A/N: So, it's about damn time I contribute to my OTP! Though this drabble series is more of an experiment, because for some goddamn reason, I can't imagine Tsukiyama/Kaneki dynamics as easily as kikuro or akakuro...
/crossposted at AO3/
Summary: Tsukiyama was undecided on Kaneki's role in his life.
If there was one thing Tsukiyama was confident in, it was the fact that he was a top-class gourmet, never mind the fact that he couldn't actually eat human food and only ate human meat due to being born a ghoul. As a gourmet, or as The Gourmet, it was his job, his mission, to find the perfect mix of flavors, texture and taste. He was the Gourmet, a classy ghoul with a refined taste and high intellect, much more different and unique compared to the majority of his kin, who were all barbaric and uncivilized diners.
So what if he was picky with his food and used human utensils, like a fork or a knife? Just because he was a ghoul (strong, monstrous, something to fear) didn't mean he didn't have manners befitting someone of his status. The only similarity he believed in between humans and ghouls was the need for decorum. No one, be they ghoul, human or even animals, likes an impolite being with a vulgar behavior, filled with discourtesy and uncouthness.
Being the Gourmet, his mission and beliefs were all the things he was very much certain in.
But suddenly so undecided, hesitant and fumbling, like a plebeian fool, even if he didn't show it on the outside, was very upsetting, so... agaçant.
The half-ghoul Kaneki Ken was the cause of it.
At first, Tsukiyama was assured that Kaneki Ken would be the next one on his plate, delicious and warm as he devoured the flesh from the outside, slowly working his way in, then consuming the organs like dessert and tasting the blood like it was the finest wine... He was so, so assured.
Then he had been wrong.
Kaneki Ken, he thought, was a weak, cowardly ghoul but made up for his unique flavor by being a half, which was rare as well, considering half-ghouls weren't of the norm, because they just weren't made. Humans and ghouls weren't suppose to procreate together, because of the conflicting genes, diet and whatnot, but with the existence of Kaneki, Tsukiyama marked him as a prey to catch before others steal him away.
His prey continued to surprise him, over and over, but Tsukiyama didn't give up. To be honest, he didn't understand why he didn't... get Kaneki sooner, because he could've done so easily, considering his strength. Then again, his flair for dramatics and Kirishima-san had to ruin his chances.
He was surprised, up until the incident with Aogiri Tree.
At first, he was furious that another, or more specifically, a group had snatched his prey away. Of course, he vowed to get Kaneki back, because he was the special main course that Tsukiyama would never get a chance to taste, not even if he was immortal and lived a few centuries. To him, Kaneki Ken was that rare.
The ghoul that was supposed to be weak and cowardly, became strong, twisted and... beautiful, like a red rose with thorns as sharp as knives (not that he knew how sharp knives were, since human weapons had no effect on ghouls). It was no longer Kaneki Ken the half-ghoul prey, but Kaneki Ken the leader and equal.
The thought of a long battle with a strong ghoul and in the case of winning and having said ghoul for dinner (or lunch, whatever time it would be after the fight) made Tsukiyama very excited. He wasn't particularly angry about his prey finally baring his fangs and claws, no, he was actually sort of happy that Kaneki grew stronger, because it would make things more interesting, spice things up a little.
After a while, Tsukiyama no longer saw a prey to eat, but a... possible companion. Kaneki became somewhat like Rize, that boorish salope, and although he was unhappy to make a comparison like that (because Rize and the last words that were said to him by her irritated him to no end), it was true, in a sense. Kaneki was like how Rize was to Tsukiyama in the past; someone he had genuinely enjoyed spending time and talking with, especially when they were the only ghouls who had intellect and read books.
It made him confused, because did that mean Tsukiyama shouldn't eat him to keep him around, or should Tsukiyama eat him anyways?
While ridiculous, it was a existential life crisis for Tsukiyama, because it was going against one of his beliefs, which was, if he found someone worth eating because they were able to satisfy his picky food conditions and satisfied his sophisticated palate.
Ring, ring, ring-
"Bonjour, Kaneki-kun." Tsukiyama immediately replied, not even looking at the phone screen when he swiped it across to answer the call. The only person (well, ghoul) he knew that would call him at three o'clock in the morning was his prey/equal. "Yes, I will be there right away. À bientôt!"
Well, he could always ponder about it later.
It didn't mean he wouldn't stare at Kaneki, though.
French Translations (bless Google Translate):-
agaçant = annoying, irritating, aggravating, frustrating, tiresome, provoking
salope = slut, slag, pig, stinkard
Bounjour = Hello
À bientôt = See you soon
