Chapter 9

Kaneki ran on a treadmill in the CCG fitness/training room, completely oblivious to Hide entering the room.

Hide had been looking everywhere for his husband and finally found him.

Akira walked in behind Hide. "Find him?"

Hide nodded. "Yeah."

"It's not like him to forget something." Akira mentioned. Over the course they had been with the CCG, Akira had grown to know and understand Hide and his husband.

"He didn't forget." Hide sighed. "He's avoiding the situation."

"Why?" Akira asked.

"The last time he was sent to the Doctor, he turned him into a ghoul. The last time he saw a CCG doctor, you guys basically knocked him up."

Akira nodded. "Understandable."

Hide walked over to the treadmill Kaneki was on. His back was to the two humans and he had earphones in as the treadmill ran at a healthy jog.

Hide walked up beside Kaneki and looked at his three month pregnant mate, it made him smile. He stepped in front of the treadmill, finally catching Kaneki's attention. He removed the earbud out of his ear and smiled. "Hey."

"Hey." Hide returned the smile. "Ready for your ultrasound?"

Kaneki pretended he did not hear Hide say anything and continued his jog.

Hide sighed and turned the machine off.

The treadmill slowed to a stop and Kaneki sighed. "Hide, please don't make me do this."

Hide gently took a towel and dabbed at the sweat on Kaneki's face. "This isn't for you, it's for the baby."

Kaneki got off the treadmill and looked at the ground. "I don't want to go. What if they try to do something to me? What if they hurt the baby?" Kaneki was getting worked up.

Hide hugged his sweaty mate. "I swear that I will keep you and our baby safe. But we need that ultrasound to make sure everything is okay. Okay?"

Kaneki nodded and rested his head on Hide's shoulder.

Hide hugged Kaneki and kissed his cheek. "Let's go."

With Akira following behind the two, they walked to the science labs where a doctor in a white lab coat was waiting.

Hide led Kaneki over to an examination bench and let Kaneki sit down.

Without provocation, Kaneki's kagune emerged.

Akira eyed the appendages carefully to make sure they caused no harm.

Three of the appendages snaked around Hide protectively, while the fourth wrapped around Kaneki's own abdomen, protecting their unborn child.

The doctor readied the ultrasound, but noticed the Kagune activated. "I'm not going to hurt you dear."

Kaneki eyed the doctor suspiciously.

The doctor was ready to begin. "I need you to retract your rinkaku from your abdomen."

Kaneki refused to move, if he did, their child would be vulnerable.

Hide kissed Kaneki's cheek and gently tugged on the Kagune that was wrapped around Kaneki. "She won't hurt you or our baby. You can wrap your Kagune around me if you want."

Kaneki willed the Kagune to unwrap from around himself to curl around Hide like a scarf.

Hide kissed the red tentacle like Kagune wrapped around his neck, trying to pleasure and distract Kaneki from the doctor, but he was failing.

Kaneki watched the doctor lift up his shirt and smear a clear gel against his stomach. It was cold and Kaneki tried to shy away, but Hide refused to let him back up too much.

"You want to see our baby, right?" Hide asked softly, lacing his fingers between Kaneki's.

Kaneki bit his lip and nodded. He wanted to so bad, but there were doctors here.

"You will need to trust the doctor. She knows what she's doing. I am right here for you if you need anything."

A cold device rubbed against his stomach and Kaneki shivered.

The two looked at the black and white smear on the screen before the image finally cleared up to look like a baby.

The doctor smiled. "Want to know the gender?"

"Is there only one?" Hide asked. "What's on the right?"

"That's a foot. Mr. Centipede only has one bun in the oven."

Hide looked down at Kaneki. "Want to know the gender?"

"I actually kind of want it to be a surprise."

Hide smiled. "Okay. Then we are going to wait."

The doctor smiled. "Okay. How about I get you a few pictures of your ultrasound?"

Kaneki looked up at Hide and nodded.

Hide grinned, finally realizing he was the mediator between Kaneki and the doctor. "We would love that."