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?”

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.

omgg, Tsukiyama cuddling alone with Hirako’s dog? <3

Omgggggg yasssss

At night, Tsukiyama sneaks out of his room into Hirako Take’s. The former investigator is on guard duty, and the kids are sleeping, so now it’s just him and Mr. Owl.

Mr. Owl is Hirako’s Shiba Inu.

Mr. Owl is the dog Tsukiyama always begged Mirumo for, but Mirumo didn’t think his son was responsible enough. He probably wasn’t.

“I love you,” coos Tsukiyama, rubbing the dog behind its ears. “Good boy.”

He takes a scrap of his own dinner and holds it out. There’s only one reason Tsukiyama Shuu would turn up food, and it’s a dog.

Mr. Owl seems to like human, just like his namesake. Tsukiyama grins and wraps his arms around the soft creature again.

People say ghouls are evil, but he’d never eat a dog.

Mr. Owl climbs atop Tsukiyama, showering the Gourmet with kisses. “Who’s a good boy? You are, that’s right. Mr. Owl deserves special food for a special doggo.”

Shio sits up and squints in the dark. “What are you doing?”

Tsukiyama laughs. “Turning your dog into a ghoul.”

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).

Hirako brings his dog into Goat’s headquarters pre-raid. Shio, Rikai, and Yusa must care for it. Bonus if Hajime appears.

“Here we go, Mr. Owl.” Hirako tugs on the leash and can’t resist using his high-pitched baby-voice. “I know you don’t like underground, but there are people who need you here.”

Kaneki, meanwhile, is too busy conversing with Tsukiyama to notice their four-legged arrival. But then Shio streaks by screaming “PUPPER!”, and Rikai and Yusa nearly trample the Centipede and the Gourmet.

“The hell?” Tsukiyama straightens up, running a hand through his hair. “Oh – oh my!”

For now the children are being children, cuddling a fluffy Shiba Inu.

“It’s so cute!” Tsukiyama launches himself at the dog.

“Thank you, Hirako,” sobs Shio. “I love Mr. Owl. He makes me happy.”

“You named your dog Mr. Owl?” Kaneki chokes.

Hirako flushes. “Guilty.”

“It loves me!” Rikai’s face is covered in slobber, and she’s 100% okay with this.

“Look, Shio, it’s Ui!” Yusa pinches the dog’s cheeks like Hairu used to do for Ui.

Kaneki bursts out laughing. It’s the first time in a while they’ve had anything to smile about.

In the distance, Hajime peers out his cell door. Is the king laughing?

Oh. He’s seen Hirako’s puppy before.

He used to have one like it.

He misses it.

For a second, he imagines giving up his mission to be loved by this dog.

Karren escapes from Eto and makes her way back to the Tsukiyamas (which has not been raided by the CCG yet)

Oh goody, more angst for my wicked heart.

Karren stumbles out of Aogiri’s headquarters, her eyes still half-sewn shut, hr lips 100% sealed. Help me, she wants to whimper. I want to die.

She can’t go home to Master Shuu. He’s depressed enough.

But where else can she go? She only has one home, and it’s with Tsukiyama Shuu.

She half-walks, half-crawls to the mansion like a drunk, like the worthless servant she is, hoping to climb inside her room without anyone noticing she’s been gone.

She needs to kill Sasaki for hurting Shuu. No – to atone for her own selfishness. Because she’s very, very bad, and she needs to be Kanae, not Karren.

Kanae doesn’t even realize that she’s collapsed on the steps to the Tsukiyama mansion until she hears Matsumae scream.

Get up, move.

Chie Hori sees her and runs upstairs like the brat she is.

Don’t worry, let me alone, Kanae wants to say as Matsumae lifts her off the stairs, but her mouth is still sewn shut.

Mirumo hovers over her, and then Matsumae shoos him out because she knows Kanae’s secret. This is all going so wrong – why can’t she die already – and then Shuu’s being pulled into the room – how did she wind up in her room? – by Chie.

He lets out a wail and rushes forward, yanking out the thread to her mouth and cursing in French.

“Be gentle!” Matsumae says, working on Kanae’s eyes.

“I’m sorry; I’m so sorry,” Kanae says, bordering on delirium. “She knew – Master Shuu, it’s all my fault.”

“Your fault? No, mon cher, never.” Shuu’s shaking. How could someone do this to Kanae? He wouldn’t even treat dinner like this.

He’s going to find them, and kill them.

He tries to take off her jacket to check for wounds, and Kanae starts and immediately claps her hands over her … rosy chest.

Shuu turns dead white.

“K – Kanae?” he asks in a small voice, a voice that says why didn’t you trust me?

“Not Kanae.” Matsumae applies a warm cloth dipped in some sort of lotion to Kanae’s bruised forehead.

“What’s your real name, belle femme?” he asks.

She squeezes her eyes shut, though they still hurt from the thread. There’s no point in hiding what’s already been exposed. “Karren.”

Tears leak down her cheeks, but Shuu’s placing a blanket overher chest as he helps her out of her jacket, and he’s calling her sweet rose and liebling and he seems more alive than he has in months. And though Karren can’t quite believe it yet, Chie and Matsumae can see it’s because of her.

Scenario where Kurona and Juuzou have to talk about what happened without trying to kill each other (let me dream okay)

Just minor attempted murders okay?

“Just – please – please let me kill him!” Kurona lunged forward, but Kaneki held her back. She broke into sobs. “He killed our sister! She had Rize’s kagune too!”

Suzuya peeked out from behind Hanbee and Nakarai. Mikage and Tamaki stood behind him, ready to attack anyone else who got ideas.

“Please!”

“He’s my friend! He was raised to kill. I killed, too, when I had my memories wiped, remember?” Kaneki met Tsukiyama’s eyes.

“Damn threw me off a building.” The gourmet’s eyes soured at the memory of Karren. But he’d told her it would all be okay, and okay did not include vengeance on a brainwashed Kaneki.

“She was my best friend – she loved me no matter what,” Kurona sobbed. “R-r-remember when you lost your Shinohara? That’s what you did to me, and you laughed. You made it into a game.”

Suzuya’s eyes widened. His mouth formed a perfect red circle, and for a moment he felt like he was losing Shinohara again. And again, and again, over and over and over – the Owl kept stabbing him –

“No,” he mumbled. “No, no, no!”

“Hey.” Hanbee caught his arms.

“Mr. Shinohara knew what you did. He loved you regardless,” said Nakarai.

“But I don’t love – me …” Suzuya took a step towards Kurona. He was visibly sweating. And then he burst into tears. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”

“You killed her,” Kurona whimpered.

“Do you … do you want to kill me?” Suzuya held out Jason as tears streamed down his face.

Kurona took a step forward, but she didn’t reach for the quinque. “No. I want her back.”

He looked at the sobbing enemy before her and felt an unexpected stab of pity. He looked like a child. A child she had called “Rei” without knowing what that meant.

“I don’t forgive you, Juuzou. But I think – I think together, we can be on the same team making the world better.” Kurona held out her hand, and Juuzou flung himself into her arms.