Fade to nothing

Summary:

Death is just the start of everything at least for some and this time they are more willing to give their best shot.

Authors' note:

Hello there! We've decided to make a fic centering the non-canon happy ending for NimuFruit! I hate the fact he died without clearing things with Rize. Thank you KruRid for agreeing to write another fanfic with me. Our first one was from BSD fandom if I remember correctly so I never thought that I can write another fic with her.

Chapter I: Time is running out for the One-eyed Clown

"Everything will come to naught. Ever since I was a child, I have known that living, dying, creating, consuming are all valueless, meaningless. It's all pointless. Everyone will die anyway. It'll be gone one day." He rasped out, feeling the pain all over his body. Everything is painful since he was a child but this time around the pain is more on physical level than emotional and psychological.

"…" Kaneki couldn't believe what he just heard from the other king. For him, Furuta is the sort of person who always has alternative plans but to learn that Nimura had always wanted to destroy everything since the start, Kaneki is distraught. He eyed the king that is slowly fading. Soon, Nimura Furuta will die too because his kagune started to eat his own body and the man paid no heed to it.

"This world is just a toy chest; you play with it while you can. Once the chest is shut, there is no reopening it. Back then with Tsuneyoshi— I decided I'd destroy everything" Nimura knew that he won't last long. Rize's kagune is eating him slowly and painfully. Kaneki is just staring because he knew he can't save him anymore, No one can and not even Nico's superb ability to heal. He then heard a familiar voice that triggered his memories decade ago.

"Nimura, you smell so nice! I want to eat you up!" Young Rize tackles him into the flower field. The young girl wrapped her arms into her half-brother's body, nuzzling closer to the crook of his neck and sniffing his scent.

"And I want you to eat me up!" Young Nimura said. He too wrapped his arms into Rize's body.

"But then you'll die" Rize muttered.

"Yep!"

"Furuta this world is not wrong it is just is" Kaneki started and yet unable to think of a way to lessen the painful truth that the man is just another face of tragedy, a victim of unfortunate circumstances since he was a child. Souta Furuta is just another Eto Yoshimura, children who grew up without someone to give them the love they need and then they had decided to destroy everything even themselves.

"Associate Special Class—" He slowly stared up at the man.

"Hmmm?"

"If I told you that I just wanted to live a normal life, you'd laugh wouldn't you?" Souta said with all honesty. He rubbed his chin albeit unconsciously, genuine smile came across his face.

Kaneki's eyes widened in surprised upon hearing the man's simple wish. "No" He closed his eyes upon answering, unable to shed tears. He would never dream of laughing at this man in front of him. Kaneki during his time as Sasaki Haise genuinely likes Furuta's company. The man is funny although something malicious is lurking into those dark coloured eyes. That's why upon hearing that he survived the Washuu massacre, Kaneki went out to convince him to join them but Furuta has other plans. When Kaneki's company suggested death for the Washuu heir, Kaneki got annoyed and told his underling to leave Furuta alone because it'll be their best advantage if the Washuu heir is to take the throne away from Matsuri but the truth is he just can't pluck another child from the garden. Kaneki promised himself to protect all the children from that garden in behalf of Kishou Arima and as part of his dying wish.

"Fuck—I am going to die in this dark pit" He clenched his chest, coughing blood. Blood splutters, tainting his already soaking clothes.

"Arima-san told me about the garden. He too wanted to die for so long. I think it must be horrible to live in that place. All of you are so strong but so fragile at the same time"

"Kishou-san—haha that man will definitely scold me for causing trouble. Papalin— he never— I—" He gasped, slowly he can feel his body starting to shut down. He doesn't have the energy and time. The sword of the clock is about to take his life. "That night— when I stabbed my quinque I—" He choked out. "I saw how he looked at me— there's no hint of hatred—" Blood splutters. "He was expecting his death—" Furuta can slowly no longer feel his own body. "My hands—"

Furuta halted in front of the huge mahogany door that belonged to the office of the last person he really wants to see around this time. He could not remember how many times he waited for this time to come. To end the life of the person who treated him like a trash, a disposable pawn.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" The lanky ghoul standing behind him asked. He along with another clown accompanied him to his last destination to watch how the prodigal son is to meet his own father only to take his life.

"Yes. Is there even any reason why I should not do it?" He inquired. Furuta did not wait for their answer, he slammed the door open. He stepped inside the well-lit room and there he saw the man who created him. The man who and committed sins all his life. The door behind the newly arrived clowns were shut close to make sure no one will be able to see the tragedy that is about to unfold between the father and son.

"…" Tsuneyoshi received the news of Yoshitoki's death two days ago. A day after Yoshitoki's death, Kishou followed. Killed by the artificial ghoul they cradled. He stayed in this office as much as he can to avoid the horror and pain of remembering when his children were taken away by force. He also received news an hour ago that V were spotted along with clowns inside the Washuu manor. That itself is not good news. He took a piece of paper and he wrote his last will and testament. Giving Nimura the reign and expecting that he too will perish but at least he wants to give his son a parting gift. He knows it will never be enough not after what he did to the boy. Tsuneyoshi always regret using his own children but he too is trapped in the Washuu clan's twisted system, their ancestors curse.

"Good Evening" The young Washuu greeted politely although the malicious intent was barely concealed. He stepped closer to the senior man, a good number of quinque on his hand.

"…" Tsuneyoshi's eyes widened in surprised to see his favoured illegitimate son who is standing in front of his desk. Clowns staring at them as if waiting for something tragic to unfold.

"I am really in a hurry— I have other things to settle" He shoved one of the quinque on his hands into the man's spine, slowly shredding his spinal cord and paralyzing the senior man.

Tsuneyoshi was actually expecting this boy to end his life soon and he'll never begrudge him even for a second because he deserves whatever is about to happen to him. He failed his son and hurt him till nothing can heal the wounds he inflicted on the boy. He can't face him in this life or this boy's mother afterlife. He is convinced that it was entirely his fault that their sweet son, Nimura was gone decade ago. This boy in front of him is nothing but an empty shell of his former self. Tsuneyoshi saw how his sweet and innocent son turned into this monster, a monster of his own making. The sole fault will be his for he failed to protect his son. All he could do all this time was to watch his son from afar while hoping that someday he can find a way to save him from this accursed life.

"Nimura make it fast" The newly arrived person ordered, Tsuneyoshi stared only to see Kaiko's underling. Furuta shoved another pair of quinque. His blood soaked his desk but he wasted his energy by taking out a paper wherein his will was written. Blood from his fingertips imprinted the white sheet of paper. The last thing he saw was Nimura's face. The boy is unhappy and discontented. 'I am sorry Nimura.' He wanted to tell him but he doesn't have the energy. Time is running out for him. The memories of him playing with his son and visiting the boy only to teach him how to read and write flashed right before his eyes. Tsuneyoshi mouthed his son's real name. 'Souta please live a life you deserved. I am so sorry' He doesn't know if Nimura have read his lips or not but he wished that his son will live the life he always wanted for him. Free of guilt and hatred.

"I see—" Kaneki bit his lip. Something inside him shattered upon realizing how Furuta might truly regret killing his own father. He crouched down and he reached for the Washuu king's pale cheek, soothing it. The man is cold, a sign that he is about to die any moment from now.

"Rize" He muttered. "Please—" He hold into Ken's arm. Whispering his last wish.

Kaneki lean into Furuta so the man can whisper his dying wish. Ken can't save him. He failed Arima Kishou just like how he failed Kuzen, he failed in saving Eto in behalf of Kuzen. Then he failed in protecting Rikai and Shio from death and now he is failing to save Furuta in behalf of Arima. This is the only thing he can do for this man, to listen to his wish.

"..." He muttered his selfish whims and then he sighed in relief.

"Is that all?" Kaneki asked albeit reluctant. He doesn't want the man to go but he doesn't have any alternatives to save Furuta. He is rotting at a fearful stage. The scent of rotting flesh hit his nose. You are rotting while living— you must be in pain. Kaneki realized how Furuta is half dead even before their fight.

"You are so lucky to have friends—" The metallic taste lingered into his mouth. "—return to them Associate Special Class" Furuta whispered as his senses dulled. Coldness starting to seethe into his broken body, pain is lulling him to eternal sleep. He smiled one last time before his body went limp into Kaneki's arms.

"…" Kaneki gently pushed the man, he observed Furuta's genuine smile and it somewhat reminded him of Arima Kishou's. You also wished for death— Kaneki realized. "Rest well you who experienced unfathomable sorrow and pain while you were alive, may you find happiness afterlife" He pressed his lips into the man's forehead. "I am going back for you with Rize-san" He stood up but he eyed him for a moment before going to where the main dragon is lurking.

"Kaneki-kun?" Kimi said through the radio. "I am glad we can contact you and also the Clowns surrendered so what will we do to them?"

"Kimi-san will you do me a favour?"

"What is it Kaneki-kun?"

"Could you—"

"Yes?"

"Tell them to retrieve Furuta's body for me and to check on Ayato too please? I am worried. I am going to where the dragon is— Furuta told me how to kill her"

"…" Kimi eyed the men surrounding her. Clowns were sitting into chairs while Marude, Hide and Matsuri eyed her. The set of clowns were already expecting the news about the Washuu king's death while the others were utterly disturbed on why Kaneki will want that man's body to be retrieved.

"So he got what he always wanted" Uta said. He always knew that Souta wanted to die for so long and yet his plan must be applied first before anything else.

"Yes—"

"Sou-chan— did he die beautiful?" Nico asked too. The okama always see their young king staring longingly at the sky. He once asked him why so. The man just stared at him, a genuine smile on his lips. Furuta's answer that time echoed inside his head.

"I am jealous of those clouds. They have their own freedom" Furuta once said to Nico. The younger of the two stares at the clouds as if he too wished to be one of them.

"Yes" Kaneki confirmed.

"That is so kind of you, Kanekichi to end his sufferings, sparing him the horror and guilt of killing the one and only person he ever loved throughout his life" Itori said. Souta is like a little brother to her. Earlier this year, they lost Roma too and awhile back even Donato perished. They were already expecting not to see Souta anymore because they knew how he also secretly planned for how the curtain is about to fall for him. The fallen clowns always wished for death. "We'll take care of him"

"You know where to find him?" Hide removed their chains.

"Of course. Clowns always know where their friends are"