loganjwynn- more of an unrequited than a slash fic.

Hide trudged up the stairs towards the DWMA, Kaneki just a step behind him. His meister was much more relaxed and the sword heaved a relieved sigh. This was fine. Just keep up this calmness, this quiet, and everything will be alright. It didn't stay quiet for very long. The same blue-haired boy from the Death's mirror blocked their path, a grin on his face. Hide groaned.

"Haha! Are you ready to face my awesomeness?" Black Star had a chain-scythe in his hands, pointing at them.

Kaneki gave Hide a look.

Hide shrugged.

Kaneki sighed. "Hello," his partner turned to address Black Star. "I'm not sure we've met. I'm Kaneki Ken from the Senior EAT class and this is my partner Hide." Hide's meister extended a hand to the younger boy.

Black Star dropped into raucous laughter. Pointing to the sky and belting out his name. "I'm going to be a god!"

"I see." Kaneki's voice was smooth and polite, but Hide notices the slight stiffening in his partner's shoulders, the subtle twitch of his left eye, the shortening of his breath by a hair. His meister withdrew his untouched palm to his side and straightened up. "Well, if you excuse us, we'll be going to class now."

Hide flinched at the ice in Kaneki's voice. The white haired young man did not need someone as oblivious as Black Star pestering him at the moment. Hide was boisterous sure, but at least he paid attention to his meister's behavior, checking himself in response. He still felt a little bad for the kid, that star on his shoulder… It would only cause the boy pain.

They walked past Black Star, Hide keeping his focus on Kaneki's back. He could feel the vibrations in the air behind him. Interesting how far along Black Star was with his soul control for someone so young. Hide didn't deneigh his potential, but he couldn't match someone like Kaneki. Ever.

Hide thought it was ironic. The boy who wanted to surpass a god, was preparing to fight a demon that could kill a god. No, Kaneki isn't that thing. He isn't.

Black Star charged. Kaneki flicked his wrist to the left. Hide ducked under the blow, straightening up just as Black Star tried to use him as a springboard. The kid flipped back and the older boys turned to face him. Hide could see a venom in the youth's eyes he didn't expect.

Kaneki made a quick motion with his wrist, turning it palm up and clenching a fist before flicking his hand open towards the ground. It was a simple maneuver for unarmed combat. If Black Star couldn't handle this there was no way he'd be able to handle Kaneki fighting seriously.

Hide nodded.

It was Kaneki that rushed forward, dropping his weight low in a sliding kick. Black Star jumped with an arrogant grin, just in time for Hide's fist to connect full speed with his stomach. The sword channeled a pulse of his soul wavelength out his elbow for an extra bit of propulsion.

Black Star gasped, clutching his abdomen as he came skidding to stop some feet away. Kaneki casually brushed the dust off his shoulders. Hide rotated his wrist a little. Even though he wasn't trying to hurt Black Star he'd put in more power to override the assassin's natural resistance. For maybe half a second the only sound was Black Star trying to catch his breath.

Hide felt more than heard the worried pulse of the blue-haired boy's weapon. "I'm fine, Tsubaki." Black Star growled and then smiled.

"What do you think?" Hide leaned towards Kaneki, whispering.

"Nothing. If he wants to keep attacking we show him why we earned our position, otherwise ignore him."

Hide gave a nervous chuckle as they both turned back to the school. "It's rare for you not to try and talk him down. Not feeling up to dealing with him?"

"I already have one overly excitable person in my life, I don't need another." Kaneki's smile was gentle.

Hide was relieved. It didn't last. Black Star charged, his weapon changed into a shortsword. In that same moment, when the blade connected with Kaneki's hand, Hide condensed their soul wavelength into the black armor, just along his meister's palm. Kaneki gripped the blade and stared down at Black Star contemplatively.

"If you keep looking at me like that, I'll take it personally."

That venom Hide had noticed before had turned bitter, defiant, and even desperate. He found it odd in some regards that this kid was trying so hard to be something he wasn't, an assassin, a killer, just to disprove his family's dishonor. It felt… How did he feel about this? It's a little too close for comfort if he were to be totally honest.

Kaneki's hand clenched down harder than strictly necessary and 'Tsubaki' cried out. This seemed to snap Black Star out of whatever funk he had worked himself into. The young man tried to pull back, but Hide's meister held firm.

"You should take better care of your partner, Black Star. No one ever became a god with a broken sword." He let go, allowing the assassin to stumble back. "You'll make it far, but not by recklessly challenging your betters." Kaneki turned to Hide and nodded. "The Reaper wants to see us; if you're willing to listen, I might be convinced to show you some more substantial swordplay."

Hide let out a breath he'd not realize he was holding. That could have ended badly. Good thing Kaneki's mood has been improving since coming back. He watched his meister retreating back, himself still standing there with a relaxed posture. His glance flicked back to Black Star.

The blue haired boy had a… difficult to place expression. "You guys gonna be okay?"

Tsubaki changed back into a human shape and Hide found his eyes immediately drawn to her… well endowed chest. Hmm, okay. Nice… Hot damn, really. None of these were appropriate given the situation however. "Y-yes, we're fine," Hide's attention was drawn up to her eyes while the weapon seemed more preoccupied with Black Star.

"He could have killed you, y'know."

They both snap their gazes to him, each displaying a mix of shock or frustration as the case may be.

"What?" Tsubaki's voice was quiet and tight.

Hide shrugged. "Shit went down in Tokyo; he's not… the same really." He briefly wondered if he should even be saying this, but damn it he's worried and he needs to tell someone that just might understand. "Turns out there's a lot of problems for him just cause who Kaneki's ancestors are." Hide leveled his stare on Black Star and it seems like something occurs to the kid. "Anyway, demon blood or no, I'm going to be there for him," he nods toward Tsubaki, "just like she'll be there for you, no doubt."

Hide hears Kaneki call him.

"I should get going… See ya later, maybe?"

Black Star just stares at him for a moment, then nods. And Hide feel all kinds of relieved. Maybe he can make a powerful ally. Someone else that'll be on Kaneki's side with him.

It's late, I'll fix any errors I missed later...