Sen's eyes slowly opened. Soft gray light poured through the windows of the hotel room. Raindrops splattered against the glass. She turned her head so she had a better view of Tokyo's skyline against the rainy sky.

She turned her head to look at her fiancé, who was sound asleep next to her. Her heart fluttered. She was so happy. Sen's happiness was soon nibbled away by the thought of how difficult the marriage would be.

Sen Takatsuki had an internal desire that she had kept from everyone— her desire to have children. She so desperately wanted a son or daughter. She could give them the parental love and care she had never received.

But her and Juuzou would never be able to have children. Well, it was possible, but it would end in disaster. Sure, she might be able to hide her identity from him, but what about the baby? Would it be able to consume human food?

She went to sit up, and a jolt of pain shot through her. She was sore, very sore. However, she couldn't help but smirk. She had thoroughly enjoyed last night.

Suzuya stirred next to her, his eyes fluttering open. He made the same observations about the rain as the author had, and then smiled at her.

"Good morning," he said, grinning.

"Good morning," Sen said, shivering. "It's cold in here."

Juuzou nodded in agreement. Both had neglected to put their clothes back on after last night's events.

"Sen," he said in a thoughtful tone. "Where do you wanna get married?"

"I know a little church," she said. The church was run by a ghoul that she was acquainted with. "When?"

"How about day after tomorrow?" Juuzou said, to excited to wait any longer than that.

"Why not tomorrow?" Sen asked.

"I got a raid tomorrow," Juuzou said, idly messing with the stitches on her hand.

"Where?" Sen asked, feeling guilty about her motives for asking.

He shrugged. "Haven't been told yet."

Suzuya smiled and then ripped the sheets off his naked body. He sighed and sat up, throwing his legs over the side of the bed. He yelped as he sat up. He stood up and picked up the needle that he had sat on. It was tied to a very long red string that was tangled in the sheets.

"My stitching string," he said, pulling the red thread out of the blankets. Sen stared at the stitches that coiled around his arm. They were so beautiful, so uniquely him. She knew that emotionally he was part of her, but Sen couldn't help but want a physical mark that marked her as being his.

"Will you stitch me?"

"What?" Juuzou said, looking confused.

"Stitch me," she said gesturing to the red thread. "Like you."

He frowned and sat down on the bed. "That'll hurt you."

"I don't care," Sen said.

"Why do you want stitches?"

"Because even though emotionally you are a big part of me, I want something I can see."

"You do," Suzuya said, touching the ring on her finger.

"Something that I can't possibly lose. Something part of my body."

Juuzou smiled a little. "Where do you want to be stitched?"

Sen sat up and pointed her right upper arm, right below the shoulder on the outer side. "A heart," she said.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

She nodded. Sen sat up and angled her arm so it would be easy, and Juuzou got comfortable next to her.

"Ready?" he asked.

Sen nodded, body tensing up. He stuck the needle into her and she winced in pain. He watched her facial expression for a moment, looking for an indication she wanted him to stop. He found none, and he continued. She flinched each time the needle went back into her. Soon, a tear dribbled from her closed eyes.

"Sen—."

"Don't stop," she said, cutting him off.

He sighed and obeyed her wish.

"I'm done," he said after a minute more, snipping the thread.

Sen opened her teary eyes and looked at her arm. A perfect heart was stitched into it.

"It's beautiful," she said, smiling as she wiped her tearstained face.

"Just like you," he whispered.

She kissed him, and then looked at the clock. "You're going to be late for work, and so am I," Sen said.

The couple got ready and left. Soon, Eto was standing in Noro's apartment. He was already with Aogiri, but she had yet to wrap herself. She smiled and she examined the heart on her arm.

She was soon ready, and she headed to Kanou's lab.

"You're late," Tatara commented as Eto skipped up to them.

"I know," she giggled.

Naki, who was also present, shot her a questioning glance.

"How are your wounds?" she asked him.

"Good," he said. "They're nothin but scars now."

"What's this meeting about?" Eto asked Tatara.

"Do you remember the CCG investigator we captured?"

"Takizawa?" Eto asked.

"Yes," Tatara said. "As you know, the surgery was a success. He is now half ghoul, half human. Eto, you put me in charge of ehem, turning him to Aogiri's side. Well, after about a year of torture—."

"A year of torture?" Naki butted in, looking a bit horrified.

"Yes," Tatara said, shooting him a glare. "He's finally succumb to his hunger and ghoul instincts. He is now a loyal Aogiri member."

"May I see him?"

Tatara nodded, and the group of three walked to a section of Kanou's lab that had about ten or fifteen rooms that looked identical to police interrogation rooms. The white cloaked man led them to the last room. Inside, on a prison cot, sat a man.

He was sitting curled up, holding his knees and rocking back and forth. He wore shredded black robes and he had no shoes. His white hair was shoulder length and parted in the middle. His skin was pale, and his lips and nails were black.

Eto swallowed hard. He looked so different. She didn't know how Tatara had tortured him, and frankly, she did not want to.

"He's a half kakuja," Tatara said.

"Will he be ready for a raid, say, tomorrow?" Eto asked.

"Tomorrow?" Naki said.

Eto nodded. "CCG's having a raid tomorrow. On us."

"Where?"

Eto shrugged. "Don't know yet."

"I'll alert everyone then," Tatara said, eyeing her suspiciously. The white haired man walked away, leaving Naki and Eto alone to watch the crazed Takizawa.

Eto looked at Naki, who was frowning at her.

"What?" she asked him.

"You slept with him, didn't you," Naki said.

Eto blushed. "How did you know?"

"His smell is really strong on you right now," Naki said. "You better hope Tatara didn't notice."

"Oh," Eto said weakly. "Naki, we're getting married tomorrow."

"What?" Naki said, red eyes widening.

"He proposed last night," Eto said.

"A pro pose?"

"He asked me to marry him."

"And you slept with him?"

"Yes."

"And now you're going to have a baby?"

"No."

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes you are."

"No, I'm not," Eto said, getting frustrated.

"Yes you are," Naki said, a blank expression on his face.

"Why would you think that?" Eto asked angrily.

"Cuz his smell is super strong on you."

"I'm not pregnant, Naki," the half ghoul said, exasperated.

The blond ghoul said nothing for a moment. "I gots to go get ready for raid," he said finally. He walked away, leaving Eto alone with her thoughts and Seidou Takizawa.