I'm back with more fluffy Touken! Thank you everyone who followed/favorited/reviewed! I appreciate your guys' support, it really does make me feel good about my writing (ego swelling).
I know you guys are gonna hate me for bringing this up, but I have to complain. I can't believe school's about to start already. I won't be able to devote as much time to writing (wah, wah!)... Sad day.
To ohmyyato- Exactly. Where has my ship gone?! I'm glad that you enjoyed this last chapter, and hope you like the rest. I try my very best to keep them IC, and am relieved that I've done so! Thank you for your review :)
Guests- Thank you! Glad you liked it!
lolplayer- Haha, I'm not too sure how to respond to this. But I hope that means you liked it? Or something... :o)
Okay, I'm sorry if Touka is a little OOC in this chapter. I made her more compassionate (which I think she already is, though...), as you'll see when you read. It was a bit hard to predict how she really would react in a situation like this... Sorry if I slipped up!
Touka sat on her bed, knees drawn into her chest, chin resting on top. Her eyes cast in boredom around her room, trying to find something consuming to pique her interest as time went on.
Her open window allowed for a light breeze to flow into the room, making her white curtains billow as the cool, crisp air cleansed Touka's mood and the atmosphere. She almost didn't mind waiting as her gaze fell on the swaying leaves outside, all varying colors of the fall. This was probably her favorite season, besides winter.
Touka snapped to attention as her sensitive hearing picked up on footsteps hurrying down the hallway, getting closer and closer to her apartment door. She perked, jumped from her bed and to her mirror, smoothing down imaginary frizzes in her flawless hair. She quickly frowned and whirled angrily from her dresser, upset with the fact that she was trying.
Her bare feet slapped against the wooden panels as they left the safety of carpet, coming to a halt a few feet from the door. She heard the footsteps slow and come to a stop, a deep breath, and timid knocking. Unable to hold back her indignant laugh, Touka flung open the heavy door and blinked up at Kaneki.
It was obvious that he hadn't expected such a quick entry, as his eyes had wandered off into the sky, a surprised noise rattling in the confines of his throat. He quickly gathered himself and blinked back at Touka, who remained silent, and dealt her a slow, gentle smile.
She hated how her heart melted at that stupid little smile.
"Hello, Touka-chan."
She bit the inside of her cheek, returning his smile with her own small one. "Hey, Eyepatch."
His lips upturned in a sheepish grimace, becoming self conscious of the white covering over his left eye. He scratched at it, then stepped past Touka when she motioned for him to come inside.
He placed his shoes by the door, hanging his hoodie on a rack. He turned and leaned down swiftly, giving Touka a quick peck on the lips before strolling into the living room. Blushing profusely, Touka took several breaths to calm herself before following his suit.
She hated how her face flushed at the simplest of touches.
Kaneki sat in his little reserved fashion at her table already, picking up a book he left at her house recently. His dark eyes flicked the pages thoroughly, fingers slipping between the paper and slowly leafing them aside. Touka crossed her arms over her t-shirt, leaning against the wall as he left planet Earth.
"Coffee?" He raises his brows and his eyes flit up to hers for a second, a grateful smile stretching his lips. She couldn't help but stare as he replied cheerily,
"Yeah, that'd be great. Thanks."
Pursing her lips, Touka turned and set to work. While she filled the pitcher with water, she scolded him quietly.
"You shouldn't be so uptight in my house, especially now that we're... together."
Silence met her statement, causing her to peer over her shoulder curiously. She found a surprised expression of his, cheeks dusted a faint red as he corrected himself and crossed his legs, slouched over the table casually. The smile from earlier still played on his lips, making Touka smirk at his smitten look.
Unaware that when she turned around and resumed making coffee, Kaneki gazed fondly at her back, cheek resting on his palm as he watched her shuffle around the small area that made up the kitchen. Her hair fell softly over her neck, eyes focused on their chore.
It's like we're a married couple, or something.
Kaneki startled when Touka placed the pitcher of water on the counter just slightly harder than necessary, making the glass click loudly as it connected with the hard surface. His eyes darted back to the book in his hands nervously.
His eyes scanned the same paragraph over and over again as he desperately tried to ignore her cocked hips from his peripheral, heaving a silent sigh as she quickly wrapped up the coffee and brought two cups to the table. She grabbed and handful of sugar and tossed it on the table, as well as some creamer from the fridge.
It was a force of habit for guests, really, since when both of them where seated, they set to drinking their coffee black. Touka closed her eyes and sucked in a peaceful breath as another breeze shifted the air in the room, birds chattering and leaves rustling in the background.
Kaneki stared at her serene expression, feeling the sense of tranquility wash off her and into himself. I really am being too uptight, he thought, closing his own eyes and focusing on relaxing. He took a sip from his mug and rested his chin on a curled fist, heart calming in his chest.
They both sat in the comfortable silence for a while, enjoying each other's presence and the simple joy of listening to normality, feeling and smelling the fall air. But, as the minutes continued to slide by, Kaneki chanced glances at Touka's lax appearance, occasionally scooting closer.
But, to his despair, she wasn't an idiot.
"If you want to sit by me, then just do it, moron."
She didn't have to open her eyes to know that his face had brightened to a stark red as he bashfully closed the distance between them, their bodies lightly touching. Her heart picked up a notch at the warmth he radiated, like her own personal heater in the cool fall day. Her leg and arm tingled where his knee touched hers, his arm occasionally resting against hers.
She hated how he made her feel like a girl.
"Have you thought about what university you want to go to, Touka-chan?"
She came to attention at this, passing her boyfriend a shrewd glance.
"Yeah... I was thinking about..." Am I really about to say this? Kaneki gazed at her expectantly, a hint of hope kindling in his dark olive eyes. Ugh.
"...Kamii." Bleh, I said it.
His face instantly lit up, diminishing the small amount of space was between them in his excitement. His face was literally centimeters from hers, the scent of coffee washing over her face as he blurted,
"Seriously?!" Although he was a bit too eager for her liking, the childish enthusiasm was too satisfying at her response. Casually, she turned away and took a sip of coffee like the pristine young woman she was.
"Of course."
She was beyond surprised when Kaneki's arms closed around her, pulling her into his lap in his happy daze. He buried his face in the crook of her neck, snuggling her body tightly to his.
Touka was stupefied, her limbs taut and unmoving as his breath prickled across her neck.
"That's amazing, Touka-chan! I'll get to see you way more!"
He abruptly stopped squeezing her, pulling away as Touka finally came to her senses and unconsciously gripped his arm in embarrassment, hiding her madly blushing face behind her curtain of soft hair.
"Are you going to be able to make it in?"
Her fragile being was left behind as Touka turned in his lap defiantly, almost yelling into his face as she retorted sharply,
"Hell yes! And, if I'm having trouble, which I won't be, you're gonna help me. Whether you like it or not, Kaneki."
With a huff, she swiveled back around and crossed her arms, resting her back against Kaneki's chest as she glared at their intertwined legs angrily. How dare he suggest she isn't good enough? How dare he?!
Kaneki winced at the livid energy pouring out of Touka, her displeased frown just visible due to her lack of height against his. He couldn't help but grin at her adorable expression.
"Touka-chan-"
"Shut up."
"But, Touka-chan-"
"I said, shut up."
I'll be damned if she'll let me talk now...
Touka was distracted from her anger for a second as Kaneki's arms returned around her, snaking underneath hers and resting over her belly. Still unused to these intimate touches, she awkwardly settled her hands on his forearms, splaying her fingers over the tanned skin.
She hated how she could never stay angry at him.
Forgetting her discomfort, Touka marveled at the differences in their skin. Kaneki's was a soft tan, a considerably dark shade for the middle of fall. Her pearly white hands glided dreamily over his arms, eliciting a shudder from him.
A sheen of peace washed over her as she felt his chin come to a rest on her shoulder, head propped up against hers. She jumped lightly when he slid his palm over hers, spreading her delicate fingers against his thicker ones. They stared down at their hands, breathing in sync until Kaneki softly spoke up.
"Do you still feel... like we're that much different...?"
Touka angled her head to gaze at him softly, her façade crumbling for the injured look in his eyes. Her eyes fell back on their hands, and she threaded her fingers with his lovingly.
"No, I don't."
Kaneki's eyes stretched wide as she twisted in his lap and wove her arms around his torso, tucking her head into the crook of his neck.
"Our anatomies are different; I'm a full ghoul, and you're half. You have your human tendencies that I'll never fully understand, and you were thrown into our life style so suddenly."
Her grip on him tightened, throat constricting.
"I didn't understand. I didn't want to. I was so jealous of you, Kaneki. All I'd ever wanted was a normal, uncomplicated life. But I came to terms with that it's not your fault. You didn't choose this, but you adapted and dealt with it. You dealt with me."
Kaneki blinked rapidly, trying to push down the growing pressure building behind his eyes.
"T-Touka-"
"We're exactly alike. Who cares about how our bodies work, what they crave? What about what we think, feel, how things around us affect our life and how we deal with it?"
She pulled away and glared into his eyes with a passion he was only lucky to catch a glimpse of.
"Kaneki, we're the same. Who cares about the label 'ghoul' or 'human'. All of us are people, whether we realize it or not."
Kaneki could only stare at her with huge eyes, glistening and spilling over with tears. She gave him a pained smile, throwing her arms around his neck and feeling the wetness on her own cheeks as he sobbed quietly into her shoulder. His arms slowly closed around her, holding her like a lifeline.
"I love you."
Touka instantly froze, eyes flying open and focusing blankly ahead as her brain tried to process the muffled words spoken into her skin. Her breathing picked up, her body drawing back almost of it's own accord to get a good look at Kaneki.
His usually timid, easy going demeanor shattered, fiercely compassionate moist eyes ablaze with the emotion she could only pinpoint by the one welling and overflowing in her chest.
"...Huh?"
Oh, that was smart.
Her face immediately blushed to a deep scarlet, teeth pulling nervously at her bottom lip. Who knew that three little words could turn her into this pile of hot mess?
She backed away, spine hitting the table as Kaneki followed her inch for inch, jaw set in determination. He leaned in close, lips whispering over hers as he murmured again,
"I love you, Touka-chan."
She could only reply with her lips as his crashed against hers, unspoken thoughts displayed through her slow, long strokes. He gathered her back in his lap, grunting as she bit his lower lip and licked it.
Kaneki felt heat tingle in his cheeks at her unusually bold progressions, fingers trailing over his abdomen over his shirt. His coherent thoughts quickly melted as she forced her tongue into his mouth, hands lifting to tangle in her hair.
They finally pulled back for air, both panting and flushed. Kaneki smiled cheekily, wiping away some stray saliva from the corner of his mouth.
"So, does that mean you love me too?"
Growling, Touka punched him hard enough to misplace a bone as she stood abruptly and swept up their cold coffee. Kaneki gasped in pain, clutching the injury as it gradually healed. He fell to his side, teeth clenching as the bone clicked and set itself.
He almost couldn't hear her through the blood roaring in his ears as she muttered,
"Of course I love you, idiot."
She loves him to death.
... Ugh. I honestly don't know how I felt about this chapter, haha. Had to take out some bits, stayed up super f*cking late to finish the rest... I wouldn't say it's too shabby.
Also, thank you all for your kind reviews. I'm glad you're all enjoying this, and it makes me happy to see that it's of some form of quality. Thank you favoriters and followers as well! You all are so awesome.