Title: Sweet

Author: Serpent at Sunset

Pairing: Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Rating: M

Fandom: Tokyo Ghoul

Genre: Angst/Romance

Word Count: 2,184

Summary: Some gardens bloom only at night in deep darkness, and someone has finally noticed Natsuki's bud... Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Disclaimer: I do not own Tokyo Ghoul.

Kaneki couldn't help wondering: why was she here? Why was she alive? Kankei wanted to know, but he felt that it would be rude to ask.

"He's a bad man," Rize cooed. "He's a bastard. Look what he did to my poor boy."

He shivered as he felt the sensation of her fingers and nails through his black hair though her touch was hardly a comfort. He wasn't a pet after all even though was barely alive now. He was nothing. He was merely a toy play with and abuse. Why had he been even born?

Here he was sitting while waiting to die, and he was doing nothing to stop it.

Though, he couldn't cease his mind. How could she still be alive?

Rize started to shake her head. "Your world is so pale. So quaint. So...idealized. So ridiculous."

Kaneki didn't know what she meant. This had always been his world. Before the invaders arrived anyway: the mad king and the twisted queen.

"It shouldn't look this way," she sighed. "We need to redecorate." Her hands were on her hips

Kaneki blinked at her as he wondered what she ever meant.

Yet, the only thing that he could concentrate on in her voice so that he wouldn't drift away to an empty world of pain and laughter.

As it would turn out, her gentle voice would be her most lethal weapon...

It had been a nice excursion out, but unfortunately, all good things came to an end.

Natsuki sipped at her coffee and noticed that it was almost gone. The ring of dark liquid around the bottom had turned cold. Almost in disgust, she threw it in a nearby wire trash can. Properly disposing of it was the least she could do. It was a gesture of whatever decency remained in her.

This act of normalcy was all she could muster before she prepared to go right back to hell.

Predictably, as soon as she opened the door and she and Nico crossed the threshold, Yamori was there waiting, and he didn't look happy.

"I didn't realize that you had taken to each other," Yamori commented roughly. "I've been having fun all by myself," he leered.

There seemed to be disapproval on Nico's face before he turned his gaze away, but maybe Natsuki had imagined it.

He was baiting her and she knew it. Since when had she become so hollow?

The plea was already on her lips. For once, she didn't want to ignore Yamori's games. Kaneki didn't deserve this. No one did.

"Just put him out of his misery already," she begged.

All humor left Yamori's face, or rather, Jason's face.

"Well, If you're so eager, Natsuki-chan, why don't you just do it yourself already if you're so concerned about Kaneki-kun's suffering? But I warn you, I probably won't permit you to do it."

"Go to hell," she hissed.

She sucked in a breath. What had she done? Words couldn't be taken back.

Natsuki watched his eyes flare red as before the back of his hand met her face and found that she was so numb that the pain hardly registered.

"Feeling a little self-righteous, bitch?" he taunted her. "I made you, and I can unmake you with pleasure," he threatened with a sick smirk on his face.

Made her? More like he unmade her.

She was looking at the real him. Raw and violent. She couldn't help but wonder if she had ever met the real him.

"I could teach you to appreciate pain," he offered. "He is ripe, and delicate, and whimpering. Damn, you're even stronger than he is."

It was supposed to be a compliment, but she was already uncomfortable, and he wouldn't stop talking...

"Please stop," she whispered.

It was hopeless to because Yamori never halted in anything he did.

When they had first met in that sewer, maybe he should have impaled her with his Kagune. It would have made matters easier.

He then cracked his fingers. Yamori must have felt threatened. Or excited. She bet on the latter.

"Watch it, or you'll be saying that sooner rather than later."

She froze in place as a squirrel in front of a cat would at the threat. He had never been this bad before. Natsuki cautioned herself to stop herself before she would regret it. She didn't want to die tonight after all. Yet, others would have wondered why she wouldn't want to end her misery. Was she a masochist by now like Nico?

Natsuki well knew that Yamori had to stay in control, and in the process, he would attack her shamelessly. In this house, only he could be the only strong one. It saddened her how his mind was still damaged by his imprisonment in Cochlea.

He shrugged then. "Well, your loss. More for me then."

No doubt this was his Jason persona. She had encountered it before, and consequently, Natsuki knew that she might be in deep shit later. He might decide to put her in that chair. Hell, he might kill them both in same day if he was in the right mood. Why not? Yamori had nothing to lose.

When he left the room, Nico drew in close to her.

"Do you have a death wish?" Nico hissed. it was an honest question. Just who she was talking to exactly? Had she forgotten her position? Which was lackey?

Still, it was the first time she defended herself or stood up for herself, and here she was getting criticism.

Mind controlled. They all were. Just like Yamori himself. Natsuki may not have been mind controlled, but she was so defeated. The only movement she had was in her feet.

In the end, Natsuki was just a dying wisteria and she was drooping. In time, she would just fade away. From life itself and for Yamori. In time, he would just get rid of her anyway, so why not do it as slow as possible? Her agony may not have been physical, but it was still present.

So, with Yamori gone, she was out the door again, and she should be sure to enjoy it the last time since Yamori probably wouldn't let her leave for the entire year and maybe the entire next year. And, she had done it to herself.

Well, in the end, what did Kaneki Ken even really mean to her anyway?

Yamori already wondered what he would taste like. He guessed hot and sweet. Delicious defeat. Yamori knew from personal experience. Kaneki-kun was certainly tender enough now.

Kankei still had his head down. He looked utterly defeated. It was hopeless. It was over. And, it thrilled Yamori to the core.

"Are you ready for me to eat you?" Yamori growled.

The boy was quiet. Too quiet. As quiet as the grave. He couldn't imagine what he was thinking...

Well, maybe it was best that he didn't know. The time had ended for amusement. Now, it was time for feasting.

Kaneki was livid. How dare she make him remember.

His mother had hated him. Everyone had hated him. He was an inconvenience. A burden.

Kaneki had served as a punishment puppet for most of his life. Even now, he wouldn't announce himself or wouldn't fight for himself. It was what had been ingrained in him all his life, and that belief system was helping to kill him now.

Hell, his own mother had never taught him that he had value. And, since she worked herself to death, had she even valued herself? Why inherit her weakness? What would that benefit him? He needed to stop. Kaneki needed to destroy himself and become someone stronger, or he would become a useless corpse.

He was well past angry now. Kaneki was full of rage now. Seething. And, clearly, Rize was reveling in it.

It happened gradually as the fire took hold of him. One by once, the carnations were beginning to whirl into spidery blades of destruction. They were omens of the future. Omens of death and destruction.

He rose up like a chained beast until he felt the shackles break. There, Kaneki was finally free from that damned chair.

As if following his train of thought, the landscape began to metamorphose. As the field of flowers around him rapidly became a vermilion wave, he maneuvered on top of the purple-haired woman.

"Are you feeling better now? I can be your new mother, Kaneki-kun," she whispered.

Tears were dripping down his cheeks as he straddled her in a dominant position as blooms as white as his mother's paper flowers darkened to red as blood. His blood.

Back in reality, he was dimly aware that his hair had lightened to a snow white as his thoughts became as clear and as sharp as ice. Deep inside, he felt himself become someone new.

There. He was strong enough now.

In the next five seconds, the chains were off his body and around Yamori's neck.

The air was blustery as Christmas was just around the corner, but she felt no mirth in her heart. It would be just yet another night of mayhem with Yamori. They didn't even bother putting up a tree this year because of Naki's arrest. She honestly missed him. Compared to the rest of them, Naki was light. He still had his innocence. Now, he was gone, and the world was a little bit more unbearable.

The wind continued to blow. A wind of change. Suddenly feeling its chill, Natsuki folded her hands in the pockets of her white trench coat. However, it proved to be useless as it was still trying to find her and brand her with its bitterness.

It occurred to her to keep walking right out of Tokyo, but there would be no future there. It was almost impossible to find peace in her life as it was. Maybe she was too damaged to. Natsuki was beginning to forget that she was ever happy. When was honestly the last time something good had happened to her?

She couldn't help but feel empty. Natsuki's heart was like a dark sky with no stars.

Natsuki took her time heading back running towards Aogiri headquarters. Why suffer anymore than she had to? At times, even she had to look after herself.

Slowly, it occurred to her that something was wrong as another CCG truck passed her by. Her heart sank when she saw which way they were turning...

Shit.

The doves were here, and they had clearly descended on Aogiri headquarters at the worst possible time. She could see from this distance that even she would be stopped and questioned if she hung around. Returning was impossible now. After all, she was wearing her signature white coat.

Frozen, she still stood there on the dark street overwhelmed. She honestly didn't know what to do without Yamori there. Everything could all end right there in that spot right now, and what would it matter to her? The world wouldn't miss her. In her mind, she had no future.

Slowly, it was beginning to occur that somebody unknown was at her side. Immediately, she took in a silent breath while poised to attack until she heard a familiar voice.

"Let's go," Nico urged in her ear.

"The CCG are here!" she hissed. "What about Yamori?" she couldn't help asking. It was an automatic question.

Her question was authentic and was not prompted. For the past fifteen months, he had been ever present in her life. Her purpose for living.

"He'll kill them," Nico assured her. "Don't even worry about that. He even has a Kakuja. You know Yamori, he is never ever going back."

How like Nico. To build up Yamori. But, Natsuki agreed. She wouldn't be that lucky to lose Yamori.

Natsuki was already aware of this as she had seen it once or twice. But, as far as Natsuki, Yamori's knew Kakuja incomplete. Wouldn't it be more reasonable to head back and help him? If they didn't, he would be more pissed off than he already was. It was unthinkable that they wouldn't go back to help him. Surely Nico was returning...

Then again, the code of the White Suits was to save yourself. Still, in spite of everything, it surprised her that was more divided than Nico was.

In all honesty, Natsuki had never seen Nico fight nor had she had ever seen his Kagune, but he seemed to be a Bikaku type in her opinion. Their next move would be to return to their safe house and regroup to wait for Yamori. In their hurry, Natsuki shed her white coat.

Yet, she had no idea what would happen to Kaneki. She wondered if he was even still alive. At the very least, Kaneki might be rescued. Perhaps what was happening was all meant to be.

Oh, yes, Natsuki was sure that Yamori would live. She was sure of it. And once he got ahold of her, she would have the worst time of her life.

A sliver of moon hid its secrets as it shone down on Tokyo.

A/N: Happy 2020! I resolved to update this fic, so I did. Thanks to everyone who has read and enjoyed this fic. This story now has a playlist that I hosted on Spotify at: h tt ps (insert :) / / open . spotify . c om (insert /) pla ylist/25wB JDiN1H0ur6EsQPC5Ss

Or check my AO3 at Fenikkusu_Ai.