Chapter 4: You can bring someone water but can you make them drink?
Kaneki POV
The walk to :RE was rather peaceful compared to the last few years of my life we took back alleys as to avoid catching the attention of the authorities namely the CCG. Rize kept our hands intertwined with each other only ever tightening her grip whenever on the rare occasion came across a female both Human and Ghoul alike "Why do you tighten your grip on me around other woman?" I asked letting my curiosity get the better of me. She looked at me like I should know the answer already "It's simple since I can't mark you permanently I decided to show the world you're mine" She said as though she had actual competition.
Deciding their is only one way to end her worries I pulled her into an alley pinned against a wall crushed my lips onto her's into a passionate kiss. It did not last long but it was enough to transmit my feeling looking her straight in the eye's "Don't you ever worry about anyone else you're the only one in my eye" The look in her eyes turning from passionate to loving. "I will never doubt that" She said in an almost apologetic tone before a sort of cold smile appeared on her face "Beside's you know I would kill you if you ever two-timed."
Any other man would have taken that as a threat but to me this was her way of saying I love you in the most meaningful way possible "I love you too Rize" We pecked each other on the lips one last time before continuing on our way. When we arrived a thought crossed my mind on how Touka and the others might react to Rize's presence let alone the fact that they are going to have to work together if they are push my plan.
When we got close I turned to Rize "Rize let me go in first and let me explain everything about us before you walk in who knows how they might react to your presence" I told her with legitimate concern in my voice. I expected her to start asking things like If I was ashamed of us, or don't I love her but instead I got an understanding smile "I get what you mean Kaneki-kun I would be on my guard in their shoes too" There was a park nearby like their was at Anteiku she sat on one of the bench I made my inside :RE.
When I opened the door the bell above rang to signal that someone had walked in Touka who was behind the counter turned around and when she saw me a smile grew on her face "I said I would be back" I sounded almost as though I were gloating. She simply walked up to me and caught me in a hug "I'm glad that you are… welcome home" She sounded as though her voice were about to crack. I simply put my hand on the back of her head and this seemed to calm her down "I'm never leaving you guys again" I declared I think more for myself than for them.
After our touchy moment I could hear footsteps coming down the stairs that were soon revealed to be Hinami "Onee-chan who's there?" She asked in a dreary tone she probably had just woken up. When she reached the bottom I finally came into her sight and a wide grin spread on her face "Onii-chan you came back" She spoke with cheer and joy in her voice. Deciding to play with her a little "Morning Hinami I see you decided to go casual today" Taking a moment to process this before she looked down and noticed her state of dress consisted only of a white shirt that reached only half way down her thighs.
Her face turning a shade of red I didn't think possible she quickly made her way back upstairs and practically slammed her door with myself letting out a laugh that frankly felt very good to let out "I guess that's one way to wake her up in the morning" I got through in my laughing. After that Touka informed me that Ayato had left not long after I had to deal with his ties in Aogiri but that he would return tomorrow. "I just hope he makes it out of this ok I've heard stories about that Tatara and how doesn't like deserters" Touka spoke with worry in her voice "Your brother will be fine it's not like Tatara has time to care with the atk on the Island" I told her as reassuringly as I could.
In the middle of our conversation Renji and Nishiki walked through the front door when they laid eye's on me shock couldn't describe the expression on their faces they looked as though they just had strokes or seen a ghost… I guess in my case they really had. They both looked at me with what was either scorn or relief in their eyes the smile that grew on their faces answered this I stood and walked over to them we shook hands and they welcomed me back to their world "Good to be back." After that Hinami finally came back down dressed in a pair of jeans and a white blouse "Does this mean you're staying Onii-chan?" She asked me with concern in her voice I looked at her with a loving smile "I promise you all I am never leaving again this is my home and this is our world and I'm going to make sure that it stays that way."
Thinking this was the best time to break the news to them about Rize "Also I brought along a guest with me she is outside I'll call her in" They all looked at me with curious looks in their eye's "Who is this person Kaneki? Do we know them?" Yomo spoke in his regularly calm manner. "I would think you would Yomo I just ask that none of you overreact to who it is."
Just when I said that the front door bell rang indicating someone had walked in they looked in the direction of the door and when they laid eye's on who it was the atmosphere of the room went from calm to homicidal in an instant. "Hello everyone how are you today" Rize spoke in a greeting tone and she was answered with a flurry of crystals launched at her from Touka's Ukaku which she was easily able to deflect with a single tail of her Rinkaku. Seeing it again I was a little surprised to see it changed to a shade of snow white from the crimson red it use to be.
The flying of Crystals continue for a full minute before I stepped in to stop her I grabbed Touka by the wrist she looked at me with such anger in her eye's like I had never seen before but this was countered by the seriousness in mine "Cut it Touka" I told her in a calm tone. This only served to make her angrier "WHY IS SHE HER? WHY ARE YOU WITH HER? WE SHOULD KILL THIS BITCH!" Touka yelled out with every kind of hateful emotion she could muster the venom in her voice being thicker than a blade.
"We shouldn't do that because she is on our side."
This was enough to bring Touka to pause and for a moment the room was filled with silence. Breaking it I explained the circumstance of Rize and mine's situation. About how she came to me the night I saved Hinami and how she only seeks forgiveness for her actions skipping over the graphic details of last night. When I mentioned how we met last night in my apartment this only made Rize chuckle lightly when I said it was a "Beneficial" meeting "Oh it was beneficial alright I got plenty out of it" She said knowing this would only cause me to blush and reveal the true nature of it.
Nishiki was the first to catch on and started to laugh the others figuring it out soon after Yomo and Touka just looked a little surprised and Hinami looked as though she had a fever with the sweat and redness of her face from the embarrassment of hearing that.
After that little mortifying fit Touka stood up and stomped over to Rize with anger in her eyes and gritted teeth "If I think even for a minute that what you say is a lie or that you would hurt one of us in any way you won't be alive long enough to regret." She spoke to her like Rize had killed a dear friend and then Touka hugged her uncaringly and obviously not to her great pleasure "Welcome to the family" She spoke slowly and reluctantly in a whisper almost no one could hear.
When Touka let go Rize simply smiled and looked to every else "You may all not trust me or believe me I can understand that I mean why would you trust someone like me? But I want you all to know I love Kaneki-kun and anyone he cares about I do too and I hope to earn your trust someday." She spoke in a voice only I knew as sincere and honest she could be.
Nishiki look at her from his chair "Well you never really gave me a reason to not trust you only that you took my hunting spot from me so if Kaneki vouches for you I'll take his word for it" He said in his regularly calm demeanor with a hint of laziness in his eye's.
Hinami was next to speak "You hurt a lot of people Miss Rize including Onii-chan… But if he trusts you so do just don't do anything stupid and I won't have to be rash" She spoke in a generic tone
"She has really grown up has she?" I thought to myself noting how much she has grown in my absence. Hinami isn't that helpless little girl anymore she is more than that… better than that.
Yomo gave his signature nod hinting his unspoken response I wondered for so long why he didn't speak much but then I realized the words he didn't speak were louder than the ones anyone else could.
When things started to calm down the front door opened again and in stepped a person I am not sure I was happy to see alive or worried to see the same. Tsukiyama Shuu aka the "Gourmet" wearing his usual classy Euro suit "Bonjour to all of you today" he bowed saying so when he rose back up and set his eye's on me they lit up with a joy as though he had seen God himself. "KANEKI-KUN YOU'VE COME BACK" He practically dove to try and entrap me in a hug but I stepped out of the way and he crashed into several tables much to the irritation of Touka "ARE YOU FRIGGIN KIDDING ME!" She yelled at the downed Ghoul.
When got back up his eye's narrowed in anger not pointed at me but the person next me "Why is she here?" He spoke with anger and murder in his eye's obviously talking about Rize.
"This is going to be a longer day than I thought" I sighed to myself in my mind as Tsukiyama unleashed his Bow Blade Kagune.