CHAPTER 4

As they started to get up from the bathroom floor, Hide comes to check on them, concerned after seeing Kaneki acting weird in the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" He asks.

Kaneki has his head buried on Rize's shoulder, not wanting Hide to see his face. This worries Hide even more.

"Buddy?"

"It's okay, Kaneki. You need to show him. He'll understand." Rize says, stroking Kaneki's hair.

"Understand what?" Hide asks.

Slowly, but hesitantly, Kaneki raises his head from Rize's shoulder and faces Hide. Hide is shocked.

"Buddy! Your eye! What happened to you?"

"I happened. I'm sorry, Hide, but I haven't been completely honest with you." Rize says.

"What do you mean by that?"

"I'm a ghoul."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

Rize gives a sad sigh, then tells him the truth about what happened that night.

Hide is shocked and angry at this revelation.

"WHAT?! You tricked him into going out with you so you could eat him, and with the transfusion you're saying he's a ghoul now?"

Rize sadly nods.

"I can't beleive this! All those days when he was in a coma, thinking you cared about him, telling you all I knew about him, even a little about myself, including how I have a crush on that cute girl who works with you at that coffee shop.."

"I felt guilty about it. Please trust me on this, Hide. When I offered my blood for the transfusion, I didn't think this would happen."

"Don't be mad at her, Hide. I've forgiven her, and I want you to forgive her, too." Kaneki says.

Hide groans as he scratches his head.

"Okay. If you're willing to forgive her, I guess I can, too. She did save your life, and for that I am enternally grateful."

"Thank you, Hide." Kaneki replied.

"No, problem, pal. Besides, I have nothing personal against ghouls, and I never want to."

"That's good to hear, beacause you know that 'cute girl' you have a crush on where I work?" Rize asks.

"Yeah?"

"She's a ghoul."

"SHE IS?!" Hide says, surprised.

Rize nods, smiling.

"Yes. In fact, everyone who works there is a ghoul."

"You're kidding, right?"

"No. In fact, they're some of the nicest, caring people that I know of besides the two of you. I think it would be best to take Kaneki to them for help."

"If you think they can do something, let's go there. What do you think, pal?"

Kaneki nods.

"I agree. Let's go there."

As they are about to leave, Hide had a thought.

"You know, Hide's eye is going to make him stand out. People might freak."

Rize and Kaneki nod in agreement.

Kaneki puts on a hoodie to hide his face, and they all leave for Antieku. They arrive and enter.

Yoshimura and Touka are busy cleaning. They turn and see Rize and the others.

"Well, hello there, Rize. What brings you here on your day off?" Yoshimura asks with a smile.

"Kaneki, here." Rize says, pointing to him.

"So, this is the brave man who saved your life. It is definitely a pleasure to meet you." Yoshimura says, extending his hand.

Kaneki shakes it.

"Likewise." Kaneki replied.

"There's something we need to discuss." Rize says.

"Indeed. Okay, then. Let's head to the back. Touka, please lock up." Yoshimura replied.

Touka nods. As Hide follows behind, Touka grabs the back of his shirt collar.

"Hold it, spikey-hair! Where do you think you're going?" She says.

"Hey, I'm with them!" Hide replied.

"It's okay, Touka. He's with us." Rize says.

Touka looks at Yoshimura, who nods. Touka lets go of Hide's shirt collar, and Hide follows them. After locking up, Touka joins them.

"Now, what is this about?" Yoshimura asks.

Rize looks at Kaneki. "Go ahead, show him. It's okay."

Kaneki lowers his hoodie. Touka looks in shock, and Yoshimura looks and gives a kind, reassuring smile.

"I think the blood transfusion had an effect I didn't think would happen. I believe he's becoming like us." Rize says.

Yoshimura nods.

"So I see. Wait here for a moment."

Yoshimura opens a door to some stairs and goes down them. A few minutes later, he comes back up with an object wrapped in brown butcher's paper. He hands it to Kaneki.

"Here. This should help." He says.

Kaneki looks at it. He begins to feel queasy as he realizes what it is. He hands it back.

"Thank you, but I don't think I can-"

"That wasn't what I think it was, is it?" Hide asks.

"Yes." Rize replied.

Hide gulps and begins to sweat nervously.

"Well, there is only one other alternative we can do for the moment." Yoshimura says.

He once more goes down the stairs and comes back up. He hands Kaneki some brownish-looking cubes.

"Here. It looks normal, but not what's inside. If you put it in coffee, it should calm your hunger, but won't completely satisfy it. In order for a ghoul to live a fulfilling life, a certain amount of food is essential. You must keep that in mind that you will need to feed when the time comes."

Kaneki smiles and nods.

"Thank you."

"What's it made of?" Hide asks.

"You don't want to know." Rize replied.

Hide shudders.

Kaneki suddenly has a realization, one that makes him sad.

"What's wrong, Kaneki?" Yoshimura asks.

"I was wondering what I am now. I'm neither human or ghoul."

"Neither? That's not true. You're both at the same time. Stay here with us. We'll teach you how we ghouls live, learn more about us, and to see for yourself whether or not we are just ravenous beasts. If you're willing to accept Rize, will you do the same for us?"

"Yes, of course. Thank you."

"What about him?" Touka says, pointing at Hide. "He knows about us and what we do here!"

"That shouldn't be a problem." Rize says.

"Why is that?"

"He's not the type to tell anyone, and besides, there is someone else here he cares about besides Kaneki."

"Oh, yeah? Who might that be?"

"You." She replied.

"ME?!"

Rize smiles and nods.

"That's right. He has a crush on you."

Touka looks at Hide, who gives a nervous smile. She goes toward him and gives him a cold, angry stare.

"Have a crush all you want. That doesn't mean that I'll like you. A word of warning, though. If you tell anyone what happened here, it will end badly for you. I'll see to it. Understand?"

"Y-yes.." Hide replied.

"Good."

Yoshimura lets out a chuckle.

"I think there is a better way to handle this, Touka." He says, walking toward Hide, who looks at him in fear.

"Don't worry, young man. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. I'd like to make you an offer. Work here with us. As we can teach you about ghouls, you can teach some of us about humans. Sound good?"

Hide ponders it for a moment, looks at Kaneki and Rize who smile at him, then at Touka who just glares at him. Maybe she'll like me when she gets to know me. He thinks.

"Yes, of course." He replied.

"Excellent. The both of you can start tomorrow."

Rize gives Kaneki a hug and a kiss. She hopes her trying to make things right will continue.