In Courage's words: 'The things I do for love'

"Which part of me would make a delicious snack for you?" wonders Hide curiously.

Ken's eyes widened at such a thought told by a human; given that it was Hide, his eyes grew darker as he slowly turns his head toward Hide.

"None. Notta. Nilch. Eating you is traitorous to our bond throughout the years. If CCG notice, that's death bed momentum slaughtering. If it was any other human it'd be a different story." says Ken in denial, shadow eyed.

"You finally came around to showing your tentacle kagune. There has to be something else ghouls and humans can do aside from drinking coffee." says Hide smirking.

"Hey...don't tease me." says Ken.

"Why would I tease my buddy? Both ghouls and humans have guilty pleasures. We live alone so you can be yourself around me." says Hide.

"..."

"You gonna talk bud?" wonders Hide stopping.

"You want to be marked as my lover? I'm not prepared for that kind of commitment." says Ken quickly shifting his head away from Hide.

"Yet it'll haunt you until you unconsciously do it. There's no other option for ghoul munchies." says Hide staring at Ken concerned.

"Don't put things in my head out of the blue." grumbles Ken.

CCG headquarters...

"I don't mind leaving. Everyone has different ways of creating positive decisions that they don't want to change. Change can be good or bad depending on how everyone here views the albino and Hide's friendship." says Yuki.

"What goes wrong comes from how you react to every situation. Happiness doesn't take much but rip it away and Hide won't be the person you knew. More so the albino Kaneki if you force the kagune out and the beast within to appear. You want a safe environment yet ghouls have no rights." says Juuzou.

"Juuzou go chat with the blonde and pissed short guy. Get them to answer how they'd like it if the human they loved transformed into a ghoul before they ever realized it." says Yuki seriously.

"Right now?" wonders Juuzou.

"Any better timings?" wonders Yuki.

"No." says Juuzou.

"Then get to it." says Yuki.

Juuzou quickly nodded then looked around for where Akira, Amon and Takizawa were.

"Akira? Takizawa? I'm curious about something!" says Juuzou leaving Yuki and Shinohara's sight.

Akira and Takizawa go quiet hearing Juuzou's faint voice getting closer and closer.

"Akira, Takizawa, I have an interesting question you need to answer appropriately." says Juuzou coming to a halt.

"And what would that be Juuzou?" wonders Akira.

"This is gonna sound really messed up but remembering what Amon, my and Shinohara's conversation was about got me curious about your takes on it." says Juuzou.

"Do we really have to answer to the crazy teen?" wonders Takizawa hesitantly.

"It's super important. It's something the albino teen's human dad is chatting about with Shinohara." says Juuzou pointing in the direction Yuki and Shinohara are.

Takizawa gulped worriedly while Akira merely stared unfazed.

"We know Hide's friend Kaneki to be human right? Due to the news?" wonders Juuzou.

Akira and Takizawa nodded.

"Here's the thoughts that make Shinohara wonder now that he heard them." says Juuzou.

"They are?" wonders Takizawa nervously.

"If there was a way to make humans artificial ghouls, would we have to kill them off as if they were actual ghouls?" wonders Juuzou.

"Heh?" wonders Takizawa wide eyed.

"There is no such thing as artificial ghouls." says Akira.

"None that we heard of as of yet." says Juuzou.

"Yet?" wonder Akira and Takizawa.

"Hide and the albino ghoul's human parents believe the supposedly dead Ken Kaneki better known as Hide's best friend and family bonded for life adopted brother is said artificial ghoul." says Juuzou excitedly.

"The proof is?" wonders Takizawa inching toward Akira freaked out.

"Kaneki supposedly died with black hair. He appeared to Amon and Hide with new parents gaining white hair and a scarred mind." says Juuzou.

Akira and Takizawa looked at Juuzou quizzically, at each other confused, back to Juuzou dumbfounded.

"He could've just dyed his hair." says Akira.

"That's what humans do. You can't die with black hair and magically gain white hair becoming a lively albino out of nowhere. This is a human that was transformed into a ghoul without knowledge and now lives his days fearing being hunted down. Hide is doing everything he can to give him positivity but I doubt its working. Having to care for a artificial ghoul who fears the country's view takes alot of companionship and forgiveness. Hide's just the guy to be there for him." says Juuzou.

"Back it up Juuzou. What does the albino Amon wants captured have to do with us?" wonders Akira.

"If any of the doves end up in Kaneki's position, would you kill your own workers without remorse?" wonders Juuzou.

"The doves who work here are full-fledged humans. Noone in their right mind would resort to wanting a ghoul's power." says Takizawa hiding behind Akira.

"You guys arent the ones asking permission scaredy cat." grumbles Juuzou.

"We wouldn't be given the option!?" wonders Takizawa.

"Kaneki was transformed into a ghoul before he woke up the following day. No amount of human food would or rather could be eaten. Would be wise to keep out of sight of the doctors of this place. Especially a certain doctor by the name of Kanou. He fucked up Kaneki before he knew what hit him." says Juuzou nodding to himself.

"You're talking in circles." says Takizawa.

"For human's sake, don't turn to the doctors for ghoul parts if you ever lose limbs. A certain Kanou doctor will not be pleased with the results." says Juuzou creepily.

"Can you go away!?" wonders Takizawa traumatized.

"Don't screw yourselves over when the time comes. Albino Kaneki wants his human life back and his human mother won't let you get in the way of that." says Juuzou sinisterly.

"Can't you go creep someone else out? Go away. Your presence isnt needed." says Takizawa motioning for him to leave.

"It'll be on you once your decision is made." says Juuzou turning away.

'Juuzou, Akira, Takizawa!'

"Ginshi? Saiko? What're they doing back so soon?" wonder Takizawa and Akira.

"You're gonna wanna hear this to Juuzou." says Ginshi.

"Hear what? I just got done explaining the albino ghoul's situation." says Juuzou.

"Horribly I might add." says Akira.

"Horribly yet creepily as always around me." says Takizawa.

"Hide's 100% best friend who was supposedly murdered is residing at Anteiku!" says Ginshi happily.

"Albino Ken was really onto something!? And you guys beat me to him!?" wonders Juuzou annoyed.

"Amon figured you were involved with the albino and Hide." says Saiko.

"That's so freaky for timings. Before we parted ways, we were chatting about when the doves would take charge and go after albino Ken. So there is more to this than meets the eye if there's another Ken in hiding." says Juuzou smirking.

"Yeeeaaaaah...we don't know how albino acts but supposed human we found out is a half ghoul was mentally scarred by what happened when he was in elementary. He thought we were going after him and spilled everything to us." says Ginshi frowning.

"I made him think his life around Hide was a game until one of the staff came down and wanted us out." says Saiko.

"There's a legit half ghoul prowling 20th ward." says Takizawa.

"The same ghoul that saw his human parents get killed before his eyes. He's been keeping away from humans. His only human friend being Hideyoshi. Makes sense to a point. A young half ghoul who tries to live normally, ends up alienating himself at school. Hide appears to him, they slowly become the best of friends. Took a weird turn given Hide was the only human to stay by his side. Now he and Hide live separate lives. Not exactly if Hide is with the albino we are searching for but he seems harmless. The supposedly dead human came clean as a half ghoul who doesnt know his real parents. No idea what to expect of albino when we meet." says Ginshi shrugging.

"The brunette woman and black haired male...the ghoul son has escaped the doves at the time and was only known to go to school. No other sightings as if he were living like a human when necessary." says Akira pondering.

"Twin ghouls is what you are thinking." says Saiko.

"There was only one baby born to a human-ghoul relationship and he had black hair and taupe eyes resembling his mother. The parents were killed when the ghoul was a few months old. If he was taken to someone's home before the mother died, that would explain why a half ghoul ended up living with humans for 10 years. I don't remember who was all on the force then but it seemed odd that the couple had 2 plates of human food with nothing for the child during the execution." says Akira.

"Either they knew and were treating the boy as a human so he can get through school or they thought he was human and were about to make his plate." says Takizawa suspiciously.

"Now there's a half ghoul and artificial ghoul we need to get rid of." says Akira.

"The half ghoul is as harmless as a fly. A weak minded ghoul can't fight against doves." says Saiko.

"He claimed he doesn't go after humans." says Ginshi.

"All ghouls urge for flesh. It's in their nature." says Takizawa uneasily.

"Yet he never fought us to gain a meal." says Saiko.

"What a peculiar case." says Akira.

"Giving Hide his school lunches doesn't help in his case. Feeding a human to gain more meat sounds amazing for any other ghoul yet Hide and the seemingly fine half ghoul were genuine friends until graduation." says Ginshi.

"Hide gained weight through Ken Kaneki; teen who was deemed dead and is somehow a half ghoul. A fat Hide from childhood to practically adults sounds so fucked up. Ghouls only want humans for food so how would their friendship work out?" wonders Takizawa.

"Hide and Ken have a special bond no human would be able to figure out. Hide finds ghouls to be as human as we are. Growing up around the half ghoul proves his point that ghouls can be traumatizing to watch but thats only due to ghouls only being able to eat humans. Everything else humans do, ghouls can do just as good if we look at things the way Hide does. Thats what the human dad and human mom want to believe too. I saw Urie and Mutsuki at Kaneki's house where the human parents reside. Albino used to think the place was homey but he felt better if he was unnoticeable. They think the albino is a threat to Japan. They're stuck with buh-bye sweet and gentle mother figure, hello crazed murderer. You want to harm albino, she will injure first chat later if things calm down." says Juuzou looking from the quinx to Takizawa and Akira.

"You ok Takizawa?" wonders Akira looking at Takizawa.

"Brain is slowly molting." says Takizawa sweat dropping.

"That information wasn't what we expected to hear. Sounds more like a lonely half ghoul and human leaning on eachother for comfort. That sounds nothing like a devious cunning ghoul taking advantage of a human's kindness at all." says Akira.

"Facts are facts Akira." says Ginshi.

"We can't conclude false information from actual facts Ginshi." says Takizawa.

"How'd a wimp end up in CCG?" wonders Juuzou staring at Takizawa unamused.

"Never call me a wimp!" says Takizawa.

"Wimp." says Juuzou smirking.

"What are the odds Hide wants to be albino Ken's lover? I've asked them about it and they enter denial. Hide stating its brotherly love and albino Ken, he assumes he's gay but can't find the right words to go along with how much he loves Hideyoshi. His faces though...gotta love how he reacts to Hide asking how much he loves the blonde." says Juuzou chuckling to himself.

"This isnt the time for kidding around Juuzou. If Hide and the albino are infatuated with eachother, we would have no choice but to kill the traitorous ghoul lover." says Akira.

"Are you mad!?" wonder Juuzou and Ginshi.

"Anger isnt the issue boys. It's the fact a CCG underling shows more affection for an artificial ghoul than he does being around everyone here. He had the audacity to ignore his work schedule to give time to the albino when we need him on standby for when we raid places ghouls go into hiding. Ginshi said the half ghoul resides at Anteiku. That gives us some warrant of the black haired ghoul's extermination but what of the staff itself?" wonders Akira.

"So many bodies we have to kill off. Albino Ken, half ghoul Ken, Hide...the human parents when the father is trying to look on the bright side so the mother wont terrorize this place. That's alot of ghoul investigators to slaughter left and right. One cackling pinkette without a care in the world." says Juuzou frowning.

"It's what we have to do to keep citizens safe. No ifs, and or buts. No excuses for how you see the ones around you." says Akira looking cross with the behavior of Ginshi and Juuzou.

"But its Hide of all people! HIDE, the smiling idiot who doesnt care about appearances or backgrounds." says Juuzou eyes looking at the floor looking dead inside.

a few hours later...

Hide's house...

Once the rest of the cosplay costumes were purchased, Hide and Ken were busy in the bedroom resulting in Ken sinking his teeth into Hide's shoulder forming a mark in Hide's skin. Hide was hissing at the feeling of teeth being sunk into his flesh.

"You may feel good about this but I still feel uneasy." says Ken licking up the drips of blood.

"Just means we're inseparable. The mark is proof for when danger finally comes our way." says Hide.

"You keeping calm isn't helping." says Ken wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Says the spazz." says Hide.

"We can't fake our way out of never showing the mark." says Ken.

"What's never said can never be known." says Hide.

"I was only motivated to mark you as mine. I'm 50/50 toward the other thing." says Ken wearily.

"Maybe I can help with that." says Hide wrapping his arms around Ken.

Ken stared blushing hard while sweating.

"Don't try anything Hide! My mind cant function when it comes to that kind of stuff." says Ken.

"Mmmmmmhmmmmmm." says Hide grinning slyly.

Hide leaned forward causing Ken to fall onto the bed with Hide looking down.

"H..Hide?" wonders Ken gulping.

"How would you prefer to commemorate our seemingly official love life? Batman force feeding Deku role play we never got to do or stay here kissing the night away?" wonders Hide.

"I need a moment to think this through." thinks Ken startled by the sudden movement.

"Thinking it over doesn't seem like an option." says Ken.

"If you're not sure what you want, I could choose for you." says Hide.

"Choo...choose for me? I'm all for the one that doesn't give me major anxiety." says Ken.

"Which gives you less anxiety?" wonders Hide.

"They are about equal in how I see both options. Anxiety overload no matter what I want." says Ken turning his head unamused.

"Hmmmm...what speaks to the heart more? Which sounds more in the moment?" wonders Hide.

"We can do either. I don't really know what to answer the sudden question with." mutters Ken.

"Ok." smiles Hide nuzzling Ken's neck.

"Hey...hey..." thinks Ken.