NeonHorizon: Three rewrites later, this chapter is complete. Also, in case anyone cares, I've posted another Tokyo Ghoul fanfic featuring Kaneki, Ayato, and my newest OC Saya. I don't think it's going to get too dark, but it won't be as lighthearted as Feeding was.


The patter of rain on the roof of the shipping container pulled Airi from sleep. It was sudden, startling her out of her dreams and into wakefulness. For a moment, she forgot where she was. Panic filled her as she tried to push herself to sit up, but the fear faded when she felt the weight of an arm around her waist. She felt the warmth of her protector behind her, his bare chest pressed against her back. His scent was all around her in the container and gradually reassured her that she was safe.

She settled again, taking a deep breath to try to calm down. Her heart was still racing, and not just from the nightmare. Being so close to him always made her pulse quicken, no matter how much time she spent with him. Feeling his hips press against the back of hers made her blush as she remembered what they had done earlier that night. This is how it's going to be from now on, isn't it? We've been hiding here for three days and so far…every day has been good, even though I'm in danger. He keeps asking if I need anything. Or want anything.

The female ghoul turned onto her other side and leaned her forehead against his chest, her hands curled up in front of her. She closed her eyes again and felt his hand against her back, pressing her closer. "…are you awake…?"

"The rain woke me up," he quietly replied. Yomo looked down at her, but she kept her face buried in his chest. "Are you alright?"

"I had a dream…that the dove killed me that night. That everything that's happened since then is just…" She felt his arm tighten around her and lifted her face, meeting his soft grey eyes. The man's free hand wove into her obsidian locks and he frowned.

"I won't let you get hurt. I promised you."

"I-I know, but…it was just a dream."

Yomo continued to stare down at her, noting the wetness to her grey-blue eyes and the flush of her cheeks. "You're scared."

She looked away, biting her lower lip. "I just…don't know what's going to happen. The CCG knows what I really look like now. They know that I'm…The Blushing Maiden. What if they track me down? What if you get hurt-?" Lips captured hers in a tender, warm kiss. Airi gently pressed back, molding her mouth to conform to his. The male ghoul's embrace made her feel secure and loved in such a way that she could almost forget about the danger they were in.

When he felt her break the kiss, he frowned and let his fingers run through her hair again. "Whatever happens, I'm going to keep you safe."

"I don't…want you to get hurt." She shivered a little, feeling his other hand slide up and down her back. His rough fingertips traced along her spine and moved slowly, caressing each and every curve as if to memorize her form.

He pressed a kiss to her forehead as he felt her smooth, pale back beneath his fingers. "I love you, Airi."

Her cheeks turned red, her heart skipping a beat. "I…love you, too."

"I'm going to do anything it takes to keep you safe, but I want you to be happy. If you want anything, tell me and I'll get it for you." He felt her nod against his chest and slipped his other arm around her waist as he turned onto his back. Airi was now lying on top of him, her legs slipping to either side of his hips. Locks of her long, midnight dark hair fell around her face and gently brushed his chest as she leaned back to look up at him. He could feel the warmth of her opening against his skin, no fabric to separate her body from his.

Airi bit her bottom lip and tried to determine what she should do. He was staring back at her with that soft expression that he only displayed to those he cared most about. She gradually relaxed and wrapped her arms around his neck. Her face nuzzled into the warm skin between his neck and shoulder, trying to hide her blushing face. She could feel him rubbing between her legs, warm flesh against warm flesh. It made her body feel hot and she knew that she was getting wet from the attention. She carefully lifted her hips and felt him slip into her.

He held her close, gently rocking his hips up and into hers. Airi's body fit perfectly against his own, her sounds soft and slightly muffled against his neck. Her lips pressed kisses there that became gradually more frantic as he thrust harder, letting her smooth, wet opening glide over his length. The male ghoul finally drew her face away from his neck and caught her lips just as her muscles spasmed around him. She went limp in his embrace and he knew that the final burst of pleasure had soothed her into sleep.

The next day, Yomo did something unexpected. She was sitting on the bed with her sketchbook, trying to draw his portrait from memory, and saw him putting on his coat. "…Yomo…?"

He spared her a glance and frowned. "I'm going out for a while. I'll be back soon." The man saw her start to get up and shook his head. "Stay here. It's still dangerous."

She reluctantly nodded her agreement and watched him go. Airi continued to draw, blushing faintly when she tried to remember the curve of his collar bone and shape of his shoulders. This…is my life now, she reminded herself. I live with Yomo and we're hiding from the CCG. I won't even be able to go outside once we're at the hideout.

A few minutes passed before her new phone chimed with a message. So far, the only person to contact her on the phone was Uta and that had been the day she arrived at Yomo's home. Looking at the message, she immediately knew who it was and frowned. The message read "Girls' Night Out!" and was obviously from Itori. Airi dialed the number that it came from and gazed down at her sketch while the phone rang.

"Hey, Ai-chan. You're coming for our girls' night out, right?" Itori greeted her. The sounds of the bar could be heard in the background; people talking, laughing, glasses clinking.

"Itori-chan…do you remember what happened? With the dove?"

"Yeah. A dove recognized you while you were putting on your mask. So what?"

"I'm in hiding now. I…can't really go outside."

"You said that you'd come with me for a girls' night out when I gave you that information, remember? So are you going to come or do I have to send U-chan to drag you out of Ren-chan's place?"

Her stomach seemed to do flips at the thought of Uta seeing her in Yomo's home. "Can you come to get me? I don't know where Helter Skelter is from here."

"We walked there before."

"We were both drunk," she argued. "Please…just come here and we'll go, okay?" Airi pushed herself to sit up more and bit at her lip piercing. I don't want Uta to see me here. I really don't.

"Why? You know, U-chan wants to see you. It wouldn't be a big deal for him to walk you to the bar." Itori snickered. "Besides…he's already there."

She heard a tentative knock at the door and her eyes shot in that direction, widening. Uta…is here? How long was he waiting? Airi stood and started walking toward the door, still listening to Itori talk. If I open the door, what's going to happen? He's…sometimes unpredictable.

"Anyway, just try to hurry, okay? I'm closing up soon and I want to go have some fun. I have something pretty great in mind for tonight. You're going to love it. And don't worry about Ren-chan; I'll let him know where you went."

A sinking feeling made Airi hesitate as her hand neared the door. She won't tell Yomo. I already know that she won't. Uta is on the other side of this door and if I don't open it, I don't know what might happen. I do…want to see him. I just don't want him to see me here. The female ghoul tucked away her phone and took a deep breath. "Who…is it?"

"It's me," Uta replied, speaking just loud enough for her to hear.

There was no other choice. Leaving the door closed now would be bad. As much as she liked him, she also knew that he could be dangerous. She opened the door and was immediately swept into a tight embrace. Airi trembled a little and hesitantly wrapped her arms around him. Warm breath fanned over the sensitive skin of her neck as he leaned down to her ear, his lips lightly nudging her piercings. "Uta…?"

"I missed you…" Fingers threaded into her thick, dark hair and he held her against his chest. "Did Renji take good care of you?"

"…y-yeah…" The female ghoul tried to pull out of the hug, wary of her surroundings. He had brought her out into the open when he embraced her and now she felt terrified of being spotted by an investigator. Uta let her step back, his red and black gaze meeting her grey-blue one. "We're…going to see Itori…right?"

He nodded, a gentle smile taking form on his lips. "It's good to see you again. I just wish I could take you home…"

Her cheeks turned a bright pink and she started to walk, knowing that he would follow. Sure enough, she soon felt his tattooed hand taking her small, pale one and holding it securely. His palm was warm against hers, his inked fingers laced with her unmarked ones. "It's…only been three days, Uta."

He tilted his head, still wearing that cute, almost sheepish smile. "I don't like being away from you. Thinking about you…being alone with someone else…makes me a little sad."

She turned her head to the side and gave his hand a small squeeze, which he returned. His smile grew a little and she let her dark hair fall to hide her own shy half-grin. "You…don't mind it…that I'm spending time with Itori-chan, right?"

Uta tilted his head back a bit, looking up at the cloudy sky above. "Hmm. I don't mind Itori. She's just happy to have someone to play with. She doesn't love you." His eyes shifted, watching her from the corner of his vision. "Renji loves you."

"I-I know." She tried to keep her gaze away from him, nervous about where this conversation was going.

"And Renji has you all to himself. It makes me feel bad. Wouldn't you rather spend that time with me? You wouldn't need to hide; I would protect you. I would find ways for you to go outside without being afraid."

"…I have a safe place…that I'm going to in a few days with Yomo…" she murmured, bowing her head and facing forward. "I just…want the CCG to forget about me. I wish that I could go back in time…and stop myself from handling my mask that night. My mask was what made them identify me."

Uta listened to this and frowned. "Your mask…The Blushing Maiden…"

"I still don't like that name."

"It's cute. And it's true; you blush so easily." He leaned over, studying her face closely and smiling again when she looked his way. "I love to see you blush."