Hide was totally spaced out. He couldn't get Kaneki out of his mind, and not in a good way. They had a fight, like an actual fight and Hide felt like clawing his heart out of his chest because it hurt. Akira was down too, he could tell. Seido wouldn't even look at her. When had everything gotten so horrible? The mood in the office had been stale for a week, and with no ghoul activity, the squads had nothing to do but wallow.

"Hey, Hide." Suzuya sidled up to his desk, all red stitches and smiles. The kid- even though he wasn't that young, especially compared to Hide- had sorta grown on everyone. Suzuya especially liked Hide, as he was most tolerant of him, coming second only to his partner. Hide looked up at him, offering the small smile he could muster.

"What's up?" Hide asked, turning his chair. He wasn't getting any work done anyway.

Suzuya bounced on the balls of his feet. "I was talking with Akira at lunch the other day. She's worried about you."

"I'm worried about her." Hide sighed. "I'm sure this'll all blow over eventually, though."

"I'm not so sure." Suzuya mused, and Hide furrowed his eyebrows. For a split second, something like sadness flitted through the other's eyes, and then he was back to normal. "In fact, I think it might be my fault. Wild, huh?"

"What do you mean?" Suzuya smiled wider, Hide had taken the obvious bait, but he didn't really care.

"Well, my timer started counting when I got here, you know." He started. "Not that I've ever paid much attention to it. I mean, I don't really feel any different, but it has to be someone in this room. And it just so happens that Akira and her boyfriend break up?"

Suzuya shrugged, and Hide gaped. "Anyway, you should probably talk to her. I'm gonna go bug Seido. He's the most fun to mess with."

Sweet Jesus.

oOo

"Akira. Can I sit with you?" Akira looked up at Hide, and he tried to smile, but his heart wasn't in it. She could tell, he was sure, and nodded to the chair across from her. "Thank you."

She stared at him over her plate, watching him get settled. She rolled her shoulders, sighed, and sat forward on her chair. "Alright, you first."

Hide pouted. "I came to you." He pointed out, and she laughed flatly.

"Regardless." And to give Hide no choice, Akira took a bite and started chewing. Very slowly. He glared. She shrugged.

"Fine, goodness. Well, Kaneki and I had a fight about the reassignment." Hide slouched over, regretting not buying anything to eat before this. He could use some comfort food. "I can feel that he's upset- we both are- but he's so stubborn…"

"Figured it was something like that." Swallowing, Akira looked off before continuing. "And for the record, you're stubborn too. Don't think you're in the clear just because it's work. If I were Kaneki, I wouldn't send my soulmate off to a war zone either."

His feet scuffed the tile floor. "Same. But it is work. I… can't just not do it."

"As your partner, I definitely agree."

"So how do I get him to talk to me?" Voice catching, he carded a hand through his hair. Akira's face softened, and she sighed.

"You got me there. Seido won't even look at me…" Her eyes cast downwards. "It's Suzuya, I think, but I talked to Shinohara. The kid, he works differently. Doesn't do… emotions. So all he does, because he doesn't know how to express things, is annoy Seido to death, which must make him miserable. Nobody's winning, Hide."

Hide nodded. Things seemed even bleaker know that they were out in the open. That's… not how it was supposed to work, but okay. "So what? We just… sit and suffer?"

"What else is there to do in this world?"

oOo

In a split second decision, Akira might've just lost her best friend merits with Hide forever. Really, she hadn't meant to do it, or planned it, and he shouldn't have had his phone out, but the stars aligned and she glanced over his shoulder and the puzzle pieces clicked and just because she was suffering didn't mean he had to. As she walked to the coffee shop alone on Saturday, shuddering with the weight of her choice, she saw the event replay like some sick guilt-trip slideshow.

Amon getting on her nerves as usual, she went to Hide's desk to vent. They'd been doing that a lot lately. Venting to each other. Soulmate deprived, but, they'd always be constants in each other's lives. She'd made him promise before their first mission together. So she'd gone to him. He'd been engrossed in his phone, stupid man, but she saw the contact name and froze. It was Kaneki. Once again, her partiality came into play and she let it drop, but not before she (accidentally, accidentally!) read the fast and furious messages between the two. She couldn't help it, it was like dangling a steak in front of a hungry wolf, and if they were having an argument she swore she would go and knock some sense into Kaneki's head herself.

Soulmates were amazing. Soulmates were privileges, and Kaneki was throwing Hide of all people away? No. Fucking. Way.

So she read, and she barely even wondered if she was breaking federal law, like reading someone else's mail or something. Because she cared. If they weren't gonna fix themselves, she would march down to-

Hide: pls, Ken, we don't have to talk about it just lets do our saturday coffee date bc i dont know how much longer i can stand it

Kaneki: Not until you pull out of that suicide mission.

Hide: Anteiku, 9:00 am pls pls pls

-She would march down to Anteiku, whatever that was, at 7:30 to give Kaneki a stern hour long seminar on how wonderful Hide was and then spend the next 30 minutes absconding to avoid being caught meddling by her best friend.

And that had landed Akira in her current position, gazing through the glass door at the waiters and patrons critically.

Because she had no idea what Kaneki looked like.

Fuck.

She could go in and ask, but then she'd feel like an idiot. But what else could she do? If she asked Hide, it would be suspicious, right?

"Excuse me." A young girl intoned behind her, and Akira stepped to the left. Right, she was blocking the door. There was something off-putting in the way she spoke, as if she didn't like Akira. Her bangs covered one eye, and she was dressed in an oversized hoodie, so maybe she was just some aloof teenager. Kids had no respect these days. "Are you waiting for someone?"

Now or never. "Looking for someone, actually. Do you know Kaneki?"

Something, almost imperceptible, in her eyes shifted. Defensive. "Yeah. What do you want with him?"

"Just want to ask him some questions, that's all." She went for casual, but her words were chosen to sound like an investigation. Honestly, she couldn't help it, but then the girl shifted her weight and dropped eye contact and Akira began to wonder if she should be investigating. "For a friend."

"He's inside. His shift doesn't start for a while, but he hangs out here." She became compliant, but it was too late. Akira was already suspicious.

"You're a waitress, I'm guessing?" At the others nod, Akira smiled. A smile was always disarming. "Is the coffee here any good?"

Not a lot of people knew about the coffee thing. The girl had a good poker face, but everyone had a tell. "It's good, for coffee. Personally, I like the lattes."

Lies. But Akira just kept smiling. "Maybe I'll grab one before I head out."

"I can do really good art. Just ask for me." But she didn't give her name. Smart. The girl pushed open the door, allowing Akira to enter before her. What had she stumbled into this morning? She didn't have to work until 4 today, and here she was. Damn. Heading to a table, the girl gestured for her to sit. "I'll go get Kaneki."

Akira nodded politely, crossing her legs and leaning back in her chair. The girl would probably warn any other ghoul in the vicinity about her, if Akira was correct in her assumptions. No need to cause a panic, though.

What did that mean for Kaneki?

"You asked for me, Miss?" Akira looked up at the shy inquiry. Kaneki, dressed in a too-large sweater with the whitest hair she'd ever seen on someone under 40. He was holding two cups of coffee, one a latte, the other black. Not good. She feigned a smile, more confused than anything. Hide's soulmate...

"I'm Akira." She supplied as he sat, sliding her coffee across the table to her. Recognition flashed in his eyes, and his smile became less obligatory and more genuine.

"Ah, it's nice to meet you!" And then he stammered, eyes widening, as his smile slipped. "Is Hide alright?"

She waved one hand dismissively, noting offhandedly that he was very adorable. "He's fine, I'm just here on his behalf. You two are fighting?"

He flushed. "W-well, I wouldn't say fighting." He grew quiet, and something in his posture was almost… fearful. "I just don't want him to…"

"I understand. Even though I'm not connected to him like you are, he's family to me." She tried to keep from getting sentimental, but the thought of Hide, torn to pieces, eaten alive, gutted, speared, smashed… "He's all I have, now."

Sighing, Kaneki took a drink of his coffee. "I'm sure he'd appreciate you doing this, but I can't accept this transfer. I wish I could explain, but I can't even tell him. Not yet."

"You're scared of 11." Akira guessed, and his shoulders tensed. Bingo. "I would protect him; he wouldn't be alone-"

His voice sent chills up her spine. "You have n o. IdeA-"

He closed his eyes, with a breath that turned into a shudder. "Forgive me. I… yes, I have a history with that Ward and a very good understanding of what the CCG is up against and trust me the odds aren't in your favor, Investigator."

Something heavy settled low in her stomach. All at once, she remembered the girl's behavior at the door. She wasn't protecting herself, or the patrons.

She was protecting Kaneki.

Which meant that he was a…

He was-

"Akira-san?" Their eyes locked. He spoke softly, and sounded a tinge frustrated. "Oh, dear. Well, maybe we should talk somewhere more private. I'd hate to cause a scene."

She nodded once, and he stood, taking her coffee for her. They went off to the side, down a nondescript hallway. Thank God she always carried a gun. Kaneki held the door open for her, and she wondered if his face would be the last thing she ever saw.

She'd been betrayed.

She felt horrified.

But, most of all, she was disgusted with herself. For not noticing earlier. For not killing Kaneki now. For not wanting to kill Kaneki ever, because it would hurt Hide, possibly physically as well as mentally. Hide was his goddamn shield. Her weakness for her partner had become a ghoul's greatest advantage.

"I can only imagine what's going through your head." Kaneki said ruefully, setting their coffees on a small end table. "I shouldn't have slipped up like that- I really don't want to kill you."

Akira swallowed. She'd never been so defenseless, Jesus. "If you try, I can fight back."

He held up his hands, like a surrender. "I assure you, it won't come to that. Hide told me that you were the most responsive to his question- that is, you would be likely to accept a ghoul who is deserving of your respect."

"What makes you think I'd like you?" Kaneki took a seat, and looked at the wall just past her head, thinking. After it was clear that he wasn't going to try anything, she sat opposite him, keeping the tension in her body. Her adrenaline made her alert, but she was at a disadvantage here, surrounded by ghouls and with no way to discreetly call for backup. Kaneki probably knew this. He had nothing to fear. Did she? Akira stared hard at him, until he could bring himself to meet her eyes. They were brimming with emotion.

"I… try… not to be a monster. It's hard, when you're dealt a horrible hand, to play a good game. Sometimes, you have to break the rules." Kaneki paused, taking up her coffee cup to pass it to Akira. After a beat, she reached over and took it. "I have a lot of rules, personally. One of them is to never hurt anyone who isn't deserving."

"Oh." Akira was sort of dumbfounded. She held her coffee gently, and took a sip. It really was pretty good. For coffee.

Kaneki's smile turned cruel, for an instant. "That doesn't mean I'm merciful. It's kill or be killed- and it's better to learn that early on."

She nodded, very slowly, mulling over his words. His neutral mask slipped back into place. It was scary how natural it looked. "I can't trust you. I… can't. I understand what you're saying, and how hard it is for you, but it's also hard, when you're human, faced with an opponent that is stronger, faster, and hungry. It's also kill or be killed, for us. So, no. I can't bring myself to trust you."

Kaneki nodded, and sighed, but she snapped her hand up, palm out. "But I trust Hide more than anything. And he trusts you- you're his damn soulmate, God, fate really screwed you two over."

"It seems that way. We manage." Akira rolled her eyes, and Kaneki snorted. Like, kind of grossly. "Well, we try as best we can. Thank you, by the way."

"Don't thank me. It's not like I have a freaking choice." She muttered, but Kaneki laughed again, so he must have heard. He was certainly happier. Must be a huge weight off his chest, she thought, and then, Was Hide ever going to tell me? She asked Kaneki, while she had the chance. It looked like he was getting ready to go back to the cafe.

"He wanted to." He said, rising out of his chair. He popped his back, and the cracks were audible. "I wouldn't let him, until he made sure that you would be on our side. He'd be devastated if anything happened to you because of him. Looks like he had nothing to worry about."

His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he smiled down at the text. "Hide?" She guessed, and he grinned.

"I miss him." He whispered, shooting back a reply, then he glanced at her. "Sorry. It's just weird, being so distant from him…"

"I wouldn't let anything happen." She vowed, gently, remembering his reaction earlier. His lips turned down.

"You don't know that."

"Then help us. If we know what to expect, if we're prepared- do all you can, to help us, and them the rest is up the chance."

Kaneki groaned. "I don't like to take chances, especially not with these stakes."

Akira paused. "What if you came with us."

"What, like a bodyguard?" Kaneki took both of their cups. Their hands brushed as he did so- his fingers were under room temperature, almost like a corpse.

"I feel like you already watch out for Hide here, which is dangerous, what if- ohmygod. Eyepatch?"

"What gave it away?" Kaneki asked, ruffling his hair. She didn't want to find that funny, she didn't, but God he reminded her of Hide.

She collected herself, and pressed on. He didn't miss her lapse, though, she knew. Hmmph. "Anyway. Yes. Just think about it, and make up with Hide, for his sake. Your secret is safe with me. But I'm doing this for him, don't think we're friends or anything."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Investigator." He promised, and waltzed to the door. He held it open for her, and they walked in silence down the hall and back out to the main part of the building. To her dismay, Hide was already out there, and she could feel his eyes boring into her as she and Kaneki went to the table he was occupying. Kaneki went to return their cups, leaving Hide and Akira alone at the table. The silence was awful and awkward, the air thick with tension. Hide's sudden, long-winded sigh nearly made her jump.

"What is going on, Akira? You aren't meddling, are you?" At her silence, his head lolled back. "Akira, I'm a grown adult. I can handle this, though I appreciate the thought-"

"I know." She said quietly, and he rolled his head back up suddenly, knowing what she meant. He didn't even breathe. "You could've told me."

"You're taking it well." Hide was trying to keep his voice level- God, he was scared, and she instantly wanted to smile, make him at ease, but this was more serious than that and their friendship couldn't take precedence for once.

"All things considered, yes, I am. I'm… disappointed." He hung his head, again, but looked up at her through his bangs that were getting too long for her tastes. "And I'm not completely sold. But the way you talk about him- he's your soulmate. You- you can't help destiny. I can't blame anyone for this so I don't know who to be mad at, for Christ's sake. But this isn't your fault, or his- and… and as much as literally all of my lifelong conditioning says, he can't help what he is or what he has to do."

Hide started breathing again, and he started fidgeting his hands under the table. He laughed once, more nervous than anything. "Thank you. You know I love you, right?""

She knew, oh, she knew. But she didn't let him know that that was the first time she'd heard those words in a long ass time. "You owe me, too. Don't think you're off the hook, mister. This sucks for everybody."

"Glad to see I didn't completely ruin everything." Kaneki sighed, taking a seat on Hide's side of the table. He had returned their cups, and laid his palms flat on the table. "I do believe we have some discussing to do."

Hide seemed to gravitate closer to Kaneki, turning his chair in. She knew the feeling. "What even happened, man? I thought we were gonna plan this out or something."

"Accidents happen." Kaneki waved a hand, taking a second to brush it over Hide's cheek. Were they even aware of how nauseating they were? "Regardless, I've decided that we are going to the 11th Ward."

Hide tilted his head. "We?"

"Kaneki can come with us." Akira answered, leaning forward towards the pair. She shot a small smile at the ghoul. Ugh. "I came here to fix your relationship, and ta-da. He and I reached a compromise. You work, he watches. That way, he won't have to sit here and worry. Now, why he's so finicky about 11, that's not a story I think I should hear. I'll leave you to it."

Kaneki's glare rivaled one of her best, and she felt a twinge of sympathy for him. Probably shouldn't have set him up like that, but honesty made a relationship work. Or something. She could tell that whatever happened to Kaneki was deep, deeper than just bad. If he was going to face whatever trauma he had to deal with, he had to at least tell Hide about it first. She was just looking out for them.

Akira stood, and waved cheerily as she exited. She had a few hours to kill before work…

Maybe she could call Seido. If she could be friends with a ghoul, she could befriend her ex. Ha.