The Centipede

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo ghoul or any other material in this story.

So for those of you who are confused with the timeline, it has been roughly 5-6 months since Kaneki joined Anteiku and the timeline will be altered somewhat in this story as well. just so you know the timeline in this story will also be changed. KAneki actually stays with Anteiku for a while before the whole Aogiri thing. lets see what happens. onto the chapter.

Fun

Two weeks had passed since Kaneki's unfortunate adventure with Yoriko's cooking. Said man couldn't get the taste of the travesty that she calls food out of his mouth. Touka claimed that he was just being dramatic but even now he could still feel the awful taste on the tip of his tongue. It was actually a hilarious situation where said blue haired girl was forced to... finger her boyfriend's mouth. Yeah, she had to stick her fingers into that warm and wet chasm filled with saliva. Kaneki claimed that if she could stick her tongue in his mouth then she would have had no problem with her fingers. He was wrong. Oh so very wrong. The two had sworn secrecy between the other to never to speak of the event again, followed with a threat from Touka to remove something precious to the hybrid, one that dangled between his legs. The half-ghoul wasn't too keen to test her fury, as he had seen her angry side and that was something to be truly feared.

Although the memory of Touka fingering Kaneki's mouth wasn't a fond one. It warmed her heart to know that he cared enough about her that he would force himself to eat human food. Despite the fact that it was just as distasteful to him as it was to other ghouls. He literally provided his thoughts to her on how disgusting her friend's food was. If it could even be called that. Said girl merely smacked him over the head because of all the drama he gave her and the never-ending reminders. She finally promised him that she would cook some human meat, just the way he liked it, just get him to shut up. Other than that it had been a quiet two weeks, no one even suspected that the two were a couple now (except for Hinami who was a witness to their first act of passion A.K.A the kiss). Touka was not yet feeling comfortable with the idea, preferred to withhold it from the others. Knowing Koma, he would tease them and gossip until the whole 20th ward knew about them. That was the last thing the both of them needed.

But, of course, that didn't stop them from their manifestations when not in the public eye. They had already made out multiple times in the break room, when no one was looking. Or when it was closing time for Anteiku, they would remain behind and just talk about their adventures or their days until they fell asleep. Kaneki would even come over to her apartment (since hers was nicer and cleaner) and tutor her on any subject she was struggling with at school subject. He would stay until she fell asleep where he would slide her under the covers of her bed before leaving himself. And the rare few times when she asked him to read to her, one of the rare few nights, he would bring over one of his father's books and she would doze off to the lull of his voice.

But right now, in the ever changing and twisting present. The two of them were working at Anteiku, well, one was (Touka) the other was acting out as a customer, reading the latest news on a roll of newspaper. Touka peered over her lover's shoulder to see what he was reading, an excerpt on the ghoul related news of Tokyo. Guess she couldn't fault him for that since it was best to stay ahead of one's natural enemy, which ironically was their prey also.

"Those Gaichuu are becoming a real problem. Now they've gone and made themselves public by attacking a shopping centre. Bunch of dumbasses." spat Touka as she read the excerpt from the paper to which Kaneki nodded at her. "Huh, so they've now gone and dubbed their leader Saikoratto (Psycho Rat), SS-rank."

"Guess he's moving his operations outward and hoping to establish himself as someone to be feared, he most likely wants some good rep from the other ghoul gangs, or maybe he just likes the spotlight. Either way, his type are common and undeniably stupid. During my glory days, I always struck fast and left quickly, before anyone knew it was me. I was a single ghoul, always being hunted by the CCG, those like us are always careful not to draw too much attention." responded Kaneki to which Touka nodded before placing his favourite cup of coffee on his table. Noting the bunny pattern in the foam, earning a chuckle from the bone haired man. He took a sip before moving onto a different section of the newspaper. "Seems they've upped their kidnapping as they've moved on from the 5th, 14th and 21st wards and have now settled with the 7th, 15th and 19th wards. Police still suspect that it's one of their own species and not some ghoul's work."

"Makes you wonder if we're better at their jobs than they are." quipped Touka receiving a chuckle from her boyfriend.

"Who knows. So long as they stay far away, I'll sleep easier knowing they won't stir up trouble," said Kaneki as he took a sip of his coffee before Touka walked off to fill out some other orders.

Meanwhile, Hinami and Koma were cleaning cups and dishes that were ultimately dirtied by their customers. Hinami constantly kept biting her lip in curiosity, questioning whether or not to ask such a thing, who could she ask, her elder sibling figures or the other employee's at Anteiku. Damn it all, she would ask anyway, her inquisitive mind meant that she needed to know. Turning to Koma who was humming a merry tune with his eyes closed.

"Koma. When a boy and girl like each other. Does the boy ask the girl to finger his mouth?" spoke Hinami as innocently as a child could be. To which Koma stopped his humming and stared into the open nothingness of his mind as if trying to unravel the ultimate questions of the universe, or how small and insignificant he was compared to the vast and massive universe and he was just a small speck of dust surrounded by the vastness of the universe. Wait what answer? This was no question a girl like Hinami should be asking!

"That's it. No internet for you," rebuked Koma comically and with a slight blush on his face, misunderstanding the situation slightly.

"Huh? But Koma I saw-"

"I know exactly where you saw it. Now go upstairs and stare at the wall, and think about your actions," said Koma where Hinami pouted at the older man before skulking upstairs and proceeding to stare at the wall for a couple of hours.

"What was that about?" queried Touka as she caught most of the conversation (Well except for the fingering mouth part) making Koma jump a little at her question.

"Oh nothing, don't worry about it," said the friendly waiter where Touka merely shrugged her shoulders, not caring any more as she went back to work. The she-ghoul sighed a little in exasperation. It was her birthday soon and she was sure it was going to be just like all the others after her father disappeared. To be honest, she wasn't looking forward to it and would rather just go on about her day and not care in the slightest. Of course Yoriko would do something for her like baking one of her abominable dishes.

The girl was snapped out of her thoughts when she heard the doorbell ring and speak of the devil. Yoriko. Kaneki seeing the newcomer, comically glared at the girl for making him (indirectly, though it was his own damn fault) suffer at the hands of her food. Touka sighed in irritation at her lover who was acting like a child.

"Touka-chan!" waved Yoriko to her best friend who waved back while Kaneki brought the newspaper up to shield his face from the girl. "Touka-chan, as your best friend, we have to hang out right now and tonight. There's this food and wine expo happening tonight and we should go together." spoke Yoriko making Touka's face go pale at the thought of all that greasy, fatty, inedible and foul dishes that humans eat. While she appreciated that Yoriko would go out of her way to spend some time with her, test tasting human food was one of a ghoul's worst nightmares. And it would certainly haunt the blue-haired girl for the rest of her days. She had to come up with a good enough excuse to escape from her friend for the day. Looking over her shoulder to see Kaneki hiding himself behind the newspaper, a smirk graced Touka's lips for a single second before fading quickly.

"Sorry, Yoriko I already made plans with someone else. Perhaps another time." said Touka which made Yoriok frown a little at the girl before adopting a sly, foxy smirk.

"Ohh, I see Touka how sneaky of you. You could have just told me you were spending time with your boyfriend tonight." said the human girl where Touka blushed at her words but remembered to keep her cool where she quickly forced it down and kept her composure. She didn't want anyone to know of her relationship with Kaneki.

"He's not my boyfriend. Besides I have other friends not just you." replied Touka but Yoriko never lost her grin before.

"Ohh, I see. You want stake your claim before anybody else does. Well, he is handsome. Good luck and give him your all." said Yoriko giving Touka a thumbs up before leaving a dumbfounded Touka still standing in the middle of Anteiku where she could practically feel an amused aura radiate from him where she wanted to slap him upside the head. With that said she walked over to the hybrid who still kept the newspaper shielding his face.

Said girl didn't do anything other than pulling down on the newspaper revealing the smirking face of her boyfriend, smiling up at her.

"Are you here to stake your claim? It'll be hard since you have quite the competition from plenty of others." teased Kaneki which made Touka huff at him a little.

"You and me are going out tonight," proclaimed Touka making Kaneki raise an eyebrow at her in surprise and curiosity. "If we want to blend into human society, we should at least act like a couple when we're not around the others," spoke Touka making Kaneki raise his other eyebrow at her. Despite that tough image, she projects herself, Touka was still a woman, a woman who wanted to be treated like one from time to time.

"If you wanted to have me all to yourself you could have just whisked me upstairs," teased Kaneki some more to which Touka hid a blush. "But ok... if you want to do something. What do you have in mind? See a movie? Have dinner at a restaurant? Contemplate the universe and our place in it?"

"The Ghoul's club. tonight," dead-panned Touka with a grin, which made Kaneki stare at her blankly before a chuckling a little in amusement making Touka frown at him. He continued chuckling some more where the girl crossed her arms at him and her eyebrow to tick in annoyance. He then stopped snickering when he saw her body language and knew exactly that she was serious.

"The Ghoul's club. That place filled with blood, sex, drugs and music, don't forget danger, peril and death. Where you can't reveal your face to anyone and no one? That Ghoul's club." questioned to which his girlfriend nodded making him slightly question her sanity. "Why?"

"Because. You just have to live in the spur of the moment. Besides, no one will know it's us if we bring our masks. And... well, I would actually like to go on a date from time to time." spoke Touka that made Kaneki smile at her.

"...Alright, after work we'll go together. Just bring your mask and something comfortable to wear." said Kaneki as Touka went back to her job. While normally the ghoul club or anything like that wouldn't normally excite someone like Touka but somehow, with Kaneki. It just elated her whole being and filled her with anticipation.

Later that night. Both were waiting by the train station, getting ready to head to one of the many ghoul clubs owned by Kumo, or by his real name a Odori. Since Kaneki was the only one who knew where the clubs actually were, she would be following his lead this time. Their masks were tucked into their jackets, didn't want to freak people out with the recognisable masks. Given the fact that the both of them were wanted by the CCG just for being what they were. For Touka she had never done such a thing as this, it was exhilarating to say the least. And Kaneki being with her only delighted her thoughts.

She was wearing a beige coat with a dark shirt underneath, black short-shorts, black boots with red socks and showing off a lot of leg, much to the entertainment of Kaneki. Kaneki meanwhile was wearing one of his black jackets with a high collar and a hood, gloves, jeans and normal shoes. To anyone's eye, they would look like normal young adults, normal and human just like everyone else. But such things are rarely the truth.

When the train pulled in to a grinding stop, both hustled themselves in and took some seats quickly before it became fully crowded. In a matter of minutes they had arrived at the 13th ward, since Kaneki was the only one who knew where the Ghoul club was actually at his lover would follow closely behind so not to get lost in the bustling streets, they would have to watch their backs carefully, the 13th was no place for inexperienced ghouls, blood could sometimes line the streets, but unfortunately it was one of the best places for a party, especially clubs. Of course, they had to navigate through the piss filled alleys and streets, carefully looking out for any trouble making ghouls. Well to be fair, they weren't making trouble, they were looking for it.

"You nervous. Unlike last time we're here to have fun so just let loose and enjoy yourself." spoke Kaneki to which Touka nodded at him where the half-ghoul smiled at her, it was going to be one wild night. Slipping their hands into their coat and jacket, they pulled out their respective masks and fastened them on quickly as they were approaching the entry to the club. Already they could see people lining up, the bright lights flashing, all around because of the extravagance in the ward, tall buildings towering over them. Kaneki wouldn't deny that in his teenage years he more or less, caused some trouble in this ward, partied a bit too much and some other 'illegal' activities.

They then walked out from around the corner, completely bypassing the large line of ghouls and heading straight for the door. The rules of the club, the higher your rank, the faster you get in. Mukade and Rabbit, an SS-rank and an S-rank ghoul allowed them to get in faster than all the others and slightly because Odori had met them before and his employee's wouldn't dare risk his wrath if one of his customer's was insulted. The two then approached the large bouncer, who had his own half-mask with a web pattern on it. His large and intimidating physique could silence any weaker and younger ghouls and bring them to heel should they become too rowdy. Some of the other ghouls seeing the two high profile criminals immediately tried coming up with excuses so to be let in.

"Hey, all of us here know the DJ tonight? Yeah?" to which all the other ghouls nodded but the bouncer paid them no heed as he took out a clipboard and waved at them, chanting 'no entry' to which it caused an uproar which made the two Anteiku ghouls sigh, as the louder they yelled, the more time they would waste standing out in the alley. One of the other ghouls, a male with such a shitty mask that it looked like it was about to fall off his face, gripped Touka by the arm, squeezing it so hard that it hurt. "We're with this girl, yeah so let us in." Touka, feeling the grimy, sweaty hand on her skin, making it crawl in repulsion. Her eyes turning black and red, she spun around and kneed the ghouls in his family jewels where he quickly fell to the ground, clutching his sacred place. You could say that as a girl, Touka had the right to do that, no matter if it was a low blow.

'guess she doesn't need a gentlemen.' thought Kaneki chuckling at the scene. While Touka grunted in disgust at the dirty ghoul. The bouncer checking their masks knew exactly who they were and was honestly a little surprised at them being here, he figured that they wouldn't be the type to come to one of these establishments. The two of them walked in with some of the other ghouls trying to shuffle in behind them to no avail as they were pushed back by the large bouncer causing a loud uproar saying that they personally knew Mukade and Rabbit.

Walking in with the flashing lights and all such other things, the two were beset with loud music and obviously ghouls partying like there was no tomorrow and in some cases it was their last day on this earth. In a corner of the club. Was Odori drinking some blood as if it was some expensive wine, one of his servants whispered in his ear to which the ghoul grinned a little, shifting his calculating eyes over to the entrance. His orbs landing on the two dangerous ghouls by the exit.

"Should we remove them, Kumo-sama?" asked one of his servants to which Kumo waved him off.

"No need, the youth these days need to take their minds off all the nasty problems in this city. Let them have their fun, as a show of good faith. A free round of type AB on the house since we just love all our customers." said Odori where his servants nodded and the owner went back to drinking blood. Eager to live and let live.

Kaneki scanned the club. Wanting to know who exactly was in the house and luckily, no one dangerous, other than himself, Touka and Odori who now paid them little heed. He then felt a tug on his hand as Touka led him to the dance floor. The music overcoming them, the waves hitting them, the blood pumping through them faster and faster, they lost themselves in the music. Dancing. Moving their bodies to the sway of the music, speaking to the darkest places within them that light cannot touch. They couldn't take their eyes off each other, Touka moving her body back and forth wildly, Kaneki bobbing his own to the beat without the enthusiastic sways like his girlfriend. the sweat rolling off their brows and their eyes becoming hazy with excitement. they couldn't stop themselves. the music was akin to a disease etching its way into their skin and tearing them apart.

The music overcoming them, the waves hitting them, the blood pumping through them faster and faster, they lost themselves in the music. Dancing. Moving their bodies to the sway of the music, speaking to the darkest places within them that light cannot touch. They couldn't take their eyes off each other, Touka moving her body back and forth wildly, Kaneki bobbing his own to the beat without the enthusiastic sways like his girlfriend. the sweat rolling off their brows and their eyes becoming hazy with excitement. they couldn't stop themselves. the music was akin to a disease etching its way into their skin and tearing them apart. A world without dancing would be a dull world indeed.

Drawing themselves closer and closer where they were only a few inches apart. Touka reached up her hand and undid the zipper on Kaneki's mask, revealing his soft lips behind the leather. Said hybrid slightly lifted her rabbit mask, in turn revealing her own lips. They dragged themselves in closing the gap between them until it was non-existent. Pressing their lips together for a full, chaste kiss, ignoring everything that was around them. Touka in turn wrapped her arms around his neck and closed her eyes, savouring the taste of his lips. However, that wasn't enough as Kaneki ducked his tongue into her mouth, clashing with her own that elicited a moan from the she-ghoul and a slight squeak at his advancements.

She met the challenge of his tongue with her own, the appendages clashing together in a wet and heated kiss. Her arms over his neck, tightened around his collar, her fingers scratching against his leather jacket and pulling herself up to meet his height. Euphoria coming over them, Kaneki's arms wound around Touka's waist, planting his hands firmly on her sides. It wasn't uncommon in the ghoul club for the species to be overcome in the heat of the moment or giving into their more primal desires and lust. The other ghouls in the club barely noticed the two lovers enjoying themselves. Well except for Odori who smirked at the scene, silently congratulating the couple.

The two, separated for air, catching their breaths. Touka rested her head on the half-ghouls shoulder, her mask still covering most of her face. This moment, made her forget all the regrets she had in her life.

"I'll bring back some drinks, just don't accept any from anyone else." said Kaneki as he re-zipped his mask again and Touka nodded with a smile before readjusting her own. Just as Kaneki was out of sight, Touka leaned against a wall, waiting for her lover to return to her with some refreshments. But what she did not expect was some putrid ghoul approaching her from the corner of her eye. Fat, sweaty and all around disgusting with a grimy body and clothing.

"Hey, heheh, you're showing lots of leg. You must be the entertainment in this place." said the ghoul as he leaned against the same wall, and being too close for comfort to Touka who could smell the body odour radiating off this ghoul as if he was a dumpster.

"Entertainment, yes, just not for you. Now go bother someone else." spoke Touka but the ghoul didn't look at all fazed by her words, instead he smirked at Touka who could feel her skin squirm from his piercing eyes scanning her body.

"Don't be like that. I can pay, I'm a good tipper, too. I'll be better than that other guy you were with." said the ghoul, shuffling just a little bit closer towards Touka who felt more and more violated with this ghoul's every move. "We'll go back to my place. I have simple tastes. And I'm sure you do too."

"I said piss off asshole, I'm not a hooker, go find some other place to stick your dick." said Touka warning the ghoul, not intent on ruining the perfect time she was having with Kaneki. However she was grabbed by the ghoul on the arm where he brought her close.

"You have quite the mouth, I'll enjoy watching you use it." said the grotesque ghoul chuckling at Touka whose fury was about to boil over. She then punched him in the gut where it seemed like her hand was swallowed by his fat. The ghoul keeled over slightly but was otherwise still un-fazed, in fact he looked more excited. "Ooh, I like the ones who resist."

"You better step away from her. Unless you want to lose your favourite toy." warned Kaneki, who discarded the glasses filed with blood upon seeing his lover harassed by some blob.

"Hey buddy, I'm just looking for a good time. You can have her once I'm done." he was about to push Kaneki away only to have the living day lights punched out of him by the hybrid who reduced him to a mushy and bloody mess. Well Touka was going to do worse to him if Kaneki didn't intervene, the last thing they needed was to piss of Kumo over one of his customers being assaulted. Unfortunately the little scuffle was already reported to said owner of the club, who merely nodded.

"Well, fun times are over. Dispose of them." said Odori clapping his hands as his thugs made their way over to the couple, if he couldn't keep the peace in his clubs then soon anarchy would reign. One of the rules of the club, start any fight, you'll regret it. Defend yourself, you'll still regret it. Very strict rules to those who weren't aware. Oh, but Kaneki was aware, but didn't care. If someone was harassing the ones he cared about, he wouldn't just stand by and let it happen, especially to Touka.

Odori's thugs then surrounded Touka and Kaneki who remained unperturbed by all the large men encircling them. Instead, they smirked underneath their masks and quickly leapt over the thugs, laughing as they did so. Running, giggling like young girls, they escaped through the exit, chased by the thugs. Running through the alley out onto the streets. Looking over their shoulders, believing this to be nothing more than fun.

They made a sharp right onto the flashing buildings and streets of the 13th ward, and quickly entering a lavish hotel and jumping into the elevator as quickly as they could. Pushing people out of their way and still chuckling madly. The thugs then burst through the glass doors of the hotel but were careful not to break anything, only to see their prey escaping via elevator where they quickly took the stairs to catch up to them.

Kaneki and Touka, stopped at a floor and opened up the literal glass elevator and onto the hallways of the hotel, being chased by the thugs. They then interlocked their hands together and pretended like they were a normal couple just out on a stroll. The servants taking notice of their beige coat, short-shorts and the leather black jacket, but otherwise moving onto with their work.

The servants of Odori then stepped into the same hallway and saw the backs of their targets and slowly walked up to them. The couple then looked over their shoulders to see the followers and quickly picked up their pace, trying to contain their laughter. Their pursuers did the same as their targets, only for Touka to look over her shoulder once again and yell.

"Run!" while a large smiled graced her face as the two lovers went into fast paced running. Loving the chase even more than the spider's flies who trailed after them upon seeing the fleeing ghouls. Ducking through hallways and laughing as they did so, causing quite a ruckus as they did so. They flew past a flight of stairs and into an elevator that had just opened up where they pushed every button they were able to while Touka still kept her hand thoroughly glued to Kaneki's as she pulled him along. Adrenaline and excitement were now coursing through them. Narrowly escaping the thugs. The elevator then went down while the three servants looked on, to which Touka flipped them the bird, snorting in amusement as Kaneki chuckled as he waved at them.

The servants did nothing other than running to the flight of stairs and quickly descending, chasing after the couple of young ghouls. Their elevator then stopped at a random floor as Kaneki and Touka quickly ejected themselves and kept running through hallway after hallway of the hotel and the white haired man actually bumped into some people and gave them a flustered apology to which he and his girlfriend just continued running, treating it as some game. They locked their hands once again and continued their merry pace.

They found another staircase where they quickly descended and Kaneki almost tripped over a cart of food being sent up to a higher level. The cart tipped over a little, some of it's contents spilling over and trying (and failing) to clumsily put them back in their place. They finally stopped as they tried to catch their breath while laughing also, and Touka removed her mask and Kaneki pulled down his own as they rested against a wall.

"Determined aren't they?" snorted Touka and Kaneki responded with a amused snort at his lover. As he kept laughing at all the fun they were having.

"I wonder if they gave up. I would, given all this running," said Kaneki in-between intakes of air. They then opened a door where, upon the other side were the three thugs of Odori who spotted them. "Oh shit. I spoke too soon," said Kaneki as he chuckled while being pushed by Touka as they started running through the hallways yet again.

Making a sharp turn, on the left, the two ducked into the kitchen's of the hotel and skated by all the flipping food, sizzling pans, and some flames for the more carefully prepared dishes. Kaneki almost tumbled into a pot of stew filled with whatever humans fill them with? Though his graceful steps allowed that to not happen in the end. The two essentially had to cover their noses to block out the rancid odour in the air. The thugs followed soon after but the smell of the kitchen immediately wafted into their noses making them cough as they continued to give chase to the couple.

The two lovers making another turn, then,passed into another elevator going up. Once it stopped, they came face to face with the manager of the hotel who questioned them upon seeing them. Laughing some more they ran across the halls and took a flight of stairs to the roof of the hotel, leaving the poor human in the dust, forgotten. When they made it to the roof, still giggling and laughing, they saw no other way out. Well other than jumping off the roof and onto another building. Taking each other's hands and not thinking clearly. They rushed off the edge and jumped to the adjacent building, laughing as they did so just as the thugs made it to the roof and had finally had enough of chasing them. Where they stood there, watching the couple fly away into the night as they jumped from building to building.

The two then came to a sudden stop. Atop a random roof of a building and just stood there, giggling until they settled down.

"That was... That was..." breathed Touka as she sat herself down on the roof upon her legs, playing with the hem of her coat.

"Incredible." said Kaneki finishing her sentence as he sat down next to her, though facing an opposite direction. Touka merely laughed some more at his response while Kaneki tucked a stray hair out of her eyes that had been dishevelled by all the running and panting. He then slowly cupped her chin and planted a soft kiss upon her lips to which she reciprocated. When they parted, Kaneki eased his body down until he was lying on the roof, while Touka rested her head on his stomach. Her head heaved up and down with the gradual rhythm of his breathing while his hands played with her short blue hair to which she couldn't stifle a smile upon her features.

"The stars." said Touka, gazing up into the sky, looking at the twinkling lights that pierced the darkness. It was rare to see such a sight, when the stars were twinkling so blatantly. One would have thought they would be shrouded by the light of Tokyo. She was so lost in thought, looking up at the stars that she failed his fingers caressing her eyebrows, like she was some fragile porcelain doll. Shifting her body where she was hovering over him, she hovered her head above his, where, one of the rare few times. Kaneki could now see both of her eyes as her right bang was sweeping against his face. She interlocked her fingers with his own. Noting the difference between the two of them just through their fingers. But those differences seemed great and yet so insignificant at that very moment.

She lowered her face as she pressed a kiss on his forehead. Then moving on to his left eye to which she kissed the closed eyelid. Followed with a peck to the cheek. A small jab of her lips to his chin while he breathed slow and hard at her manifestations. She then smoothed her lips over his neck, trailing them along his flesh. And finally she captured his own lips with his own in the purest kiss. Just a peck, nothing too deep. Just merely conveying her feelings through her actions.

Kaneki pushed himself up, where both of them were now in a sitting position. They silently wished that this moment would just last forever, the metaphoric silence and the night sky with the rare few stars glinting above. But both of them were glad that they had etched this memory in the back of their minds. One that would last forever. Touka could honestly say that she truly felt alive, feeling the warmth in her blood running throughout her body to her fingers. This elated feeling flowing through her, like standing under a warm waterfall during the cold night of winter. For Kaneki, it was more like realisation. He had lived his life until that point to seek out redemption for his inaction to save those close to him. Now he could say the redemption he was looking for could be gained in a path he never sort to pursue.

"Let's get out of here. The night is still young. Plenty to do. Besides. Have you ever played the 'game'." said Kaneki while Touka shook her head at him. "Don't worry, I'll teach you. First, we need a human."

Now they were standing atop a building, watching the humans go about their business. Spotting a lone one walking down an alley with a phone to his ear, they noted the lack of a briefcase. Meaning that were not a CCG investigator.

"Some young ghouls would play this game. It enhanced their hunting skills and also did it for fun, sort of like lion cubs. It's an age old technique that parents teach to their children, 'playing with your food' is a more precise term. Some older more, deranged ghouls still play this game. The smart ones use this method to escape from the eye of the Doves for a while. So even if they find out you're Rabbit or I'm Mukade, the investigator's would flock to this ward. Pulling on the string that leads them to nothing. Watch me." said Kaneki as he jumped off the edge of the roof, descending fast and landing hard. Loud enough to gain the lone human's attention.

Kaneki's face was covered with his mask as his fall let him to take a predatory stance. The lone human merely looked on in worry. Kaneki then rushed at him and punched him into the wall, though not hard enough to break anything.

"You look quite tasty. Type O blood is my favourite, so sweet." said Kaneki a he licked his right index finger of all blood on it as a small cut appeared on the man's cheek and a wet spot between his legs as he saw Kaneki's sole blazing eye, red like blood and black as shadow. Kaneki prepared to punch the man as his fist came barrelling on the human's face. Said human let out the girliest scream one could have, echoing through the street. When the human opened his eyes, said ghoul was gone and he was crying.

Kaneki was back on the top of the roof, trying to desperately not burst into laughter as he had to bite his lips and cover his mouth with his hand to stop himself. Touka had a similar state of of amusement. She knew such a thing was horrible but somehow she found it strangely fun.

"See, easy. First hurt them, not too much. Then send them a death-threat and watch their reaction. And try to look like you're going to hit them and when they close their eyes. Leave. Simple. Quick and silent." spoke Kaneki once he calmed himself done while Touka nodded at his words. It was now her turn to try.

Seeing a woman, carrying a normal purse. Touka slipped on her mask and prepared herself for the scare. Kaneki watched from his position and gave her a thumbs up, as no other human was walking into the alley. Touka descended from the roof, the wind whipping her beige coat. And she made her landing loud enough for the woman to hear. The black eyes of her mask peered at the woman who was sweating at the appearance of the she-ghoul. Before Touka could do anything the woman suddenly fell to the ground, surprising the girl who wandered up to the downed woman and discovered that she had feinted. Kaneki burst into full blown laughter at the scene making Touka remove her shoe and peg it at his forehead, getting a perfect bullseye. She then jumped up to the roof of the building where Kaneki was still laughing and currently holding her shoe. She snatched her shoe up and playfully glared at Kaneki.

"She feinted before you actually did anything. Wow that's pathetic. Well to be honest you are a scary person." spoke Kaneki making Touka slap upside the head.

"Shitty Kaneki. I just got unlucky. The next one will be worth it." said the girl which reduced Kaneki to chuckles making Touka's eyebrow tick at him in annoyance. They moved away to a different building and were now waiting on the roof tops. They saw another girl walking down the alley leisurely. Touka was going to launch herself but Kaneki made her stop as a large white van pulled up in front of the woman and two men jumped out of it. Wearing rat masks. They could only watch as the woman was tied up and gagged, before being thrown into the back of the van with many others. Seeing this both Touka and Kaneki widened their eyes at the scene. They never thought to actually see it. But Kumo was right. It was the Gaichuu, here in the 13th ward.

"Ken we need to do something." said Touka worriedly, while her boyfriend remained stone-faced beneath the mask. Contemplating his next course of action. He remained silent for a few more minutes while he watched the van, about to speed away. "They may be humans but we just can't-"

"No." said the hybrid, shocking Touka at his answer. "We won't do a thing. This... isn't our problem." said Kaneki but he was about to walk away before Touka grabbed him by the shoulder, giving him a flare to which he shrugged it off.

"So you would just walk away and allow those people to be hurt. When you had the power to help them." angrily exclaimed Touka making Kaneki break his gaze with her for just a second. "Just like Ryouko-san." now with those words did Kaneki remember something he had forgotten at the time. Touka's words were not so different from his mother's. "Do you not care for humans at all? Or do you think that they're just beneath you? No matter what you say. I'm going after the Gaichuu. Unless you want to stop me?"

"...This would no doubt bring trouble to the 220th ward. Trouble to Anteiku. Mukade and Rabbit, are two ghouls associated with the 20th ward, it's common knowledge amongst ghoul social circles. And Yoshimura will have to face a huge shit-storm from this... Fine. Let's go, Touka-chan." spoke Kaneki making Touka smile just a little before the two of them raced off. Jumping from building to building, chasing after the white van. They almost lost it a couple of time, but always managed to find it in some way. They finally found the van, travelling on a small road leading out of the 13th ward. "Touka-chan! Take out it's wheels with your Kagune!"

Said girl did just that, unleashing a single black wing and firing off multiple spikes towards the wheels. She was able to hit two of them, a front and a back wheel and hitting the rest of the van with spikes, making it look like a pin cushion or a hedgehog. Kaneki landed in front of the van gracefully and unleashed his own Kagune. Six tentacles sprouted from his back, long and full of power, it sort of resembled the legs of a spider, with blades upon each tentacles with white tips and yet still fluid like water. The hybrid ducked to the side of the car and tripped over the van with his spider-like tentacles. the van tumbled and rolled a few times, before landing on its side as two ghouls jumped out of it, wearing rat masks.

Two Gaichuu hopped out of the van and attack Kaneki with a Koukaku and a Bikaku Kagune. One sent his tail-like Kagune towards the hybrid who merely had his tentacles wrap around the tail and repeatedly slam the ghoul on the ground, cracking apart the concrete with each slam. He then threw him into a building, knocking him out cold and stopping him from fighting further. Kaneki turned to the other ghoul who unleashed his twin Koukaku and rushed at half-human where the Centipede will fight with all his brute strength.

Touka meanwhile had made it to the back of the van and found it locked with a strong lock. Using her Ukaku Kagune, she easily destroyed the lock in place only to be kicked away by a ghoul who had been residing in the back. Glaring at the ghoul who unleashed his two Rinkaku tentacles. Touka fired off some Ukaku spikes from her wing to which the ghoul barely blocked with his tentacles. She then launched herself at the ghoul and struck his shoulder with her wing, easily slicing through his Kagune and making his blood fly through the air making him scream in pain. He couldn't do anything more as an excruciating pain ran through his legs. He looked down to see two white tipped blades sticking through his legs as Kaneki had pierced his own insect like tentacles through the man's legs.

The one that had engaged Touka was then thrown into his partner. And the two of them engaged Kaneki whose six tentacles efficiently blocked all their attacks. Touka took that as a signal as she detracted her Kagune and quickly set off to release the humans from the van and their bindings who had been crying as the tears stains were visible on their cheeks. Touka held up a finger to her mouth, giving them a signal to remain silent to which they thankfully did as Touka removed the gags and helped them out of the van, first with the children, followed by the rest. they began running away, fearing for their lives and the ghouls.

Kaneki was finishing up his small fight as he stabbed his Kagune into the Koukaku ghouls and easily tour off the Koukaku from beneath his shoulders. Blood flying everywhere. Kaneki didn't stop as he engaged the last and gave him a roundhouse kick which sent him in the air, only to be slammed back to the ground by Kaneki's spindly Kagune. Knocking both of them out easily. Ken then turned his head to see Touka helping out the last of the kidnapping victims. He was just about to head over to her, before something pierced his shoulder causing him to fall to the ground and grit his teeth in sight pain at the feeling of his shoulder being stabbed. He found a single and long metal pipe jutting out of his shoulder, his own blood leaking from it. But given the fact that it was able to easily slice through his shoulder, he figured it must have been made from Quinque steel.

Touka seeing her lover wounded tried to rush over to him only for four tentacles to stop her in her tracks. She then saw a shadow looming over the hybrid. He was wearing a rat mask like all the others however, Touka knew who it was given the description of their Kagune and the way this man conducted himself. Four long, pink, fleshy tentacles whipping about giving it the form of a rat's tail. Saikoratto. Touka felt uneasy staring at the SS-rank ghoul who hovered over Kaneki. Immediately taking action. She fired off multiple spikes towards the Rinkaku ghoul who blocked them all with ease. He then turned around to look at her and gave her what could be presumed to be a mocking stare.

"This is mine." said Saikoratto as he turned to Kaneki pulled the metal rod from Kaneki's shoulder, more blood spilling off the ground. Kaneki taking the chance now that his focus was occupied, tried to swipe at him with his Kagune only for the ghoul to jump over and avoid the sharp tentacles by a hair's breadth. Saikoratto then jumped up onto the roof of a building and continued staring at the couple and quickly took note of Kaneki's wound already healing itself as it was back to it's original state. "it's not everyday people go around and play with my food. A pest like me gotta eat, right? So tell ya what, I'll let this whole thing slide for now and we can go back to whatever we were doing before, provided you don't interfere again and I won't rip the skin off your friend's and wear it as my new suit no matter how many rats you kill, there will always be more. see ya around." said the ghoul before quickly disappearing. Making Touka and Kaneki grit their teeth at the empty space. With the sound of sirens fast approaching they too left in a hurry. Leaving the 13th ward and staying out of it for the time being.

They made it back to the 20th ward safe and sound, quickly, of course. They hadn't spoken a word to the other since their encounter with Saikoratto. Their perfect night ruined by some psychopath and his posse. Touka held a sombre expression on their way back, something that Kaneki and all his denseness noticed.

"Don't blame yourself, the both of us never predicted what would happen, with those people." said Kaneki, trying to ease Touka's weariness.

"It's not that." spoke the she-ghoul. "When you were hurt by that psychopath. I guess, I was scared. That I would once again lose someone close to me. Perhaps I worry too much, perhaps I just get you into trouble on a regular basis. But, whether you're hurt. I hurt too. That's the best way I can explain it." said the girl which made Kaneki narrow his eyes in thought.

"I guess this is the part where I say you shouldn't worry. But, that wouldn't stop you from worrying anyway. Well, I promise, Touka. I won't let anything happen to me. I guess I think about everyone's safety too much that I forget the most important things one can teach. And it's also probably true that I don't worry about myself enough. Perhaps my former attitude is still rubbing off on me." said Kaneki as he took the girl's hand and held it tight. "Well, I know that if I do something stupid, you'll be there to knock some sense into me."

"...Damn right." said Touka as her own hand tightened around Kaneki and both went back to her apartment and carefully entered it. Making sure not to wake Hinami. Touka slept in her own bed that night while Kaneki slept on her uncomfortable bed. But the white-haired man was too tired to care. They both just let sleep claim and would ready themselves for the tongue lashing they would receive from Yoshimura for going to the ghoul club and stirring up trouble in the ward.

May the Touken be with you.

OK, so this was a very Kaneki and Touka driven chapter with them progressing their relationship. they're not ready to say that they love each other, as I felt it would be unrealistic and corny. but they do care for each other immensely. Hinami's punishment was actually a punishment I received as a child, where I would stare at a wall or sit on a staircase until I learnt my lesson or my mother would decide when to stop. Touka's birthday is coming up, what will Ken, do? well I know what he'll do anyway. so now the leader of the Gaichuu, Psycho rat, a name given by the CCG has appeared. he will have a pronounced role in the next few chapters and the story as a whole, he's a rinkaku type who's kagune looks like rat tails. I wanted a psychotic scary animal to be attributed to this character, since I'm afraid of rats and mice I went with a rat.

Do hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Juubiwriter99 is down and out.