(A/N: And im back with chapter 2! Ive been writing this for ages now, working at the speed of one sentence a day... I know, im lazy. Thank you very much to my two followers. I updated because I knew that someone was reading. Anyway, the dark themes continue in this one, focusing on Ayato's alcohol problem. Each chapter will focus on a couple to 3 peoples problems (and yes, its going to be a very depressing fic, so if you don't like that kind of thing, don't read). Next chapter will be mainly death note characters, then after that probably a mix.

Remember to review, I wont update unless I know someone is reading.

Disclaimer: I do not own Death Note, Tokyo Ghoul or any of the characters)

~Chapter Two~

The bell rang at 3pm signalling for everyone to go home.

"See you tomorrow" Lawliet told Kaneki and the rest of his friends, who were still packing up after maths, then left the room with Beyond following.

For a brief second, Kaneki noticed that Beyond look slightly flushed and shaky and considered asking if he was okay, but brushed it off when he heard Touka and Nishiki talking behind him.

"Are you sure Ayato isn't coming back till later?" Nishiki asked, slightly worried about what might happen when they returned home after today.

"No." she informed him, "He's got a detention with his current teacher, so unless he kills her, we should be okay."

He chuckled nervously, "OK, let's get going then."

Kaneki smiled weakly; it was fascinating how people in such difficult situations could find happiness somehow. But nevertheless, he had to run home, or else his Uncle would worry. Amon was great and everything, but overly protective. However, Kankei had just lost his mother after all.

...

Touka and Nishiki walked up to the door of the small and wrecked house in the run-down part of town.

"What time is Ayato back again?" asked Nishiki, turning the handle for Touka and letting them in.

"Um, well, the detention is 1 hour. But he'll probably stop with Light on the way back to get some booze." Touka replied, a hint of sadness in her voice.

"What did he do this time, if I may ask?"

"He and Light got caught smoking in the toilets."

"Ah. Right. What's that, the third time now?"

"Be serious" she said, nudging him on the arm. "I hate you."

"Yeh, I know you do" Nishiki mocked, the two sitting on the sofa and taking their notes out.

"You get all the notes for English?" Nishiki asked, flipping through his folder.

"Uh, no I kinda fell asleep in class..."

"Again?"

"..."

"Was it that again?" he asked her concerned.

"Yeh. Ayato had Light and Gevanni over till about 3, just drinking." Touka told him, fighting back tears, "I want to get him help, honestly I do, I want the old Ayato back. But... he won't help me help him."

"You have to try."

"I will."

...

The two had finished revising a while ago, and were now watching Supernatural.

"I can't believe you've never seen this episode before." Touka said to Nishiki, stuffing her mouth with popcorn, "It's like the fourth episode."

"I know I know," Nishiki threw his arms up jokingly in surrender; "I'm the supernatural fan who skipped ahead to season 4."

"What the hell! Season 1 is liked he classic Sam and Dean episodes!"

"I can see now," he added, turning his attention back to the TV, "I mean wow, who would've thought you could perform an exorcism on a plane."

Touka laughed back and lulled her head onto his shoulder subtlety, avoiding a reaction. It continued like that for a while.

"It's funny how Sam and Dean always save each other's lives..."

"Cut the sentimental crap Nishiki, it's not like you" Touka replied, and he frowned back, "I know what you're thinking, but let's not think about that now, kay?" He nodded back.

1 minute later, Touka noticed the lock on the door click and the door was slammed open.

"I wonder who that could be?" Nishiki whispered sarcastically, receiving a glare from Touka. Nevertheless, she didn't dwell on that for too long before sitting up straight and uncurling herself from Nishiki's shoulder.

"What the fuck is that scrawny little shit doing here?" Ayato asked harshly, throwing his bag on the floor and fishing around in his pockets for his cigarettes.

"... I live here?" he replied nervously.

Ayato lit the cigarette which was now between his lips and took a long drag, "Still? For fucks sake, can't you get a fucking job or something," he breathed out, "Lazy shit."

"Hang on" Touka jumped in defensively, "I earn the same amount of money as you do, and that's enough to afford food, the bills and the rent on this crappy house."

"Then why do we always have problems with money huh?" Ayato scoffed, taking another long drag of smoke.

"Because you spend all of your money on booze and cigarettes!"

"Tch." he was speechless. How was he supposed to come back to that? "I'm getting a drink."

"Fine" Touka sighed heavily and flopped down onto the sofa, "And if you're gonna smoke, please go outside."

"Nope!" He called back, pulling out a bottle of vodka and drinking straight from the rim of the bottle.

"He's gonna be up all night you know" Touka turned to the brunette.

"Might be a good idea to speak to him about this when he's sobered up then?" Nishiki suggested.

"Who said he was gonna be 'sobered up'?"

"Nothing." he shook off that thought, "But if it makes it easier, I can probably call Hide and sleep at his."

"You sure that's okay?" Touka asked, raising her eyebrow slightly.

"Of course" he flipped open his phone and dialled Hide's number.

...

Hide was lying on his bed texting Kaneki.

U like the new school so far?

Kaneki: Who is this?

Oh, soz, i 4got 2 tell u this was Hide ;) Lawliet gave me ur no.

Kaneki: I'm sorry, I find it difficult to understand your text talk...

Soz, cant help it

Before he got a reply from Kaneki, his phone began ringing, displaying 'Nishio'

"Yo Nishiki! What up?" he answered through the phone. "You're having problems with Ayato again?" Hide listened, his smile fading, "Mhm, mhm, yep. Of course, yeh. Come over when you need, I'll set up the airbed. Yep, no problem man, thanks, bye."

Hide hung up and placed his phone on the desk in front of him, "I hope Touka's okay."

….

Nishiki closed his phone and stood up. "Hide said its okay, so I'm gonna head over there soon. You sure you'll be okay here?" he asked Touka, a hint of concern in the question.

"I'll be fine" she lied, "Besides, I've got the 5pm-11pm shift at Anteiku, so by the time I get back, he should've passed out."

"Good thinking" Nishiki waved goodbye and left, leaving Touka to get ready to work. She checked her watch, 4:30pm. Before getting changed into the uniform, she took a deep breath and went to speak to Ayato. She found him sitting out in the tiny garden, smoking his probably third cigarette and drinking canned beer.

"Uh, Ayato?" she called to him.

"Yeh, what?" he replied rudely.

"I uh, I'm working tonight till 11pm" she hesitated, "When's your next shift at Anteiku?"

"Pfft, I don't fucking know… I think I have the afternoon shift of 3pm-9pm tomorrow."

"You're lucky they haven't fired you yet."

"At least I don't turn up drunk…" Ayato threw back aggressively.

"No… I guess not… I'm gonna go now." And with that, Touka left.

….

When Touka returned, she was surprised to find that Ayato wasn't passed out on the floor or watching TV. Instead, after a brief search for him, she found him kneeling in front of the toilet, breathing heavily. The room didn't smell like vomit or bleach, so she presumed he was here just for a precaution.

"Hey, you feel okay?" she asked him soothingly, calmly walking over to him and kneeling down next to him. He shook his head sheepishly. "How long have you been here?"

"About…" he started taking short and shallow breaths as another strong wave of nausea overtook him, "… 15… minutes"

Touka was silent for a bit, wondering how she could help. Maybe I could take advantage of the situation… she thought, I mean, he'll be a bit less drunk when it's all out his system.

"Oh god…" he groaned, and edged closer to the bowl, placing one arm around the rim and one over his mouth. Touka wanted to help, and so pulled the hair from his face and began rubbing circles on his neck when he began retching.

He was being violently sick for about 5 minutes, and Touka was forced to involuntarily grimace at the sounds as she continued comforting him. Eventually, it died down to just dry heaving, and she stood up, filling a glass with water and passing it to him. When he was sure it was all out, he collapsed back onto the wall, body shaking and eyes struggling to hold back the tears.

"Thank you" he muttered to Touka, sipping from the water, internally wishing it was something else, "I'm sorry…"

"It's okay."

"No, it's not okay."

"… Okay, so its not okay, because that's the fifth time this month that you've thrown up from drinking too much." She paused, and took a deep breath. "Ayato… I want to get you help."

"Hmph." He sighed.

"Please?"

"No."

"Please?"

"Alright, fine"

"Thank you" she failed to keep that single tear in her eye as it fell. Ayato felt guilty for making her cry, and leaned up, taking her into a loose but comforting hug. Even in his slightly drunken haze, even he knew that help was probably the best option.

Help.

Because isn't that what everyone needs?

(P.s. I want to add Juuzou into this fic somehow, but I cant figure out how. If anyone has any ideas, please PM me or drop a review. Thanks for reading!)