the death of Shio.

Hairu totters closer to Kaneki Ken’s body, to the bloodstained, pale indigo head…and the pale blue one. Kaneki starts, and Hajime Hazuki laughs.

Shio.

Hairu’s first instinct is to scream, to collapse and wriggle on the ground with Kaneki. There is nothing she can do.

Ui, you were supposed to bring them back to me! Where is he?

Hairu can’t bear to look at the head, to imagine Shio’s final moments. My god, what have we done?

She’s long known Shio was innocent. If he and Squad Zero fought Hajime, they must have had a reason to follow Hirako rather than Ui.

Hairu feels tears in her eyes, and she’s crying, but she’s walking forward.

Hajime Hazuki feels himself lifted up by his hair. To his surprise, he sees Ihei Hairu holding her quinque at his throat.

“How would you like it?” she shouts. “Hmm? Would that make you feel good?”

She throws him to the ground. He has to know she would never.

Hajime bares his teeth.

“Did you feel powerful? Did you feel like the ghouls who murdered your parents?” Hairu laughs. “You are just like them!”

“Take that back!” screams Hajime, scrambling to his feet. For a moment, he looks like a terrified kid. Terrified like Shio was.

“Siding with traitors, are we, First Class?” Furuta sneers.

“I’m siding with my family! With Arima and Rikai and Shio!” Hairu fires T-human at Furuta, and in the chaos grabs Kaneki. She flees, far, far away from Shio’s head, as if outrunning him will undo the past.

“Where do we go?” Was this how Hirako felt when he fled? Where is Hirako, anyway? “I’m not letting you die, Ken.”

Because this is how Ihei Hairu mourns, with tears and firepower. She will honor Shio’s legacy and protect the one he fought for.

Uihai playing a good game of monopoly

“You’re being so mean.” Ui pouts.

“I’m being mean?” Hairu gasps.

“You threw me in jail!” Ui crosses his arms.

“That’s because I’m bankrupting you,” Hairu says gleefully, moving her battleship along.

“I’ve never lost Monopoly before,” Ui growls. “We’ll see who bankrupts who!”

“If Arima were here, he’d win for sure.” Hairu giggles.

“I’m good at this, too.” Ui sniffs. Hairu sticks out her tongue.

But he is good. So good, in fact, that when Arima, Hirako, and Squad Zero return to CCG the next morning, they find the two still battling at Hairu’s desk.

“Have you been here all night?” Arima is amazed.

“Children, never do that,” Hirako adds.

“I’m so close,” Ui whispers through bloodshot eyes.

“I won’t cave. I’ll be strong, like you taught me, Arima,” Hairu replies, not taking her eyes off the board.

“Someone’s gotta film this.” Shio flips open his phone.

“What’s going on?” Suzuya Juuzou runs in. “Ooh, that looks fun!”

He grabs the board.

“Noooooooooooooooooooo!” Ui stands in slow motion. Hairu falls backwards.

“It’s a draw,” Arima declares. “Now both of you go home and sleep. You’re in no shape for battle.”

“I was a battleship,” Hairu says dreamily.

“Preferably together,” Hirako adds. The kids burst into giggles, and Arima glares at him.