He did it, he finally killed Dragon. However, all was not yet over as Kaneki was still in the monstrous body of the beast.

Kaneki raced his way through the destruction, looking for any way out, but everywhere around him, flesh fell like an avalanche. He wouldn't be making it out of this one.

Looking up, Kaneki watched as a huge slab of flesh made its way towards him. Kaneki could only blink before he was buried in the carnage.

Kaneki gasped, pushing himself up from the debris that surrounded him.

"What, I'm alive?" Kaneki stood up and looked at his surroundings. The destruction of Dragon was ever so apparent. Buildings that once stood tall now laid to the ground, vehicles strewn about in places they shouldn't be.

Kaneki's head turned to the sound of a woman crying in agony. The cry was alarmingly familiar.

As quick as lightning, Kaneki made his way towards the source and saw something that shook him to his core.

Touka was hunched over his body, surrounded by all his loved ones.

How is that possible?

"Kaneki don't leave me!" Touka howled. Many of those around joined in her sorrow.

"Touka, I'm right here!" Kaneki yelled, standing in front of his wife. However, nobody seemed to be aware of the presence. It was as if Kaneki was a ghost.

"Touka-" Kaneki froze in shock as his hands seemingly went through his beloved.

"There's no use, you're dead, child." Kaneki whirled around and saw what appeared to be a figure clad in a black robe.

"What- who are you? Am I hallucinating? What the fuck is going on!"

Suddenly, everything turned white.

"It is as I said, you succumbed to your wounds and died."

"This can't be happening, not after everything I've gone through. My wife and child need me, bring me back!" Kaneki yelled in rage.

"That I cannot do."

"Please! I beg of you, I'll do anything!" Kaneki couldn't take no for an answer. He made a promise to Touka that he would return to her, at any means necessary.

"I cannot revive your corpse, but perhaps I can offer you something else, something better."

"What's this offer," Kaneki asked.

"A second chance to create a better world. I will send you back to where your story began."

"You can do that?" Kaneki was bewildered at the prospect of time travel. Not only could he go back to Touka, but he could see all of those that he lost and failed.

"I can, child."

"If what you say is true, then surely this must come at a cost?" Kaneki wasn't just going to trust anybody, not after everything he's been through.

"You're correct in that assumption. However, before I reveal this 'cost', you must first accept this deal of mine."

"Fine, if it means I get to see her again, I'll do it." Kaneki could only hope he wasn't making a grave mistake.

"Good, child; as for this 'cost', you will bear my curse. The curse of the 'One-eyed King'. That is all I can say, goodbye child."

"Wait-" Kaneki tried before everything went black.

"Kaneki? Earth to Kaneki-"

Kaneki jumped from his seat, spooking everybody around him. Looking around, Kaneki immediately recognized his surroundings. He was in Anteiku. Is this real, was he sent back through time?

"Oi Kaneki, what's wrong?" Kaneki's head flicked to the speaker, Hide. His face was perfectly fine.

"Hide…" Kaneki stood there stunned until he felt something push against his back.

"Oi, are you okay?" He knew that voice from anywhere, Touka.

"S-sorry, I was uh-" Kaneki saw Rize in the distance, staring at him. It felt like his brain was going to implode, it all felt so unreal.

"Kaneki?"

"Ugh" Kaneki groaned, waking from his slumber.

"Ah, good you're awake."

Kaneki turned to the figure standing aside him, Yoshimura.

"W-what happened, did I faint?"

"It appears so, your caused quite a shock downstairs" the manager smiled.

"I had you brought up here." Just like Yoshimura, to take in those in need. This man was a second father to him, aside from Arima, of course.

"Thank you, I should probably get going." Kaneki smiled.

"Sounds good, just don't faint the next time you come back." The manager joked.

"I'll remember not to-" Kaneki laughed, getting up from the bed he rested on.

"Come, I'll show you the way out." The manager led him downstairs.

The shop was closed, void of any workers or customers. Touka must be sleeping by now, seeing as it was dark outside.

"Thank you, manager, I should be going now" Kaneki bowed his head in respect before leaving the shop.

"Be safe," the manager said, closing the door behind him.

As Kaneki walked to where his past apartment was, his mind was in disorder, trying to understand his situation. Questions whirled about his head, what am I going to do?

He remembered seeing Rize in the shop which means that Kanou has yet to make a move on her. Wait, does that mean he isn't a ghoul yet?

After finding and entering his old apartment, Kaneki rushed into the bathroom and looked to the mirror before activating his RC cells. Just like the thousands of times before, his left eye turned into a Kakugan and his right remained normal. Does that mean he retained Kakuja? But wait, his body is younger then how it looked when he defeated Dragon.

Carefully, Kaneki called upon his Kakuja, making sure to leave enough space as to not destroy anything.

Kaneki watched as his body enveloped into an armored like Kakuja. Kaneki then noticed his hair turn white and the flesh patterns that he once had form back onto his face. So, releasing the Kakuja had this effect?

Kaneki called back the Kakuja, however his hair color and the flesh patterns remained.

"Great, how am I supposed to hide this?" Kaneki groaned in frustration.

More importantly, what am I going to do? Kaneki thought. The amount of information he possessed of the future and the power he now held gave him an insurmountable advantage all who opposed him.

Looking back at the mirror, Kaneki saw how lacking his body was in fitness. I'm going to have to fix that.

"I should call Hide and-" Kaneki reached into his pocket and felt his phone in pieces. His Kakuja must've crushed it.

"Damn."

"Yo, Kaneki, what's with the getup and did you dye your hair?" Hide rushed up to his friend.

"Uh- yeah, just trying something new…"

"Okay, you sure you didn't knock a few screws loose after yesterday's incident?" Hide joked.

"Hah, yeah I'm fine Hide." Kaneki smiled at his best friend.

"Let's head to Anteiku, Hide." Said Kaneki.

"Why, want to see that purple haired chick from yesterday? I saw you eyeing her before you fainted." Hide teased Kaneki.

"Um, maybe a little." Kaneki smiled. He was planning to meet her. If his memory was correct, Furuta would soon be attempting to kidnap Rize for Kanou. He had to stop that from happening.

Both Kaneki and Hide talked as they went to Anteiku. Kaneki missed these days when he could be so carefree without worrying about those he loved. He won't make the same mistakes he did in the past. He won't let this gift he's been granted go to waste.

"Yo, Kaneki, you're zoning out again, we're here."

"Oh, sorry."

Both boys were greeted by Touka as they entered the coffee shop.

"Oh, you're back. Are you okay?" Touka asked Kaneki, taking in his new appearance.

"Yeah, thanks. Like my new look?" Kaneki asked, causing her to look away and blush. He wasn't sure if she was acting but he hoped she wasn't. It pained him that she held no memory of him and the times they shared together.

"What type of coffee would you two like?" Touka asked, ignoring Kaneki's question.

"We'll take the same as yesterday" Hide said before leading himself and Kaneki to an empty table.

Kaneki noticed Rize wasn't here, but that was to be expected. She's probably in one of her hunting grounds. He was going to have to reel in her binge eating, that was what brought the CCG to the 20th ward in the first place.

After a couple of minutes, Touka came to their table with their orders. Kaneki winked at her before taking his coffee, causing her to blush again before leaving.

"Kaneki, when did you become a lady's man?" Hide, genuinely, asked.

The day prior, Kaneki was going over whether he should tell Hide that he was a ghoul or not. He knew he could trust Hide more than anyone. However, he knew telling Hide could bring upon certain risk. But maybe it was best that he told him, seeing as how leaving him ignorant only led to him getting hurt in the first place. He was going to have to decide before Hide starts getting curious like last time.

"Oh, I read this book on how to flirt and decided to give it a try" Kaneki lied. It wasn't very convincing, but it would have to do for the time being.

They both conversed until Hide had to go. Kaneki decided to stay until Rize arrived. The clock was ticking, and he had to deal with her before Kanou did.

It was only twenty minutes after Hide left that Rize finally arrived. Immediately she landed her eyes on Kaneki. Like Touka, she was clearly interested in his drastic appearance.

Kaneki smiled at her. She took that as a queue and sat across from him.

"Oh, you're reading that too?" Rize asked, directing Kaneki's eyes to the book he was reading, The Black Goat's Egg.

"Ah yes, Sen Takatsuki is one of my favorite authors," Kaneki answered.

Looking at the cause of his past terrors, Kaneki could admit that Rize was a beautiful woman. If she wasn't a binge eating maniac, he would've probably fallen in love with her.

Both went on to converse the intricacies of Sen Takatsuki's work. Rize's interest in Kaneki seemed to heighten as time went on. Kaneki figured she was dreaming of him on a platter. The thought didn't really bother him as Tsukiyama often gave him the same looks, so he grew used to it.

"Hey, I know we just met, but do you want to on a date to the library?" Kaneki asked, causing Rize to widen her eyes in apparent surprise. She didn't expect Kaneki to be so bold.

"Actually, I would like that." Rize smiled; and so, both left the coffee shop to the library that Tsukiyama once brought Kaneki.

Kaneki didn't fail to notice the look of pity Touka gave him when he was leaving.

"Rize, do you go to school around here?" Kaneki asked.

"No, and I don't remember telling you my name?" Rize raised her brow at him.

"Oh, uh I asked the lady at the shop after I recovered." Kaneki quickly thought of the lie.

"Oh?" Rize seemed a tad annoyed.

"Uh- yeah, sorry for not asking you directly…"

"It's okay-"

"Kaneki, it's Kaneki"

"It's okay, Kaneki-san" Rize smiled.

"It's getting dark out," Kaneki said, knowing what Rize was going to ask him.

"Let me walk you home, ghoul activity has been a bit more active around here"

"What a gentleman you are," Rize smirked.

The two of them left the library and Kaneki followed Rize to her 'home'.

"Kaneki, we have a lot in common, you know?"

"Uh, yes I guess we do." Kaneki's blood started pumping.

Rize approached Kaneki at a distance one would consider intimate.

"I noticed, you were watching me. Kaneki-san, I too-"

"Was watching you!" Rize bit into his neck.

"You taste delicious-"

Rize took notice of Kaneki's lack of response. Usually one would start panicking, but he just stood there, motionless.

Taking a step back to look at his face, Rize's eyes widened in surprise when she saw his eyes, a one-eyed ghoul…

"Rize, your life is in danger, we need to go."

"What- what are you?" Rize took another step back.

"We don't have time for this, your life is in danger, we need to go" Kaneki jumped and grabbed her before tens of steels beams landed on her.

Rize looked at what could've been her fate if Kaneki didn't move her out of the way.

"Damn it, this wasn't supposed to happen so soon. Let's go!" Kaneki grabbed her before she could respond, using his Kagune to jump from roof to roof.

"L-Let me go!" Rize released her Kagune and attempted to detach herself from him but watched in surprise as Kaneki formed another tentacle to block her strike.

"Stop! I'll tell you everything after we're far enough!" Kaneki yelled through the wind, increasing his speed.

Rize watched as buildings became a blur, just how fast is he?

Whenever she tried to get out of his hold, he would simply block her.

After numerous attempts, Rize gave up her resolve and allowed him to take her without a fight.

It was only a minute later that he stopped on a roof of a, particularly large building.

"Alright-" Kaneki quickly blocked her Kagune strikes with his own.

"Who're you!" Rize growled, clearly not pleased with the situation.

"You're the one who tried to eat me and you're mad?" Kaneki laughed, causing her to strike at him with more ferocity.

"Okay, okay sorry!" Kaneki pinned her down.

"Let go!" Rize snarled.

"Only if you promise not to attack me!" Kaneki yelled back.

"F-Fine!" Rize called back her Kagune.

"Thank you." Kaneki released her from his hold and deactivated his Kakugan.

"Now tell me who you are and what was that?!"

"So, let me get this straight, there's a doctor named Kanou who's trying to kidnap me, so he can experiment on me?"

"Precisely"

"You still haven't told me who you are and why you even decided to save me…" Rize was suspicious with the whole ordeal.

"Who I am doesn't matter, and the reason I saved you was to prevent Kanou from experimenting on you," Kaneki answered.

"Ugh! This is all too confusing, I'm going-"

Kaneki grabbed her wrist.

"No, you're going to stay with me from now on."

"Listen here, Kaneki, I can protect myself just fine." Rize pulled her wrist away from his grasp.

"Just like how you were almost crushed to death a while ago?" Kaneki retorted.

"That was your fault! If you weren't distracting me I would've noticed that!"

"It doesn't matter. You're going with me whether you like it or not. We both saw how easy it was for me to restrain you."

Rize tried to find something to say but realized he was right. This Kaneki was clearly on another level if he was able to stop her attacks so effortlessly.

"Have it your way, but you're going to have to take care of me Kaneki-san…"