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?”