The bell let out its signature chime as a customer walked through the door, closing an umbrella in the process. It was unusually late to have customers, but the shop wasn't closed. The Harmony Café was always open for those who needed a hand. "Welcome." Touka said cheerily glancing over the counter at the girl who had just entered the shop. It was one of the newer ghoul recruits, a mousey girl by the name of Katsura. She was around nineteen with light blue hair. She wore a soft expression beneath her wire frame glasses. Her flowing hair was slick against her skin from the rain. "Hi Touka." Katsura replied, eyes to the ground. She quickly took a seat near the window. "How was your day? Can I get you a cup of coffee?" Touka asked, silently staring at Katsura.
Katsura had recently wandered into the 25th ward a few months ago after a CCG raid in one of the neighboring wards. Aogiri activity was on the rise again, causing many peaceful ghouls to pay the price. Katsura's parents had been slain and she herself mortally wounded. Touka had found her bleeding on the side of the road while leaving class one rainy summer's night. Lying in a puddle of her own blood, she had begged Touka to help her. Touka personally carried her to the café and cared for her alongside Yomo, Nishiki, and Kimi. The healing process was daunting, leaving a wicked scar along her torso. Katsura considered Touka a lifesaver, idolizing her every move; and would do anything to protect the one who'd saved her life. "I'll take a cup." Katsura replied wringing out her hair a little more.
Touka quickly prepared the cup of coffee and walked over the front door. She flipped the OPEN sign to CLOSED and locked the front door to Harmony Café. She sat in the booth near the window across from Katsura. Touka slid the coffee across the table to Katsura who gratefully accepted the cup. "My day was….." Katsura trailed off, eyes still glued to the floor. Touka could sense something wasn't entirely right. "What's wrong?" "Do you know someone by the name of Ayato?" The question left Katsura's lips in a faint whisper. Touka's chest burned. The name was painful, poison in her veins. "W...What?" Touka asked, her eyes wide. "Wh…Why do you ask that?" "I spoke with an Ayato today. He approached me as I was leaving my last class at the university. You two look very similar. He told me to let you know he'd be seeing you soon."
Touka couldn't breathe. Three years. It had been three years since she had heard the mention of Ayato's name. Why now? What could he possibly want? "Touka?" Katsura asked, her gaze lifting from the floor to look at an obviously disturbed Touka. "It's… It's nothing. Just promise me you'll stay away from him if you see him again." Touka pleaded, her purple hair hanging loosely over her bang as she stared into Katsura's green eyes. "He's very dangerous." "I promise Touka." Katsura replied, her eyes meeting the floor again. She quickly finished her coffee and got up from the table. "I'm going up to my room now, sorry for troubling you." Katsura said hurriedly rushing towards the stairs leading to the living area. "G'night." She said as she climbed the stairs.
White hair. He stood before her in a room of white. A smile pierced Touka's cold demeanor as a familiar face crossed her mind. Kaneki. He walked forward slowly and embraced her tightly, letting her know that he was back, that he was home. "Touka, don't hate me." Kaneki said in a hushed tone staring down at Touka as tears welled up in her eyes. "I only did what I thought was right." "Why'd you leave Kaneki…? Why'd you leave me?" She said beating his chest weakly. Kaneki just held her tighter as the emotions overflowed.
A dream. The smile that Touka had awoken with slowly faded at the realization. Shit. Not again. It was her third time this week dreaming of him. She was sweaty. Her pink bunny night gown clung to her skin. She'd had the dreams before, especially during the first year after his disappearance, but never this frequent. "Kaneki." The name tasted sweet as it left her lips. She lifted her hand to her eye as a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
