Author's Note: I promised queencuppycake a Yahaba ghoul story, and I figured this might make a nice surprise 3 As such, this story is dedicated to her and the amazing admins at tokyo-volleyball, who's many amazing headcanons completely inspired this story! Also note that on tumblr I submitted this story to tokyo-volleyball (as it is a Haikyuu!/Tokyo Ghoul blog) so this story can be found on Tumblr there. Hope you all enjoy~

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Yahaba Shigeru has two secrets that no one can know.

One is that he is a ghoul, a monster who feeds on humans and is in turn despised by them.

The second is that he is madly in love with one of those humans.

It's not like he doesn't know it's a terrible idea to let yourself fall for a human. It's not that he can't predict that this can only end badly. It's not like he doesn't realise he's just ending towards pain.

It's just that he wasn't strong enough to stop himself.

When you had first confessed to him, actually asked him out on a date, he'd been blown away in surprise. After all, as Oikawa's assistant he was more used to the cute girls going after his good-looking boss. But you met Oikawa and Yahaba at the same time, and you chose him. You liked him. You wanted to go out on a date with him.

So, even though he knew, and was very sternly warned, that this was a bad idea, he went anyways.

And what a bad, bad idea it was.

He kept telling himself he could leave you at any time. That no matter how warm he felt when you sent him silly, corny messages like 'I miss you' or 'I can't stop thinking about you', no matter how serene he felt when you stroked and played with his soft hair, no matter how happy he felt every time you kissed him out of nowhere just because you wanted to….that no matter what, he could always turn away and leave all of this. That he could always leave you.

But when you told him you loved him…when you looked him in the eye, held his face, and said those three little words with all the emotion in your heart…all that went away. He said it back immediately, not hesitating a moment, because he had always felt the same.

Because since that first date, he couldn't have left you.

—-

"Sorry, sorry! I know I'm late." You laugh sheepishly. Yahaba sighs loudly into the phone, and puts his free hand on his hip.

"Seriously, what were you doing?!" He probes, his tone a bit clipped. He'd been visibly relieved when he finally got your call, since he'd been worrying about where you were since the sun went down, and now he couldn't hold back his exasperation.

"My friend got into a fight with her boyfriend, so we had to break open the wine. Anyways, he came back to make it up to her, and I stopped on the way home to get your favourite coffee and make it up to you~" You reply in a sing song voice. You're teasing him, knowing that he can never resist when you act cute. He sighs, and a reluctant smile appears on his face.

"Alright. Wait at the coffee shop, I'll come pick you up."

"No need!" You reply. "I'm already nearly home. I'll cut through the alley and come in through the back."

"The alley?!" Yahaba cries, glaring at the phone as if you could see it. "What are you thinking?! It's pitch black out there and—"

"Shi-kun, calm down~ This place is totally deserted. I think I'll be fine." You say gently, using your special nickname for him. You're clearly trying to comfort him, since he sounds like he's about to have a panic attack.

"It's not safe! Argh…I'm coming to get you." Yahaba says, struggling to keep the panic and anger out of his voice. There hadn't been a ghoul attack anywhere nearby, not in months…but then again, he's perfect proof that this didn't mean ghouls aren't nearby.

"Fiiiine. But I'm not gonna stop walking. I'll meet you wherever you find me." You sigh dramatically, but also sound a little happy.

"Good. I'm leaving now." Yahaba says, stepping towards the receiver to hang up.

"Alright. I love y—"

Your voice is cut off abruptly, as the muffled sounds of struggle and cries of fear replace it. Yahaba feels his heart stop and all the blood drain from his face. He screams your name into the phone, hoping that it's all just an accident, that you just tripped and you're going to grab the phone, laugh about what a klutz you are, and everything will be okay.

And then the line goes dead.