Kaiya frowned, standing in the hall just outside her parents' bedroom.
Touka sneezed into her tissue as Kaneki sat next to his wife, holding a glass of water.
"I'll go get you another box. Do you need anything else?" The white haired ghoul sniffled, handing the glass to Touka.
"I think I'm good. Are you sure you're feeling up to looking after Kaiya today, you were up coughing most of the night." Touka reached out to place a hand on her husband's forehead, only to have him pull away..
"Don't do that.' She said . "Let me see."
"It's just a little cough and a-"
"Don't hide this from me. You don't always have to be that way. Just because we're-"
"That's not it. You've done so much-"
"Like you haven't, everything you've done for the past five years has been for us, if you need a couple days, we're not going to think any different of you. You're still an amazing husband and Dad." Touka leaned forward nuzzling him lovingly.
"I know you won't. Last time I got sick, you handled everything so I was able to rest. I want to give you the same option. It's not all on you to look after our family. We built this life together and it's only fair." Kaneki turned to cough into his sleeve.
Slowly the child entered, her face buried in her plush unicorn.
"Daddy,Mommy are you okay?" The five year old called in a soft voice. Kaneki made his way over to his daughter, kneeling in front of her and gently rubbing her hair.
"Everything's fine." He assured her. "Mommy's not feeling very well, but there's nothing to worry about."
"I don't want Mommy to feel yucky."
"I know. I don't like it either,but I'll make sure she's taken care of."he promised. Kaiya threw her arms around her father.
"But who will make you better while you make my Mommy better?"
"You don't need to worry about that."
"Do you and Mommy have to go to the doctor?" The young ghoul asked in a worried tone.
"No. Mommy just needs rest and some extra love until she's feeling better."
"Can I give you and Mommy extra hugs, then you will get better too."
"I love Kaiya hugs, but I'm fine." Kaneki insisted Touka watched from the bed, shaking her head. Kaiya released her father, staring up into his eyes.
"You don't feel good either, do you Daddy. I heard you and Sprinkles did too. You sound stuffy and coughy. The child grabbed onto Kaneki's hand, leading him back to the bed.
"Kaiya-' he began.
"It's okay, Daddy. When I feel like you, I have naps. You can have one too. You can lay down."
"Thank you, but if I do that and Mommy stays in here with me, who would look after you?"
"I can do it. I'll take care of you and my Mommy and Sprinkles too." She climbed onto the bed, attempting to pull Kaneki with her.
"Come on, Daddy. You have to nap to get better. I won't be sad."
"That's great, but one of us has to get up." Kaiya settled herself in the middle of the bed at her mother's side still tugging on her father's hand.
"Please?" She pleaded. Kaneki sighed, giving in to his daughter's wishes. The young ghoul took hold of her parents' blanket, while the adults each took a pillow from their side of the bed, placing it behind her.
"We can have a nap together. When we wake up, I will take good care of you. Can I please have my special goodnight?"
"Baby, Daddy doesn't feel good. Let's give him a little break." Touka suggested settling into her pillow, close to her daughter. Kaiya frowned.
"But it's special, just for me."
"I know, but sometimes-"
"It's okay, Touka. I've been doing it since she was born, a little cough-"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. It's fine." Kaiya giggled, turning to face her father with a wide grin. Kaneki softly stroked his daughter's hair. As he began to sing softly.
"The sun is sinking down
Behind the hills
And everything is still.
So baby close your eyes
And rest your weary mind
I will hold you close and
Sing you this lullaby.
Let your worries go
And fall asleep
Your dreams will turn to gold
You will wake to find
You will have a smile all day
And remember this lullaby.
So Kaiya close your eyes
I'll sing you this lullaby
At the song's end, Kaneki kissed her forehead.
"Goodnight my little princess, Mommy and I love you to the moon and back."Kaiya yawned.
"I love you Daddy, Love you Mommy. Will you say goodnight to Sprinkles?" Kaneki turned his head to cough. Taking a moment to catch his breath, he reached over and patted the unicorn's head.
"Goodnight Sprinkles." He said.
"She is happy now. I will be happy when you and Mommy get better. Then we can play."
"Maybe we'll play after our nap. While mommy rests we can play a quiet game." Kaneki offered.
"Okay." It hadn't taken long for the child to fall asleep, leaving Kaneki and Touka to their illness.
"You know what?" The female ghoul said.
"What?"
"You're amazing. I don't know if I could have the patience for that, coughing like you have been."
"She'll only be little once. I want her to be able to look back one day and know how precious she is."
"She knows, you tell her all the time. With your words, when you spend time with her. Like I said, she's definitely daddy's little princess. I mean you tell her all the time that she was the best birthday present you ever got."
"She is. Having her here at all is incredible, but for her to come into the world that close to my birthday, how can she not be?" Kaneki cautiously climbed out of bed.
"Where are you going?" Touka sniffled.
"I'm going to try to get the tissues. If I go now, maybe she'll stay asleep til I get back."
"I don't know, you know our daughter. You move a half inch and she knows." Kaneki stood still for a moment, Kaiya didn't move.
"I think I'm good." He whispered, backing up slowly. "I just have to be quiet and I'll be back before she knows I was gone." Kaneki crossed the floor silently. He turned to the door, taking a step into the hallway.
"Daddy?" Kaiya called sleepily. The child was now sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
Touka couldn't stop herself from laughing. "Busted." She said with a grin.
"So close." The white haired ghoul chuckled. "I really thought I was going to make it this time."
"Now you see how wrong you were." Touka teased.
"Come back daddy, you should be napping. When I am sick you and Mommy tell me to nap, remember?" Touka laughed
"Yeah, I remember. But Mommy needs more tissues so I have to go downstairs to get some." Kaiya narrowed her eyes at him.
"But then you come right back and have a nap!" She demanded.
"But-"
"No, no Daddy. I want you and Mommy to get all better. Hurry back."
"You are so a mini version of your mother."
"But Mommy is the best one ever!"
"You're absolutely right, princess. She is the best. I'll be back soon."
"Hurry, we will miss you!" The young ghoul cried as Kaneki vanished from sight. She cuddled into her mother.
"He'll be back."
"Will you and Daddy be okay?"
"Yeah. It'll take time, like when you get sick."
"Good. I would cry if you got sick forever."
"That's not how it works, Kaiya. We'll be fine, I promise." It was then that the child got her idea. There was no way around it, her parents had always been loving to her and cared for her. Now it was her turn to repay the favor.