Title: Magnetic

Author: Serpent at Sunset

Pairing: Yamori x OC x Tsukiyama

Rating: T

Fandom: Tokyo Ghoul

Genre: Angst/Romance

Word Count: 2,365

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

Touka was still raging over what had just happened. She couldn't believe that it had come to this and so soon.

"You really are too old," she sighed.

"It is my cafe, Touka-chan," Yoshimura gently reminded her.

She narrowed her eyes. "So, it could be a trap," she said. "Seriously? Aogiri?"

Yoshimura sighed. "I'm old, Touka-chan, so I knew that from speaking with her that she was sincere."

Why?" Touka huffed. "Was it all the the begging? Did it eventually win you over?"

Yoshimura shook his head. "Oh, not at all It was the sadness in her eyes. It couldn't be contained."

But, we're all sad!" Touka argued. "We lost Kaneki!"

What went unsaid is that Kaneki actually mattered.

"Please try to empathize with her and please help train her."

Touka reared up. "I can't believe you're asking me to do this. I mean, you never know what she's thinking. I always thought that she was too secretive."

Yoshimura studied his employee. "Are you accusing her of being a spy for Aogiri?"

Touka folded her arms across her chest and simply scowled.

"You'll know more if your are kind to her," Yoshimura suggested. "People let their guard down more if you are accommodating. If she is a threat, then we can be ready."

"So, where is she?" Touka put her hands on her hips.

"In a spare room of course. She has no place to go at the moment."

"Let me guess," Touka sighed. "Kaneki's old room."

Yoshimura waved his hands. "No, nothing of the sort. She's in the last room at the end."

Touka had no retort. She was speechless now. Honestly, she seemed rather tired. She couldn't be blamed.

"We need to reach out to all ghouls. Not just the ones we love that were left behind," Yoshimura explained.

Touka was still silent when she left the room.

She had situated herself in her new room while dressed in a long white nightgown. She had left behind most of the trash lingerie as she didn't need that anymore. There was was no one to wear it for anyway.

She had only opened two of her suitcases just in case she had to move in a hurry. It was the rhythm of her life these days, but she was safe enough at the moment but she didn't know about the future. At the moment, she felt as feeble as a human.

She had sunk into the small double bed as she was overwhelmed by all the drama in her rather chaotic life. Her body was supported but her life surely wasn't.

Natsuki had opened the window drapes so that she could see the moon hanging there in the navy sky. Yamori had always closed the drapes so that they wallowed there in the darkness. He had rarely mentioned the water. She had no recollection if he even liked sunny days, but sometimes, he would comment about the clouds. Maybe they were twisted like he was.

A gust of wind ruffled her unbound hair as she realized that she was feeling rather than thinking for once.

It was a surprise to be around normal people again who would probably all eventually hate her. But, then again, there was a lot of reasons for that. Yoshimura was kind to have taken her in the first place even when it was clear that everyone missed Kaneki. To her surprise, he had lived and worked here until he had been kidnapped by Aogiri. Maybe he was the one who had killed Yamori, but no one was sure of the real story. More than likely, he had been dispatched by a member of the CCG.

She at least wanted to see his body to pay her respects. By all rights, she had expected Kaneki to die, but the world had different ideas. One ghoul was lost now and one ghoul was saved. It was almost like a law of balance. Some thread of Karma.

She still didn't know how Kaneki had been turned into a ghoul though. He had been undeniably human when she had first met him on the street. There had been no opportunity to ask Yamori, but she guessed that even he wouldn't have known.

In truth, she and Kaneki were like magnets. Even without meeting, they were always some attraction to each other across the miles. it was unbelievable that she had always wanted to go back to Anteiku except that she had taken over Kaneki's former position in the process. He was part of the reason that she had even returned here at all.

She reclined on her side if another body still wondered if she carried Yamori's child. In thought, she stroked her belly.

If she did, was it a boy? A girl? Would it take after her? Or him? She and Yamori could have had a family. Now, Yamori was gone, and Natsuki's destiny was changed.

For a moment, she imagined Yamori's heavy body next to her own in an attempt to get to sleep. It was only what she was used to.

She still wondered how he had really felt about her. When he had said that he loved her, had he really meant it?

With a groan, she hid her face under the pillow.

...Kami-sama she was pathetic.

All the recent memories washed over her like a tide when she had awakened. The room was bright with the glaring sun rising.

Well, it was time to commit to her resolve to turn over a new leaf.

An hour or so later, she was wearing her new Anteiku uniform. She was a medium she found. There was a short orientation where she was instructed by Yoshimura, and now she was on her third table and things were going smoothly so far. Her first customers were a couple, a lone teenage girl, and an elderly gentleman who couldn't hear very well. Later, she would find that this elderly gentleman was a bit finicky.

Touka sought her out with the offending coffee. "The customer sent this back."

Natsuki was alert. "Why?"

"He complained that the coffee was too bitter. Maybe someone else could make it?" Touka suggested

Natsuki thought that she to practice what Yousimura taught her, but apparently it was too soon. She remembered how Yamori had liked it bitter, but not everyone was Yamori.

She couldn't help but feel that Touka was referring to something else besides the coffee. More than likely, the comment was aimed at her

Natsuki accepted it and moved on. As she walked to a new table, she was already greeted with an argument.

"Daddy, I want a brownie." The little girl was pouting.

The man frowned. "But, you just had lemon cake for breakfast..."

"I want one with my milk!" she cried

It was an understandable request. Natsuki had been young once as well. And obviously, she wasn't giving up.

Natsuki stood there with a blank smile of her face as she tilted her head.

Eager to serve.

It was habit by now.

"Of course, dear. One brownie and one slice of cheesecake, please."

The little girl's eyes swung over to her father. "I just want the brownie."

"The cheesecake is for me dear," her father laughed.

A least Natsuki could handle desserts. She sliced a piece of pie and obtained one brownie from the kitchen and placed them both on a pretty plate. Once, she had been interested in human food too, but one taste was all it took to convince her that humans and ghouls couldn't eat the same items. She knew now that the brownie would taste like salty dirt and the cheesecake would taste sour and rancid. All dairy products did to a ghoul.

After all the humans and ghouls she'd slain while in Aogiri, she definitely didn't belong here holding china plates. Was she a fake? Did she even deserve this?

Well, there were customers waiting. There was nothing else to do is return to her table with a grin on her face. Service with a smile. No matter if she was still worthless, here she was just a waitress.

She set down the two plates. "Will there be anything else?"

"No, we're finished."

The little girl with red hair glared. "What about the movie, daddy?"

"Oh, right!" he laughed. She could swear that she saw a sweat drop fall.

Natsuki wondered what it would be like to have a daughter like that.

And yet another table finished. Natsuki took a moment to wipe her hands as she watched them leave. She saw that they had both cleaned their plates. She had only been working here two days, but it would take some time to get used to the rhythm.

Christmas was tomorrow on Sunday and Natsuki had no plans on how she would spend it so she would probably be alone. Drinking coffee At least Natsuki needed no gifts as she already had one: her freedom.

As she walked behind the counter, she caught sight at the red and gold ribbons decorating the walls and glimpsed the tree that even had presents underneath though there was nothing inside of them. A girl named Hinami told her that Kaneki had wrapped the blue one with the purple stars. The young girl lived all by herself in her own room. Natsuki could see that she was shy of her so she decided just to leave her alone.

Near the cash register, she rearranged some order forms. Everybody had paid at least. That was a relief.

Over time, she heard someone else shuffling around her. The sound was vaguely disconcerting. Hearing sudden movement was never a good thing with Yamori. It got even worse when Naki was taken. Yet, there was no reason for concern now.

"I like the work effort." Enji said from behind her. "I'm sure the old man will too."

"Thanks." She turned.

"But your coffee could use some work." He made a face.

Natsuki continued rearranging.

"So, was Aogiri rough?"

Natsuki nodded. "At times."

Of course, there had been better times that she had been secure. But, what good was it to be part of a powerful group if she wasn't happy?

"I was in a gang myself. Ever hear of the Apes? I was their leader."

There was a pregnant pause, but Natsuki held his gaze so that she knew that she was paying attention.

She shook her head. "Honestly, no."

It wasn't a lie either. She was only aware of Aogiri, the infamous Clowns, or the secretive V.

"Or I was," Enji shrugged. "The old man took my ass off the streets and gave me a job like you. My wild days are over. It's really a shame."

Yamori had never mentioned them had a feeling that he would gave laughed his ass about them before suggesting to slay them, After all, Aogiri was the apex predator.

Natsuki scolded herself again for thinking so much. She had to finish her shift. Her shift was from noon to eight. Yoshimura wanted her to start as a part-timer, but she purposefully asked for more hours. So far, she had survived five hours. If she thought about her life before, her tenacity would fade.

Her only complaint that the pay wasn't so good. Aogiri rewarded her more handsomely for their raids and slayings, but Natsuki refused to go back to that life. She was in the place she had always wanted to be, right?

The cafe got quieter and quieter as night approached.

"You're doing good Natsuki," Irimi told her. "There's one more table left."

Whoever was there it was late. It was almost closing time.

Are you sure that you don't want it?" Natsuki asked.

"Nah, you need the experience."

She was so unused to acts of kindness, but she was grateful.

With some growing confidence, she walked out to the table and saw exactly the person that she didn't want to see.

Maybe he won't recognize me.

It was a dim hope, but Natsuki clung to it all the same.

It was possible after all. Natsuki wasn't the same girl. Maybe he wouldn't care anyway.

Natsuki walked herself out with a smile. Yes, just a friendly greeting. What else should a waitress have?

"What would you like, sir?

Tsukiyama's eyes focused on her before they widened. Her heart began to beat faster.

"Natsuki? Natsuki-chan?"

In that instant, she wished that she had worn make but she didn't think it necessary. She didn't know that he would be here so soon.

"Where have you gone, cherie?"

She hesitated. "Oh, just around."

"I have heard the news." His face was suddenly somber.

With that odd expression, she wondered if he was thinking about Aogiri and her alias as the Woman in White. All of the TV channels had been playing that footage. Well, technically, she was still a criminal.

"We can talk about that later sir," she told him rather brusquely.

Much later.

"Can't the coffee wait?" he asked pointedly.

In truth, Natsuki wanted to wail. Shuu was finally here, and he was so near and yet so far.

She gripped the serving tray tighter against her chest like a shield.

"I need this job," she replied flatly. "Could you please order soon?"

Tsukiyama pulled a face. "Very well. I'll have the espresso then."

She felt as glacial as ice as she slowly she walked into the kitchen and retrieved the coffee craft and cup for Shuu. It occurred to her that her fingers were trembling, and Natsuki had to will herself to calm down.

He was here now, and now it was too late.

She was still literally quivering as her hands jerked severely to the right away from the vicinity of the cup. Steam rose from the spout. When Shuu cried out, it finally occurred to her that she had poured the burning coffee on his hand.

"Mon Dieu!" He held up his hand in pain.

"I'm so sorry!" she cried. "I'll get a wash towel."

In moments, Natsuki sped out of the dining room in search of a towel.

She better hurry if she didn't want to be fired first.

Once again, things were going to hell.