I do not own Tokyo Ghoul


Kaneki stared longingly at Re:. He had stared at the same cafe for many years. He just wanted to go in and order a cup of coffee. Of course if wasn't that simple...

Touka-chan... No everybody probably thinks I'm dead... If only they knew...

Kaneki's heart told him to go, his mind held him back. Kaneki was in love with Touka. He had been before he was taken by Aogiri. He had been too shy to confess to her, though.

Just then, his stomach rumbled.

Ah... I guess I'll go hunting.

Kaneki tracked a human down. He was not to fat, yet not too skinny. The type of human many ghouls preferred. Kaneki watched him go into a store and after a while, he came out. He frowned as the human was about to disappear into his home. He put on his mask and jumped from his hiding place, where he landed neatly in front of the human.

"Follow me if you value your soul." Kaneki grinned like he was the human's best friend.

"Who are you?" The human asked.

He then muttered to himself. "Why does everybody like this trash anyways?"

He pushed past Kaneki and went inside, but Kaneki quickly brought out his kagune and dragged him back.

"I said, follow me if you value your soul." Kaneki sighed. "Why doesn't anybody listen these days?"

The boy squeaked. "A ghoul?!" He fainted.

Kaneki dragged the boy with him into an alley where he could eat without being bothered. He soon finished and he took off his mask. It was kind of stuffy wearing it for a long time. Kaneki stared at his grinning mask.

I wonder... I could use this! Why didn't I think of this earlier?

Kaneki went and fished a piece of paper out of a trash can. Ever since Arima had stabbed his eyes, he had been had took mercy on Kaneki and let him live.

Kaneki still remembered what he had said. "I'll let you live. I don't think you actually wanted to become a ghoul, Eyepatch. Or should I say Kaneki."

Kaneki had managed to flee from Arima before he changed his mind. Ever since then, he had been living on the streets watching Re as soon as his eyes healed. Kaneki finished writing the message.

Hey. I'm alive. I'll see you guys soon.

-Kaneki

Kaneki waited till they closed the shop and then placed the mask on top of the note, right at the foot of the door.

Touka will notice it. I'm sure... Why did I suddenly put my mask there? I've been able to hold my temptations back for the past years...

Kaneki knew the answer to his own question.

Because I love her.

Kaneki found a place to sleep by the forest. It wasn't comfy at all. He went to sleep thinking about Touka.

Touka awoke the next day and she did what she did everyday in the morning before going down to work. Touka was turning the Close sign to Open when she noticed the mask on the ground. She froze.

"Kaneki...?" Touka picked up the mask and the piece of paper flew up onto the mask. While reading the note, a tear fell from her eye.

"Bakaneki. Come back... We miss you. I need you." Touka whispered. She brought the mask and note in to show the others. They were happy to find out that Kaneki was alive. Meanwhile, Kaneki watched them. "Sorry." He had overheard Touka. "You need me?"

I'll be there for you Touka. Anytime you need me.

Touka did her days work keeping an eye out for Kaneki. She saw the usual customers and some new ones, but no Kaneki. She studied the mask again that night before going to bed. Touka sighed. "When will you come back?"

She set the mask on her desk and tried to fall asleep.

Kaneki opened the window to Touka's room without making a sound. He landed on the floor with a soft, quiet thump. He walked silently over to her bed a looked over her, the moonlight illuminating her face.

He brushed the bangs out of her other eye. He watched over her lovingly. "I'm sorry, Touka-chan. You won't see me for a while, but I will always be there if you need me."

He drew his hand back. Touka caught it. "Don't leave me..." She mumbled. Her grip slackened. Kaneki swore that she was just moving in her sleep. He drew his hand back, again. Her grip tightened and her eyes opened. "I said, bakaneki, don't leave me."

Kaneki froze. "How long have you been awake?"

"Ever since you came in. I couldn't sleep because someone decided to leave a certain mask at the door."

Kaneki sighed. "Sorry." He dragged the chair from her desk over and sat down. "Any questions for me?"

"Yes. Where have you been, why didn't you contact us, and will you come back?" Touka asked quickly.

"Slow down. I'm not going anywhere. So for where I've been. I've been surviving off the streets of Japan. I sleep in the forest. I have some people that help me from time to time. As for why I didn't contact you guys... I couldn't bring myself too until that day. I was pretty sure you guys thought I was dea-"

"I never thought you were dead..." Touka wrapped her arms around him. "I had faith that you would come back to us- to me."

Kaneki hugged her back. "Thanks."

"So will you come back?"

"I think. Just wait for me. I need to tell everybody that helped me... Can I spend the night here? The forest isn't exactly what you call comfy." Kaneki asked suddenly.

Touka leaned back. "Yeah sure. Um... I can take the couch. You can have my bed... Unless you suggest anything else?"

Kaneki smiled. Touka blushed. She forgot how Kaneki had looked when he smiled. "I can take the couch and you stay in your bed. And I won't take no. I don't care if the couch is uncomfortable. The forest was worse."

Touka sighed. "Fine." She led him to the couch after getting a spare blanket and pillow. Kaneki grabbed Touka's hand just as she was about to walk away. He pressed her hand to his cheek.

"Your hand is warm." Kaneki had a faint dusting of pink on his cheeks.

"Isn't your skin warm too?" It was kind of cold.

"No. It's cold. It doesn't deserve warmth." Kaneki said sadly.

"Why?"

"I've killed many people that I shouldn't have... People that were close to me." A single tear fell from his eye, slowly reaching his cheek where Touka's hand was.

She brushed it away. "It's okay. I'm still here." She hugged him.

Kaneki broke away and held her chin. They locked eyes and Kaneki slowly moved closer and closer. Their lips pressed against each others. Kaneki's lips were soft. They soon broke away, both blushing madly.

"Sorry..." Kaneki apologized.

"No... It's fine." Touka's gaze softened. "I liked it."

Kaneki stared at her. "The truth is... I liked you for a long time. Before I was taken by Aogiri."

"I liked you too."

"So the feeling's mutual, huh." Kaneki leaned forward and kissed her cheek.

"Good-night, Touka-chan." Kaneki whispered.

"Good-night, bakaneki." Touka whispered back. She walked back into her room where she fell onto her bed and gave in to the powerful lull of sleep. She had a dream where Kaneki was in front of her and was being stabbed over and over again in different spots. Eventually his tormentor disappeared leaving Kaneki to die on the ground.

"It's your fault I was taken by Aogiri." He complained.

"You were too weak." His voice echoed all around her.

"It wasn't my fault!" She tried to protest, but her voice was covered by layer after layer of the echo. It was then when Touka awoke.

Her entire bed was wet from her sweat. She checked the clock. It was almost time for work.

"Shit... I need to get ready." Touka got up and dressed and walked outside where Kaneki sat on the couch, talking into his phone.

"Yeah. I'll find everybody. See you later." Kaneki hung up. "I'm going out for the day. I'll see you later."

He nodded at her and walked out, leaving Touka watching him. She walked pass her table and noticed something on it. It was human meat in a package. There was a note attached to it.

Thanks for letting me stay overnight.

-Kaneki

Touka unwrapped it and shoved it into her mouth and chewing it carefully. It was surprisingly... satisfying. It was sweet and wasn't greasy like some other meat from humans. She devoured it and rushed downstairs where she was greeted by Yomo.

"Did Ken come back?" Yomo studied her.

"Yeah. He said he'll come back later today."Touka started working watching for Kaneki the whole day. He came back at night just before Nishiki and Yomo were about to leave. He was greeted by everybody.

"Kaneki?!''

"Ken?"

"Welcome back!"

"Nice to see you. Can you start working now? I need a break!"

"Onii-san!"

Hinami tackled Kaneki with a hug. She had took a break from Aogiri and decided to drop by. Touka watched Kaneki smile and pat Hinami on the head.

"Hi guys. I'm back and yes, I'll start working again."

Everybody cheered at that. They wanted a break and Kaneki would give them that.

They had a small party to celebrate Kaneki coming back. It was late when everybody except for Touka and Kaneki left. They cleaned up and crashed onto their beds. Touka had let him stay until he could find another place to stay. She had offered the empty apartment next door, but he had refused. Something about having to take care of others. Touka had just shrugged and offered to find a cheap home for him. He had gladly accepted and had kissed her.

"I love you, Touka-chan."

"I love you, Kaneki."


So yeah. This is my third fanfic.

Please review.