Author's note: Furthermost, I would like to begin saying. "I'm sorry", I had many projects and homework on my University. Since we are going on our lasts weeks of the semester. So, they tighten us with many things. Nonetheless, I bring you this chapter. I hope you like it!

Chapter 16. Grey clouds over the Moon

When he was in his house, eating cake with the coupon he won on his work, with his mother, Koori and, The White Suits. He was still with some lingering thoughts. He wanted to talk to him, to see him, but he knew that man was busy. It's strange really… He had never felt this way towards anyone. Not even for his mother.

Maybe he was getting greedy? I mean, he was getting frustrated because he didn't have his cellphone, he just had Hirako's. Now, he was getting mad at himself, because he didn't ask for his cellphone. But why would he have asked for his cellphone in the past?

Urgh… so many lingering thoughts he had. It was worse than he thought. Since everybody at the table was questioning if he was okay. Of course, Kaneki explained everything was fine, but still everybody kept talking. Kaneki started getting a minor headache. He was getting frustrated over a response? 'Really, Are you a schoolgirl Kaneki?' Kaneki thought to himself.

His phone vibrates in his pocket. His eyes light up and smiled. Is that it? Kaneki grabbed his phone enthusiastically. That everybody notice, though didn't comment on it. They just observed. Although Naki wanted to comment but was silence by Koori. Koori receives a glare from Hoogoro.

Kaneki opened the text from Hirako.

Dear Kaneki,

I apologize for the late reply. When you texted me. It was night time and normally I don't see my cellphone during the night. Unless, of course, is an emergency. Regardless, I must inform you with sincerity. I won't be coming this weekend. I am on a business trip along with Arima in the United States. And I'm unable to tell you when we are coming back. Regardless, I will be glad to inform you, when we are coming back.

Sincerely, Hirako.

Kaneki was beaming in excitement. Of course, nobody at the table commented on it. While he ate all his remaining pieces of cake. He waves goodbye at his guests and went fast to his room. While he was fantasizing about the text that Hirako had sent him. He was wondering, what to respond.

While he lay down on his bed. Both arms and legs stretch around the bed. His phone suddenly receives a notification. Kaneki flinches and grabs his phone that was located near his head. After opening the phone, Kaneki lay his stomach facing the bed, and put his legs up.

Kaneki opened his cellphone and tap it. He looks up and raised a fist on the air. He texted a 'Thank you' towards Hirako and put his cellphone to charge. As he lay down once again, but this time facing upwards. Kaneki's heart was beating up so fast. He closed his eyes and let a breath in satisfaction.

They were coming this Saturday at dawn and they will be going to held a mini-reunion in Arima's house and he was invited. Kaneki wasn't a person who got thrilled by parties but this reunion... just feels... his kind of reunion.

After he went to shower and lay down with his pajamas on. Kaneki couldn't put himself to sleep. He is having many thoughts lingering on his mind. He wanted to sleep, so Saturday could come fast. Of course, by just wishing for Saturday to come fast. Doesn't mean, Saturday would come fast. Kaneki wonders if he was getting crazy or delusional by thinking or just feeling like this. Was he even feeling normal? Or was he getting delusional? He had read books, were thoughts like this are normal when someone is a teenager, but having this...

Well... is not like he is hurting anybody by having thoughts like this. Sometimes thoughts like this can happen late to some people. He might be a late thinker. Kaneki chuckle to himself.

Even despite Kaneki having lingering thoughts troubling his mind. He still thinks, is quite cute he still having them. Of course, like many people who have troubling thoughts, after he was about to sleep. Kaneki, couldn't fall asleep. I mean, how can he? The reunion was on Saturday. Even though, he had thought that many several times...

Kaneki wanted to express something but … He couldn't. It almost feels like everything around him was suppressing him but at the same time, it was liberating him. Kaneki wondered if he was really over the moon or just wanted to be like the grey skies...

It was a cloudy day... that's for sure. It was about to rain, that's another thing that was a fact for Kaneki. When they are days like this, not many people come around for fearing of the grey clouds. But Kaneki, on the other hand. Like the grey clouds... They had this mid-suspense feel to it. Sometimes, you don't know if it is going to rain, and sometimes it rains. So, you're in this dispense on bringing your umbrella or not. On another point, grey clouds can protect you from the sun. Exposing yourself to the sun so much can become dangerous for your skin. So, according to him, is better if the world is surrounded by grey clouds to protect you and as well, as spicing your world.

Kaneki couldn't stop looking at the window. Still having some thoughts lingering on his mind. It almost feels like some unnecessary thoughts were always having a party on his mind. Kaneki was situated on the second floor of the cafe, where he was commanded by Irimi to clean off, the tables. He was sitting there, looking at the window, in this part of the cafe, there was nobody.

So, Kaneki assumes, he could slack off and have his wandering time alone. But even despite Kaneki having thinking that, doesn't mean that everything is going to be fine. Because just when he was up to cloud nine, with his thoughts.

"Kaneki, Kaneki, Kaneki kun.." Somebody whispered. Making Kaneki's thoughts disappear from his mind and leaving behind movements of surprise, that was made by Kaneki. Kaneki shakes his head and turns around, where the voice had come from. As he turns around, with his heart beating fast, for the sudden event that had happened to him, he sees nobody.

'That's strange...' Kaneki thinks. He knows he heard someone. Kaneki slowly gets up, to take look at the back of the room, he was facing. Kaneki's eyes trail around the room in a circle, as in inspecting the whole room.

"Hello"

Kaneki shrieks, and jumps in surprise. All the hairs of his arms went up. A welcoming and uncommon figure presents itself in front of him. It was no other than Furuta himself, who was smiling with his eyes closed. "Furuta, you sc-"

"Kaneki, are you okay?" Irimi's voice came from the stairs. "Y-yeah, I'm fine... sorry!" Kaneki shouts, without leaving his position in the room. "Okay, if you say so..." Irimi says. Slowly, it can be heard someone walking down the stairs. Kaneki who was staring at the entrance of the room leaves his gaze to look at Furuta, who was still smiling but now, with his eyes open. Kaneki sighs. "As I was saying... Furuta how do yo-"

"Why are your arms positioned like that?" Asks Furuta, as he brings, one hand under his chin, as he was intrigued in him. Kaneki raised one eyebrow and looks at his arms. Kaneki slowly flinches. He is surprised just as Furuta. Uncousilly, ever since Furuta scared him like that, he had raised his arms in defense. Is this, the training of Shachi coming to its fruition?

"Haha ha.. sorry..." Kaneki slowly moves his hands back. "Perhaps, it was just an instinct..."

"Instinct?" Furuta said.

"Um... yeah. I had been training under a gym and my trainer had me react to sudden events like this... I'm very sorry." Kaneki slowly smiles and touches the back of his head. "You train now... that's..." Furuta trails his eyes to the ground and slowly looks at him, raising one eyebrow, as if he was inspecting his face. "really interesting..." Kaneki stares at him and looks sideways. He brings his hands to his face. "Do I have something on my face?" Furuta stares at him and smiles. "You are something..."Furuta slowly whispers. Furuta brings a chair out and sits down. "Do you have something to do after your shift ends?"

"Ah well... I was going to go to the gym, but today they are doing some renovation-"

"¡Excellent!" Furuta touches his leg, making a sound. "Then, I will pick you up when your shift is over." And just when Furuta said his sentence he storms out from the room

Kaneki was leaving his workplace. As he closed the door from the cafe, he quickly looks sideways to grab his phone to call for Furuta. As he wondered to text or call Furuta, someone taps him on his left side, Kaneki turns his face to look to his left side but saw nobody. "I'm here!" Kaneki jump. "Arghhh! Jesus Furuta, stop doing that!" Kaneki looks to his right where he saw Furuta standing still, with a smile on his face. Like a black trickster fox. Furuta looks down and his smile wipes from his face.

Kaneki looks at him and then looks where Furuta was looking. He flinches, it seems, like once again he had raised his arms in defense. He raised both of his eyebrows. Once again, he slowly put his arms down. "Haha, sorry…"

Furuta looks away. "Are you also afraid of me…?" Furuta whispered.

"What was that? I didn't listen to you well…"

Furuta smile at him. "Nothing, Kaneki Kun… so…" Furuta raised his left arm. "Let's proceed." Kaneki raised his eyebrows and look at Furuta. He stared at Furuta's face and to his arm. "What…?" Furuta still smiling, rolled his eyes, and grabbed Kaneki's arm. He intertwined it with his arm. Kaneki looks at him, with eyes widening while they were walking. Some people pass to their sides, taking a glance at them. Kaneki felt his face feeling hotter every second he walk.

"C'mon Furuta, stop it! Let go of my arm!" Kaneki pushed his arm from Furuta's. "Silly Kaneki Kun, this is just a practice run, you know?" Kaneki shook his head. "Practice for what?… for the love of Kami Sama, Furuta let me go!"

"Practice for the future, Kaneki Kun… You will need it."

"Furuta, was it really necessary to interwind arms in our way towards here?" Furuta looks on the monitor while having his hand under his chin. Furuta turns around to see Kaneki. "What kind of movie do you want to see? An action movie, a romantic movie, a Western movie, an animated movie?"

Kaneki looks at Furuta with a bothered expression and lets out a sigh. "Does it really matter at this point?" Furuta clicks his fingers at Kaneki's direction and taps the monitor in front of him various times. Furuta steps aside and shows Kaneki a blue screen with an image of various seats, that have names on it. "Where do you want to seat?" Kaneki looks at the monitor and points to the line of seats that has a label of "J". Furuta nods approvingly. "J9 and J10? That's a good choice! You have an eye for seats Kaneki Kun." Furuta winks at him, while he moves back in front of the monitor.

Kaneki grabs his wallet from inside his pocket, where he sees Furuta paying for the seats. "No.. Furuta…" Furuta looks back at him and smiles. "Yes, Furuta." Kaneki gritted his teeth and storms out, to go to the food section of the movie theatre. Furuta flinches and starts tapping rapidly the monitor in front of him, in frustration.

While Kaneki had run his way to the food section. The cashier weirdly looks at him. While Kaneki just smiles in return. Kaneki looked down on the menu and the offers they had."I will have the package #4 with a set of hotdogs and extra candy please." The cashier nods, while Kaneki gives him the card to pay.

"Wait!, Kaneki Kun doesn't pay for it, I will pay!" Furuta says out loud, while he was approaching to where Kaneki was. Kaneki looks back and sticks his tongue out. "No! You pay for the tickets and I pay for the food!" Furuta stops and looks at Kaneki with an unknown expression. He wasn't smiling or getting mad, he just stood there watching with his mouth mildly open, his eyes were wandering around the room. As he was searching for something.

Kaneki looks at him and starts to be worried. "Furuta? Are you…-"

"Sir, here is your order… what kind of drinks would you like?" Kaneki looks at the cashier and back at Furuta. He turns around to face the cashier. "Um, a sprite for me and… Furuta… Furuta?" Furuta shook his head and smile. "Coke…" Furuta said as he tilted his head to the side. The cashier strangely look at Furuta and went back to pour the drinks.

Strangely, the movie that Furuta had chosen, wasn't that bad. It was an old Korean movie called, "Mrs. Revenge", it had dark and psychology elements to it, and the ending, was really bittersweet. Just like the type of movies he enjoys to watch. Furuta really knows him very well.

After they left out the movie, Furuta insisted to go to an old arcade with him. Kaneki just smiles and agrees to go with Furuta. It's not like he was having a bad time, actually, on the contrary, he was having a really good time.

When they entered a nearby arcade, Kaneki wandered his eyes on the place. His heart started getting warmer and warmer. Even when, this is the first time he had come here to this arcade, why does it feel like he has come here and he just had forgotten it?

"Nostalgia… my dear Kaneki kun…"

"Eh…?" Kaneki looks to the side to look at Furuta, who was touching a nearby machine game. "Yes, nostalgia, Kaneki Kun. Having a nostalgic feeling is that feeling when you remember doing things that you did as a child. Right now, you might be thinking that this place brings you memories, but the reason for that being is because you have gone to places similar to this when you were a child. So, that's why your memories start to intertwine with the presents one and you confused yourself, wondering if you had forgotten if this ever had happened in the past."

Kaneki chuckles to himself and looks to the ground, in a thoughtful manner. "Yeah, perhaps my mind is playing tricks on me…" Furuta grabs a stick from the machine game he was touching. "Do you frequent Arcade games when you were a child, Kaneki Kun?" Furuta says, without meeting the eye of Kaneki.

"Yes, I did! With my best friend Hide. He was the one obsessed with Arcade games when were 8, even though, at that time, he used to play, while I just watch by the sidelines. I remember, he even entered a competition back in middle school, but he didn't win." Kaneki smile and looks to Furuta, who was calmly looking at him, with a blank expression on his face, his arms crossed under his chest, while he rested his back on a game. Kaneki smiles and walks towards Furuta and lay next to him. "What about you Furuta, do you frequent Arcades games as well?" Furuta smile and closed his eyes.

Furuta didn't say anything for a whole minute. Over that minute, Kaneki wondered if he had said something that offended Furuta. "Um…Furuta-"

"OKAY!" Furuta clapped his hands and stood up perfectly. Kaneki widened his gaze, by the sudden action of Furuta. "Let's go then, let's play some shooter games." Furuta walks down the hallway of the Arcade center. Kaneki gritted his teeth and furrow his eyebrows. "Furuta, I'm not really good at those games."

"Fufufu, you don't know until you try!" Furuta said as he came from behind Kaneki. Making Kaneki jump, while he raised his arms in defense. Kaneki angrily turns around, to grabbed Furuta. While Furuta just smiles and runs on the hallways of the Arcade Game, while Kaneki followed him. Furuta stops and puts a hand on the air, for Kaneki to stop. Kaneki stopped and look at the game Furuta was pointing out.

"Furuta…." Furuta puts a finger in front of Kaneki's face, moving it sideways. "No, no... don't give me that attitude, my dear Kaneki Kun. You will never know until you try…" Furuta raised an eyebrow in waiting for Kaneki's answer. Kaneki just sigh and went with it.

As Furuta started the game and they both grab individually a gun. The story started, in the screen flash a text about a certain mafia family, and how the youngest son was capture. So the player's goal is to kill the rival family and bring back the son. "The story seems quite interesting, don't you think, Furuta?" Kaneki looks at Furuta, who just shot down the Father when he just appeared on the screen. "Furuta? What? Why do you shoot him, did he say something?"

Furuta's eyes twitch and furrow his eyebrows. "Stupid man, blabbering that his youngest son was better off dying on the rival family… stupid man…" Furuta puts his hands on his head. Kaneki put the game gun back to its place. Kaneki touch Furuta's shoulder. "Calm down Furuta, it's just a game, alright? You shouldn't take it so personally…"

"You don't anything about my life, alright Ari-" Furuta shouted, in the direction of Kaneki. Kaneki widened his gaze, having his arm up, at the same level of his chest. Furuta stays there looking at Kaneki, then shook his head, smile, and bow. "I'm sorry Kaneki Kun, I usually don't raise my voice like that. I hope you can forgive me!"

"Um…. yeah… it's um…. It's okay." Kaneki glances at his sides and looks at the people who were seeing them. Kaneki gulped and grab Furuta by the shoulders. "It's okay, Furuta. You can stop it now. I forgive you… um…" Kaneki trail his gaze to look for another game. "Hey, Furuta why don't we play that?" Furuta stood normally to face Kaneki. "Hmm?" Kaneki grabs Furuta's arm and guides him to a nostalgic game, he used to play every time he was a kid.

Furuta inspects it and snickers at the direction of Kaneki. "Taiko no Tatsujin?" Kaneki gritted his teeth and look at him, in embarrassment. "Well...the story on this game, won't make you angry causing you to shout at the screen." Furuta pouted and nods. "I will be a good son, okay?" Kaneki shakes his head, looking away. "Furuta… don't… just don't."

After they finished playing. They both went to a nearby bench to rest and drink a little bit. The sun was nowhere to be found since the moon had replaced it. The sky was adorned with some greyish clouds, all over it.

Kaneki looks up to see the semi-greyish sky. He unconsciously tapped his shoes on the ground. While Furuta stood there seated. Kaneki looks at Furuta, then back at the sky. "Canned coffee sure is good, after many activities you do on the day. Although, nothing beats a brew hot cup of coffee, don't you agree Furuta?"

Furuta who was looking down, with his canned coffee almost touching the ground. Just move his head slightly up, to view Kaneki, without being fully straight seated. Kaneki who was bringing the can to take another sip. He stops midway to move his head to look properly at Furuta, who was eyeing him, with a blank expression. Kaneki knew that expression so well…So he waited for the right time to say something.

"You know, Kaneki Kun…" Furuta fully seated himself, but look the other way. ".. am really thankful for you being just you…"

"Huh?"

"Kaneki Kun, I want you to answer me in honesty. Do you perhaps view me, as a bad person?" Kaneki looks at him in disbelief. "What are you saying? I never thought you were a bad person… you know?" Furuta chuckle. "Do you seriously never stop to think, that I was weird?" Kaneki gulped, as he lay his head down. "Look, Furuta…." Kaneki felt his heart getting heavier. "-I-I won't lie to you. When I first met you, I really thought that you were odd. Yeah, odd." Kaneki slowly nods, looking down on the ground. "But…" Kaneki looks to Furuta, who was looking at him. "I-I, don't think being odd is bad. I think is a good thing being odd, don't you think?" Furuta stares at Kaneki, without saying anything. "I mean…." Kaneki gulps. "Being normal nowadays is so boring? Right? I mean… look at me."

Kaneki puts a hand on his chest. "I'm not normal... I do time to time do weird things. Like drinking absurd cups of coffee or reading books while I go to the toilet. I also… umm... have this certain weird hobby to go to the karaoke and sing popular idols song." Furuta chuckles. "I know that." Kaneki jumps on his seat and looks at Furuta, with a widened gaze. "What?" Furuta smiles back at Kanenki. "Nothing really…"

The lights of the building became bigger as both of them stared at each other. Their faces being illuminated, while their body was covered in the darkness of the night. "You know.. Kaneki Kun. I can never get enough of you and that makes me really…" Furuta clenches his fists, that was near his legs. Furuta looks at him while looking at Kaneki's eyes. "Mad."

Kaneki who was staring at Furuta looks back at the sky. " I see.." Kaneki grabbed Furuta by the arm and tugs his body up. They walk together to a nearby park. Furuta looks at the hand of Kaneki around his arm. He tried to grab it but at the time Kaneki took his hand away. "Furuta, if you ever mad… try to scream."

Furuta blinks and confusedly looks at Kaneki, he raised one eyebrow. "Pardon?" Kaneki runs in the middle of the park, heart beating fast. He raised his arms in the air. "Shachi, the gym owner, had taught me….." Kaneki leaves a big breath. "If you ever feel mad about something, someone or just at life in general. You can scream your heart out in a park. People will look at you weird, but nonetheless isn't a good idea?" Furuta looks at Kaneki and blinks.

"HAHAHAHAHA." Furuta benches down slowly. "Okay, okay… let me try it." Furuta tries to stand up and rub his hands together. He gets near where Kaneki is. Furuta turns around and looks at him with a big grin on his face. "Walk, camole, come, dig it big, on my big ass hole!" Furuta screams. Kaneki feels his head heat up and gritted his teeth. He stomps his feet. "This is not fair, Furuta! Try to do it correctly!"

Furuta hides his mouth, while he chuckles. "Alright, alright don't turn into a super Saiyajin on me, alright my dear Kaneki Kun?" Kaneki gritted his teeth and stomped really hard the ground. "Haha, okay then." Furuta looks at the sky and looks at Kaneki without moving his head. "I HAVE ALWAYS ENCOUNTERED PEOPLE WHO HATED ME FOR WHO I AM!"

As Furuta shouted his last word, some doves that were near, fly away from the ground. Some people that were in the park just stood up and went away. Kaneki looked at him and hugged Furuta. "I will never hate you for who you are!" Kaneki stopped hugging Furuta. "I, Kaneki will never hate anybody for who they are!" Kaneki said as he touched his chest with both of his hands.

Furuta looks at him and Kaneki stares at him. Both of their figures were trapped in the darkness that the sky created. That even though, the moon was shining on its full glory, the grey big sky clouded it. Creating a whole dark color that was adorned on the faces, of both of the men who stared at each other.

As Kaneki entered the house and greeted his mother as well as The White Suits. He went to eat dinner, take a bath, and go to sleep. All the activities he did today, led him to be really tired. So, as he went to sleep. He heard someone laugh, outside his window.

Kaneki is tired. Let him sleep today.

"Clearly, you're really are pitiful by inviting him on a date. You sneaky black mole bastard."

Kaneki turns his body to the side of the bed.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Should I wait for you to educate yourself?"

"What? Don't talk to big bro like that!"

"Leave him alone! He is mine!"

Kaneki put a pillow in front of his face.

"I have knives and I'm not afraid to use them, so fuck off!"

"He's mine, Senpai!"

"He needs someone who will sustain him, with food and money. You simpletons, don't really deserve him."

Kaneki shut his eyes hard. Just as he was falling asleep, he made a mental note to buy cancel earphone noises.

Author's note: I hope you can comment on which part you like! Any feedback is welcome. Thank you for reading it!