Authors Note: Expect a plot twist and thanks to my viewers, I have already exceeded my expectations of reaching 1000 views.

One of the things that I decided against when writing is going too deep into the story. Meaning that plot will not drive characters but characters will drive plot.

I didn't do so because it would lack for a better term, a sense of consistency that also makes it difficult to explain certain parts of the narrative. Especially since the story will branch from left to right if I did so.

~ Kaneki ~

Time could make a person accustomed to anything, which it did for Kaneki. For him, it meant that he had finally accepted his current situation. "These living conditions aren't so bad," he told himself. "Experiencing this peace makes it hard to go back to a world where conflict surrounded him at every turn."

It was a feeling transparency, letting things slide over him rather than into him. For the first time in his life he felt happy, or was that because he had forgot everything leading up to this moment.

Kaneki was too deep in his thoughts to hear the sound of 2 people approaching.

Out of Kaneki's sight, Touka had whispered to Hide so she could talk to Kaneki alone first.

Smiling sadly down at him, "God you're a mess," Touka told Kaneki." I know what've you've been through, and you'll want an explanation for all of this. But, it will have to wait until we're out of here, we can't talk her not when we're out in the open"(Hide would be listening).

"Touka, I don't want to go back", Kaneki told her. "Living like this has changed my perspective, if I only isolated myself I wouldn't have been a ghoul in the first place. I should have been, myself."

"Persistence can work, but so can a fist", Touka thought." "Kaneki you're not making sense, you went through all of this just to realize that the state you're in, is the ideal life you're living."

Kaneki flinched, "It's not that, I just had an idea that might bring humans and ghouls closer to together." If we promised to remain like this and be fed only what is given by other humans, do you think we could come to a agreement"?

Touka didn't want to hear this, dragging his collar until he stood to a standing position. Her face stood only inches to his, "You call this living! Spending your remaining years dreaming in your sleep!"

Some of Kaneki came back, still afraid of Touka's voice, "Touka I didn't mean I would live by those words, it was only a suggestion."

"Then stay with me", she told him. With a tug, Kaneki came free from the chains that had supported him for over a week.

Leaning on Touka, Kaneki found walking more difficult then he remembered, Hide followed only a few steps away from him.

"We're not going to Anteiku, just so you're not in for a surprise." She told him.

Kaneki was confused, "Did something happen when I was gone?"

Touka had turned her head just far enough to see that Hide's focus was on his music and not them, oblivious to what was happening.

"Rize's loose again, she's focused on eating you. Saying it's the meal she never got to finish."

Kaneki felt the pieces coming together, "That's why you wanted to send me away, Anteiku would be the first place she would look. We were all there when I first met her and if I stayed none of us would be safe."

Touka continued walking in silence for a minute before speaking again, "You're not wrong."

"I wasn't responsible for what they put you through, but their intentions weren't initially different from mine which was to still protect you. Well if they didn't do other things as well." She sighed, "What was it about a fruit?"

Kaneki seemed to lose interest in finding a banana. He was more concerned about something else,"Touka will I die if I see Rize one more time?"

Touka didn't understand, "Kaneki you'll only die if you go out of your way to find her."

Kaneki knew she wouldn't understand, "I have to know if the only person who saw me as a human once, will still see me as one now. If she can't see me as ghoul, Rize will likely kill me but if I'm not one, it's unlike her to go after me. There is also something else that I'll have against her, something that will make it hard to fully eat me and keep me down."

Touka took in what he had to say and answered, "Hide has told me a lot about you since I was gone and has told me a lot about you. I think part of what he's trying to tell me is that he knows you're a ghoul, but also won't see you and become afraid.

Kaneki knew she was trying to convince him otherwise, but he had to go, "Rize is still in Anteiku right now isn't she". It was unlike for Rize to cause stir trouble in comparison to Aogiri but Kaneki didn't like taking chances. "Nobody will die I promise. You can watch over me if you feel like."

Touka wasn't convinced, "What if there's a repeat."

Kaneki surprised her, "There likely will be."

Touka stopped, "Kaneki…."

Kaneki finished, "She will have to take the initiative to eat me, but it can't be after I'm dead." If I'm too weak from the attack, I'll need you as backup to help me."

Touka needed to know what he had in mind so he told her.

Kaneki made his way back to Anteiku with Touka and Hide. Everything was intact something he hadn't expected.

Then standing a few tables away, he saw Rize.

"She hasn't left that seat in days," Yoshimura sighed to no – one in particular. Finally seeing Kaneki he gulped, "You've returned."

Kaneki nodded without directly responding, knowing that all eyes were on him, he was given a an indirect gesture that spelled "It's best if you didn't stay here."

He had to remain calm and pretend nothing was off while Rize would likely do the same.

Coughing next to her, he hoped to draw her attention away from the book she was reading.

Rize turned, suddenly coming face-to-face Kaneki her mouth was now an O shape.

Everything was when it first began.

"Rize you had wanted to come to Anteiku to see me, correct?" Kaneki tried his best to avoid how strange the situation really felt.

Rize didn't fail to contain how she really felt coughing softly, "Yes, It's been a long time since our first meeting. It's a miracle that we've both survived the night of the ghoul attack isn't it".

This was what Kaneki had hoped for, that Rize was still holding on to the assumption that he had forgot everything after the surgery.

Kaneki held his hand against his chin before answering, "It's quite profound, it really is."

Rize wasn't going to waste too much time, "Kaneki do you want to revisit the same place again, it would relieve some painful memories".

Kaneki knew the answer without thinking, "Of course Rize, but would it be too much if I brought someone over"?

"I wanted it to be the 2 of us, we can't do the stuff we really want to do with 3 people," She chuckled.

Kaneki felt the heat come out of him, telling himself that the reason why he fell for her in the first place was her looks."

"2 it is," Kaneki quickly replied trying to ignore Touka's glare, "But can we move quickly, it's getting a bit too hot in here and I could use some air."

"You must be just as reluctant to leave as I am", Rize told him groaning. "You won't believe the service here. When has staring ever been considered polite?"

Walking down the streets, Kaneki hoped that he wasn't being followed. Rize would likely bring unnecessary casualties that he didn't need.

I know a detour to the to the construction site, it will be much faster and much less attention since it was never entirely finished and remains off ground's.

Before they were there, Kaneki knew he had to break it her. "I haven't forgotten Rize," Kaneki told her a bit more coldly then he would have liked. "But whatever lead to the accident, neither of us is responsible for the blame.

Rize was still suspicious, "Why come then?"

"Because I know you won't be able to finish me," Kaneki answered.

Kaneki knew Rize didn't like the answer as her kagune crawled out. Taking a few steps back he would have to brace himself for the hit, knowing that he only had to survive one.

Rize wasn't going to take her time with her food this time. Running towards him she felt fear come to her, "He's not even moving, this better not be another trap.

Her kagune went into him easily, tearing chunks off his abdomen and leaving him screaming in pain.

Kaneki's blood came down on her, the scent of it no longer the same. Licking the blood still dripping down her hands, she knew something was off.

"What kind of taste is this, it's almost, repulsive. What did you do to yourself"! Rize screamed at Kaneki.

Kaneki forced himself to smile despite the groans he was making, "I became a part of you, during one of Kanou's experiment. Eating me is like eating a part of yourself. "You could call it cannibalism, but I'm sure what you're tasting is 10 times worse since eating me is like eating you. I'm worth nothing to you now," his body slowly regenerating again.

Rize understood what happened but wasn't leaving yet, "Would you like to be human again?"

Kaneki never thought of this question until now, but now that it came to him that his answer was uncertain.

"I don't have the need to achieve that, not when I can convince myself that I am one."

Rize brushed her hair back, "You've accepted yourself but what about the others do they see the same?" I know what the people have said about you, and how you go off on your life has been a living hell. Why not have take a chance and erase the nightmare for good."

I only said that once, Kaneki thought to himself and disbelieving the rest," "It's never been done before and proven to work, why would it work now?"

Rize did not deny it, "It's nothing but small talk I admit, but during my confinement at Kanou I had nothing else to do except overhear things that were rarely said out in the open. It comes out unclearly but I think they've been trying to figure out a way to reduce RC cells. "You might not be able to be any less of a ghoul, but you'd be able to eat human food again, well for a time. This offer is of course for half – ghouls like yourself who was once a human."

Kaneki didn't know what to make out of this, "Who will perform the experiment"?

The reply would come as a surprise, "Why me of course, I have more experience than some of the people in Kanou for being one myself. Rize answered. "I know that look, it reminds brings me back to the night when I first bit into your shoulder. What you're asking yourself now is if it's too good to be true. It's either that or your questioning why you're even thinking about trusting a person that tried to eat you twice".

Kaneki had one more question, "Why are you helping me?"

Rize's voice began to lower, "You're different from what I've seen from the other ghouls, I can tell just be seeing how you reacted with me. Your decision to leave Anteiku was made in spite of your better judgment, to protect the people living there.

I never believed that ghouls could actually care for each other before. Even if you do become a human again, I believe you would still be a strong advocate for them."

With nothing left to say Kaneki had to say his farewells, "Thanks for the offer Rize, I'll take time thinking about what you've said."

Before leaving he heard Rize call him, "If Shuu is still around, tell him I'd like to see him again".

Only after Rize left did Touka re-appear, quickly feeding him before she asked him, "You're not actually going to consider it Kaneki, Kaneki?"