12:26 AM.
Hide scratches his head, yawning after waking up from a nap. Catching up on his studies quickly zapped his energy and he feels he hasn't seen anything or anyone for most of the day except for his books.
His throat is dry, and he trudges his way to the small kitchen in the dark, reaching his hands out to feel for objects and bumping into some of them along the way. Luckily without tripping, he makes it to the fridge and opens it up to grab a bottle of water. Tilting the plastic bottle to his lips, his gulps are the only sounds he hears in the dead of night.
"Hi."
Hearing the familiar voice, he chokes and coughs up water. He slaps his chest repeatedly and he turns to where the voice came from.
"Babe? Is that you?"
"Mm hmm," Kaneki replies in a nonchalant tone.
"Where's the damn light…" Hide mutters to himself. Without closing the fridge, he uses the white light coming out of it so that he could find the switch for the kitchen lights.
Once the kitchen is no longer bathed in darkness, his eyes immediately find his lover curled up against the island across from the fridge. Kaneki stares up at him with round, innocent eyes and in contrast, his mouth is covered in blood from the equally reddened plate he has in his clutches. A slab of human flesh is halfway eaten on the dish. Kaneki's hands are stained with blood as well and if Hide was anyone else, he would have thought Kaneki had just killed someone. Straight out of a horror movie.
Hide finds himself smiling at the sight of his boyfriend sitting like that and in return, Kaneki looks down shyly and wipes his mouth on the back of his hands, smearing the red all over.
"S-Sorry…I didn't mean to scare you. I know this is gross…" Kaneki says quietly.
"Why are you on the floor?" Hide asks and he walks over to him.
Kaneki meets Hide's concerned gaze and he feels embarrassed. "I…I just wanted to…"
Hide gets on his knees. "Are you hiding from me again?" he asks, his voice gentle.
Kaneki begins to blush, and he wipes his face with his hand once more, staying silent.
Hide sighs and he reaches over the counter to grab some spare napkins lying there. He then settles himself right next to his lover on the floor.
"Here you go, baby," Hide says with a smile.
"Thank you…I should have thought of that…" Kaneki replies. He is careful not to touch Hide when he takes the napkins. Hide notices the way his lover keeps his distance when he's eating, and he frowns. Just as Kaneki starts to clean off his fingers, Hide scoots even closer and wraps his arm around Kaneki's shoulders.
Kaneki gasps, his plate nearly falling off his lap from the sudden action. "W-Wait, Hide, don't! I'm gonna get blood on you!"
"Who cares? Not me," Hide states and he leans his cheek on top of Kaneki's head when his boyfriend rests against his chest.
At the way Hide holds him tight in his strong arms, Kaneki feels happy, despite his worries and self-consciousness. His body warms up in an instant and Hide continues pressing himself closer.
"You're so cute," Hide tells him. At the same time, he squeezes Kaneki to show he's honest.
Kaneki finds himself smiling at those words and he lifts his head. Hide's kind eyes melt his heart and the blond takes the napkins from his hands to help wipe off the excess blood from his mouth. Once his lips are clean, Hide leans closer, his mouth landing softly on his forehead. Kaneki's eyes glisten once Hide pulls away and his smile widens.
"You're so weird," Kaneki responds and Hide laughs.
Kaneki rests his head back on his lover's chest. Hide's fingers tickle Kaneki's cheek before they slowly wander through his hair, the black strands flowing over his hand while he lightly scratches his scalp. Under his touches and with Hide's body warmth running through him, Kaneki feels himself relax and drowning in complete bliss. He listens to Hide's calm heart beat while he chews on the bloody flesh in his hand. In the silence, he still feels self-conscious when the blood drips onto the plate or when he hears his teeth gnawing on the juicy meat, which makes a sickening sound to most people. But Hide doesn't move or make any other indication that he is disgusted.
"How long were you sitting there all alone in the dark? Don't tell me you were here the whole time I was napping!" Hide's voice vibrates against his head.
"No, but it doesn't bother me, Hide…" Kaneki says.
"But it makes me sad. Don't feel ashamed. Sit at the table. Eat your food. And wake me up so I can keep you company!" Hide tells him. He kisses the top of his head, his nose burying in the black locks.
Kaneki chuckles at his insistence. He lifts his head off Hide's chest to meet his eyes. If it's even possible, his feelings for him continue to grow. Every day and night. Slow, steady, and so easily. There's just no end. He's not scared.
Hide brushes his bangs framing the right side of his face. "So, have any weirdos been trying to hit on my beautiful ghoul at work, other than this weirdo?" he states, pointing at himself on the last part.
Kaneki laughs, and he fights the urge to kiss him while he's eating. "No, but I don't know why this blond weirdo keeps coming to see me. He doesn't get it."
They both laugh at that and Hide leans his forehead against Kaneki's, basking in the joy emitting from the half-ghoul.
Kaneki's smile doesn't go away as he stares at Hide, until another thought crosses him. "Well, actually…I have noticed something…"
Hide moves back a little and he tilts his head in curiosity.
Kaneki bites his lower lip in thought. "I've been noticing this woman who I know is a ghoul. She's actually quite pretty…"
Hide smirks. "Dang, do I have competition?"
Kaneki looks him in the eyes, shaking his head. "No, Hide, never."
"I'm just kidding…"
"Yeah, but…I feel her staring at me sometimes…and I see her reading my favorite novels. What a coincidence right?" Kaneki nibbles on his index finger. "It's kind of…unnerving. Maybe I'm just overthinking it. But it's almost as if she's watching me."
"Hm, she could be. Does she come in every day?" Hide rubs his hand over Kaneki's shoulder.
"I don't think so. I only work three days a week, but she always seems to be there when I'm on shift. I wonder if she wants something from me."
"Maybe she wants to eat you."
"Oh god, please don't say that…"
"Is cannibalism common between ghouls?" Hide wonders aloud. He leans his head back against the cabinets behind them.
"Sometimes, I guess. I have considered it in the past, to be honest…"
Kaneki nestles himself closer in Hide's arms. Hide senses the change in Kaneki's mood and he strengthens his hold. "I wish I could take my classes at night, so I can see you on the days you work more often."
Kaneki smiles. "How are you going to sleep properly with that type of schedule?"
"I can do anything, Ken! Besides, I don't want creeps laying their hands on you. They gotta get through me first," Hide says, his expression serious.
"You can't do that, Hide. It'll be okay."
"Are you sure? Are you scared?" Hide asks quietly.
Kaneki pauses. "A little…"
At that, Hide grabs Kaneki and pulls him onto his lap, causing the half-ghoul to gasp.
"If only I could split myself into two…" Hide mutters.
Kaneki smirks and he chuckles lightly. "Oh, that sounds fun. Especially if we're in bed and-"
Hide laughs loudly before he could finish. "Oh, you're into that shit! Fuck, now I really need to find a way to clone myself or something."
Kaneki's ears turn red. "Well, I don't want to have sex with another person! I'm not into that! I'm just saying if there were two Hides…"
"Gosh, you're so damn cute," Hide repeats with a chuckle. He nuzzles his nose on Kaneki's forehead.
Kaneki gives a bright smile and he grasps the side of Hide's face. Hide's grin is warm, and Kaneki doesn't dare look away.
"Okay, I'll stop talking. Finish eating, cutie."
Kaneki smiles and happily obeys. Meanwhile, Hide gets lost in thought over what Kaneki told him. His hand brushes through his lover's hair once more.
…
He scrubs his mouth vigorously, almost to the point of making himself bleed. Once he knows that no trace of the human flesh he had consumed lingers, he leaves the bathroom and towards their bedroom.
On the mattress, Hide is already passed out, lying horizontally across the bed. Kaneki tries not to make a noise. He crawls over near Hide, and once he's right next to him, the blond suddenly springs awake and grabs his waist, rolling to lie on top of him.
Kaneki yelps in surprise and his large eyes look up into Hide's gaze that shines with mischief.
"H-Hide? What are you-"
His breath escapes him when Hide sinks lower, his face hovering over his and his eyes staring right through him. His lips caress his jawline before he makes his way to his neck, where he sucks on the delicate flesh there.
Just like that, Kaneki feels his body responding immediately, growing hotter and hotter and his mind is consumed with only him. Hide listens to Kaneki's breathing and knows he's sucking on the right spot when he hears his breathing become rapid. Kaneki's fingers grip onto his back and the half-ghoul begins to whimper. Hide pulls back to admire Kaneki's pink cheeks and hazy eyes.
He sees Kaneki's lips moving and his voice doesn't come out. But he reads them, and they beg him, "more, more."
Hide's fingers undo the buttons of Kaneki's white shirt, noticing the way his lover's chest rises and falls with his excited breaths. As he opens his shirt, he takes in the site of Kaneki's exposed skin and his toned core. His pale skin is completely flushed. His nipples look soft, pink, enticing. Hide feels a fire burning inside him while Kaneki shrugs off the rest of his shirt. Hide wastes no time once Kaneki's hands clutch his shoulders.
His lips latch onto his nipple, licking around the areola. His teeth pinch the soft skin, quickly causing it to harden the more he stimulates him. Kaneki's gasps turn into audible moans and Hide moves onto the other, sucking, licking, and biting until his nipples are wet with his saliva, hard and red.
Hide moves on, his lips leaving several marks down to his abs. Kaneki's eyes are shut, his mouth open, face flushed, and his body tingling nonstop from every one of Hide's touches. His body feels much more sensitive than ever and he think it's because he had just replenished himself. He knows it's way too late at night, but he can't help himself. His moans become louder because his body responds too well, loving and wanting more and more.
When Hide's hands glide down from his chest to his waist, he exhales at the way his fingers leave a hot trail on his skin. Hide's mouth burns him as he kisses his stomach and hips. He grips onto Hide's head, his motion telling his lover to never stop.
Kaneki feels the cool air on his legs when Hide pulls the rest of his clothes off. Hide finds Kaneki's cock is already getting hard and when his hand takes it, running up and down in a fast motion, he feels his dick hardening further within his grasp.
"You really like what I'm doing to you, huh? Look how hard you're getting," Hide says in a husky tone. His hand quickens its pace and Kaneki whines loudly, his hips moving in time with him.
Kaneki's face turns even more red and he nearly loses his mind when Hide's mouth takes in his entire dick in one go, a loud, slurping sound filling the air.
"Oh god, aahhh!"
Kaneki's head moves from side to side, unable to keep up with the endless waves of pleasure coursing through him like volts of electricity. His fingers pull on Hide's hair as his lover's head bobs up and down on his cock, his mouth wet and slipping easily over the pulsing, hot flesh.
Hide's tongue flicks rapidly over his dick so well, knowing exactly what Kaneki wants. His humming causes vibrations, making Kaneki cry his name out. A quick idea crosses him, and he acts on it, his fingers finding Kaneki's hole. Without warning, he inserts two fingers into his hole, thrusting them in and out while he sucks his wet cock.
Kaneki's eyes snap open at Hide's surprise move and he can't take it anymore. "Hide! Ahh! I can't-Ahhh!"
Kaneki cums hard in seconds and his head leans so far back, his mouth hanging open in a silent scream. His hips elevate, his cock spurting out thick cum down Hide's throat over and over. Hide's lips slip off in the middle of his orgasm and he takes in the view. Kaneki's hips move up and down in the air as his cock continues to shoot out more cum and Hide licks his tainted lips, his pupils dilated. He sees Kaneki drooling, his erotic moans loud and turning Hide on so much. He needs to fuck him.
He swallows the rest of the cum in his throat and then hastily rips off his shirt and underwear. His hard dick swings back and forth as he climbs over his lover.
Once Kaneki comes down from his high, he senses Hide above him and his eyes take in Hide's lust-filled stare and reddened lips. He looks down and feels aroused in an instant at the sight of Hide's swollen cock twitching over his groin.
"I want you inside me," Kaneki begs him.
Hide smirks and before he does so, he moves back, snatching the lube off the dresser behind him and then pouring it over his cock. He hisses as he rubs it over his sensitive erection. Kaneki opens his legs, lifting them up to expose his hole that gasps for him.
"Fuck me! Please, please!" Kaneki shouts, his voice dripping in mad lust.
Hide drives his dick inside him in the next second and Kaneki screams in delight. His eyes roll back at the immense feeling of Hide's thick cock stuffing his ass. How he loves this every single time. At moments like this, he doesn't care what Hide does to him. All he wants is to be treated like his toy.
Hide thrusts in and out at a rough and fast pace. His hips are used to this, pleasing Kaneki immediately and he doesn't hold back at all. He fucks Kaneki hard into the mattress, Kaneki's legs swaying back and forth with his motion.
Their skin smacks loudly in their ears and Kaneki's hole greedily sucks Hide's dick every time he thrusts in all the way. Hide pounds into him relentlessly and he watches Kaneki's body jolting up and down with his movements. Kaneki's chest shakes from how hard he's fucking him and the sight itself drives Hide to go deeper.
"Ahhh, ahh, ahh, ahhh!"
Kaneki's moans sound so thirsty and once Hide hits his prostate, his screams get filthier.
"Harder! Right there!" Kaneki demands. His legs wrap around Hide's waist, locking him into place as Hide's dick slips and slides in and out, a slurping sound echoing from the way Kaneki's hole sucks his cock again and again.
"Mmm! Fuuck! Ahhh, ahhh! Ahhh!"
Kaneki continues to moan so loudly while Hide grunts from how good Kaneki feels on his dick. He grinds onto Kaneki's ass, moving his hips in a circular motion that causes his dick to rub and touch every corner inside of his lover. Kaneki's eyes are stuck on the ceiling from the overwhelming pleasure and his mouth begins to emit incomprehensible noises as his body moves back and forth with Hide drilling into him so deeply.
In the next few seconds, Hide sees the white of Kaneki's eyes as he cums again. His hole tightens around Hide's dick and with a few deeper thrusts, Hide moans loud when his orgasm shakes him. His semen fills Kaneki's hole, some leaking between where they remain connected. Kaneki's fingernails dig into his shoulders, his toes curling as his cum splatters onto his chest and stomach.
They both breathe heavily as soon as they finish. Hide rests his head on Kaneki's shoulder for a moment, his hot breaths brushing over Kaneki's sweaty skin. Kaneki's vision clears from his second high and he holds Hide tight against him, his thighs rubbing on Hide's waist.
Hide is the first to move, his numb arms pushing himself up. His face hovers near Kaneki's again. Those grey eyes show him nothing but endless adoration like always and he smiles lightly. Kaneki moves to kiss him and Hide closes his eyes as their mouths meet. Kaneki savors Hide's delicious taste but Hide separates from him quicker than he wanted. Hide moves to get off him, his cock exiting his hole and pouring out more semen that drips down Kaneki's ass.
"Don't go…" Kaneki says breathlessly. He moves onto his knees in a smooth motion, the semen now slipping down his thighs.
When Hide straightens up, Kaneki kneels before him, taking his cock in his hands. Hide feels himself getting hard from his touch and he warns him. "Ken, don't-"
"Cum on my face," Kaneki tells him. His grey eyes look up at him with the naughtiest stare Hide's seen on him. Kaneki's right hand strokes his cock fast, his gaze never breaking from Hide's flustered expression.
Hide's dick is still wet from semen and leftover lube, so Kaneki's hand makes a wet, squishy sound when he strokes up and down. Hide moans and bites his lip, leaning his head back while Kaneki moves closer. His tongue flicks out, greedily licking on the crown of Hide's cock. His teeth scrape lightly on the pulsing veins over his cock when Kaneki's mouth takes in his dick, causing Hide to groan.
"Fuck, babe. Mmm."
Kaneki's round eyes continue to look up at him with his mouth full of hard cock, his cheeks puffed out slightly. Hide fights the urge to choke him with his dick but Kaneki does it himself, taking him in all the way to the hilt. Hide feels himself hitting the back of Kaneki's throat and Kaneki sucks hard, his lips slipping up and down. Saliva makes the slurping sounds louder and Kaneki grabs onto Hide's thighs while he enjoys sucking on Hide's cock like it's his only source of food.
Hide admires Kaneki's naked body, his round ass cheeks spread apart with his thighs propping him up. At the sight of Kaneki's well-fucked ass and his dick getting choked on, Hide feels himself coming close already. Kaneki notices Hide's cock getting bigger in his mouth and he pulls it out, rubbing his hand over it until Hide releases himself. Kaneki gasps in pleasure as jets of semen splatters on his cheeks, nose, and mouth, just the way he wants it. Hide breathes heavily and watches Kaneki's face getting covered in his fluids.
Kaneki doesn't let up and he moves in, his hands clutching on Hide's thighs again as his tongue darts over the tip of his cock, sucking it. The last few streams of semen drip out and he whines softly, taking all of it for himself, his nose rubbing on his dick as he licks every inch.
"Look at you. You just keep wanting more," Hide tells him with a wide smirk.
"It's all mine," Kaneki's words are muffled due to him mouthing his thick cock without pause.
When Kaneki slowly withdraws, he gazes up at Hide's slick abs, to his chest, and then up at his eyes. Hide's smile is like heaven and he smiles back, cum still all over his face.
Hide can't help but love the sight of him right then. "You're so dirty, Ken…"
Kaneki tilts his head and he begins wiping off Hide's semen with the back of his hand, licking it off as he does and not wasting a single drop.
Hide lowers himself from his upright position to grab Kaneki into his lap. Kaneki nestles himself between his legs, his thighs wrapping around his waist and his hands grasping Hide's face. Hide feels Kaneki breathing on him and then their lips connect, Kaneki's tongue desperately searching for his. Saliva stretches between their mouths when they part and when they kiss again at a new angle.
Hide's fingers claw down Kaneki's back, feeling his shoulder blades and holding him tighter. Kaneki keeps kissing him hard, bruising his lips on Hide's and running his hands through his messy hair.
Their heart beats quicken together and when Kaneki's lips ghost over Hide's mouth, Kaneki takes in Hide's scent.
Warm, comforting. Home.
"Don't let go of me."
A week passes, and the news becomes more alarming. The doves that try to maintain the peace between humans and ghouls are beginning to show less mercy, aiming to target any ghoul that loses control.
Kaneki sees Yoshimura less these days and that makes him nervous. Hide has class all day so he can't see his boyfriend until near the end of his shift.
On that same day, the woman who's been watching him chooses to sit at the counter where he's making coffee. Right in front of him.
He does his best to maintain his cool and keep his mask on. He tries not to make too much conversation. But she initiates it.
"Excuse me, sir?" She stops him suddenly right after he finishes setting her coffee in front of her.
"Um, yes?" he says in a polite tone.
"What's your name?" she asks him. Her violet eyes regard him behind her red-rimmed glasses. She brushes a strand of her long, purple hair behind her right ear.
Kaneki hesitates, blinking a few times before he replies. "Ken Kaneki. But most people call me Kaneki."
She hums to herself in thought, and he feels uncomfortable under her gaze that seems to invade his soul.
"And you are?" he asks.
She smiles, though for some reason, it seems fake to him. "I'm Rize Kamishiro. Call me Rize," she greets him.
"Pleased to meet you," Kaneki states with a short bow of his head. She nods, her eyes closing with her widening smile.
"So, you like to read? I do too," Kaneki says. He doesn't know why he didn't just stop talking right after she said her name but from the way she's staring at him like she's studying him, he can't help but possibly learn what type of person she is.
"Oh, is that so? Have you read this one?" She holds up one of his favorite novels and he nods eagerly.
"Yeah, I've actually read that one many times," Kaneki admits with a short laugh.
She tilts her head at him, and her eyes glisten for a moment. Kaneki continues to keep his nerves in check.
"Isn't this book so wonderful? The author's words connect with me so well," she comments. She lifts her coffee cup, taking a few sips.
"I know, I feel the same way. No other author seems to reach me like this one does," Kaneki replies. He moves to wipe down the counter top in between them.
"Indeed. You want to know what my favorite part is?" Rize says. Her voice sounds taunting to his ears and he freezes in place.
Rize chuckles when she notices Kaneki's stiff posture and she leans in closer. Kaneki's eyes meet hers and she places a hand on the side of her mouth like she is telling a secret.
"I just love the part when the main character chases after his victim and rips his intestines out! Ah! It's so thrilling!" At her last few words, she reveals her dual kakugan at him and he moves away from her. His wide eyes scrutinize her and in the next second, her ghoul eyes disappear, and she nonchalantly takes more sips of her coffee once she settles herself back in her space.
Kaneki remains speechless and he begins to tremble much to his dismay. Rize sighs, her fingers running through her silky hair.
"Come on, Kaneki. Admit that you enjoy that part too. Doesn't it just send a delicious chill down your spine?"
Kaneki doesn't meet her sharp eyes and he looks down at his clenched hand holding the towel.
"Don't act all innocent. You may be a half-breed, but you've got ghoul blood in you. You should embrace that side of you so much more!" she urges him.
Kaneki looks up at her with a serious expression. Of course, she knows.
"Hey, come closer. I won't bite," Rize coaxes him with that fake smile.
Kaneki scans around them to see that no one pays any mind. He doesn't want to move.
"Please, Kaneki. I'll cry if you don't," Rize pleads. She puts on the saddest pout that could bring any man to his knees in an instant.
Kaneki hesitates a little longer and then he grits his teeth and slowly walks toward the counter again.
Once he's within reach, her hands dart forward, taking his hand and making him drop the towel. Her hands are soft on his and his brows furrow at her abrupt action.
She brings his hand up to her nose, taking in a deep whiff and humming in content. "You know, you smell differently from the rest. You almost smell more human than ghoul."
He tries to pull away from her, but she tightens her grip.
"Tell me, are you mating with a human? That's the only explanation…" she asks him upfront.
Kaneki blushes at her bold statement and he snatches his hand back in an instant. "Th-That's none of your business!"
Rize laughs, and it rings in his ears like bells.
"Oh, so you are. But isn't it boring? You should consider finding out how it feels with a ghoul. It's so much better that way…" She smirks at him, flipping more of her hair over her shoulder.
"No, thank you," Kaneki tells her firmly.
She pouts again. "Is she really all that great?"
"Yes, he is," Kaneki continues with the same tone.
Rize blinks at what he just said and her eyes narrow. Kaneki can now see her façade breaking like glass and her face is no longer friendly. She then removes her glasses and leans on the counter.
"Oh, sweet Kaneki, you really are in trouble," she states. Her nails are suddenly interesting to her and she stares at them with a look of indifference.
"What do you mean by that?" Kaneki asks. Again, he thinks he should have kept his mouth shut.
Her eyes move to his, and her smile is disturbing to him. "You won't last long with him. Wake up and face reality."
Kaneki's mouth drops open and he wants to say something else, but she moves off her seat, placing her glasses back on and taking her book.
"A human and ghoul together is destined to fail. You will realize this soon."
She then giggles, and her façade is back in full force.
"Farewell, Kaneki," she says with a wave.
She exits the shop like the wind, her cup empty and a cold gust blowing behind her.
He doesn't believe her.
Two more weeks pass. Yoshimura is still absent and so the staff on duty must close shop when the day is over. It happens to be Kaneki's turn that day and so once all the tables and chairs are clean and set up for the night, he goes to take out the trash.
Hide is late today…
He wonders if his boyfriend went to visit Ikuma in the city. Or maybe one of his professors kept him behind a little longer.
He looks out through the glass windows, hoping to catch a head of blond in the distance. Nothing. It's empty outside and the night is darker than yesterday. He hopes Hide stays safe on his way over.
Everyone had already headed out and barely anyone passes by the shop. Once Kaneki gathers the trash bags, he drags them outside and hurls them into the large metal bin in the alleyway.
Satisfied, he starts to head back to lock up the store when he suddenly senses someone behind him.
"Rize? Is that you?"
A deep voice that booms in the dark. It seems to shake his bones and before Kaneki could even turn around, the stranger grabs the back of his head and yanks him in his direction. Kaneki can barely make any noise and his eyes catch sight of the man holding onto him. A giant, monstrous man towering above him, his large hand still clutching his head like he could snap his neck any second.
"No…you're not her…"
Kaneki tries to break free from him, but the man takes his arm, his grip so brutal, he feels his humerus bone snapping between the man's fingers.
Kaneki cries out in pain and he clenches his teeth. He breathes heavily, and the man laughs in delight when he sees Kaneki's left eye change.
"A half-ghoul! Yes! You're perfect! You're mine!" the man bellows.
Kaneki bites into the man's arm, drawing blood and pulling at his flesh, but nothing works. His eyes bulge out when his body feels like it's splitting in two and his teeth loosen on the man. Peering down, he feels something wet dripping over his stomach and slowly to his legs. His blood.
He coughs up the red liquid when he realizes he's been impaled by this man, no, this ghoul. His massive kagune stabbed right through his chest and stomach.
He can barely stand, and his vision begins to fail on him. Black spots take over and he can't even scream because it's all too fast. His entire body is numb and just as he fades, the man knocks him over the head.
…
Hide runs as fast as he can, nearly tripping several times. He's already thinking of how he'll explain himself to Kaneki, how he was kept behind in his last class longer than he wanted. He's prepared to face an angry Kaneki and ready to apologize and make it up to him a thousand times over.
Hide pants hard once he's in front of Anteiku and as expected, the store is darkened and closed.
"He must have gone home…" Hide mutters to himself.
Still, he looks through the large windows and for the sake of checking, he tries the door handle. He is shocked to find that the door is unlocked and his brows furrow in confusion.
He's still here?
Hide carefully steps into the empty shop, scanning the front and listening for any footsteps or voices. Nothing.
Did someone forget to lock the door?
Hide walks further in and checks the back rooms. He peers into the kitchen and the break room. No one. Not a soul.
"Is anybody in here?" Hide calls out.
No answer.
He explores the break room again and notices Kaneki's bag is still there, along with his jacket. Hide's heart skips a beat and immediately, he has a bad feeling.
He returns outside, this time through the back door. He keeps going until he ends up in the alleyway where the waste receptacles are.
Where are you?
A few steps forward and he hears a wet sound below his shoes. He stops and thinks it's a puddle at first but when he gazes down, his eyes widen at the large pool of blood under him. Without thinking, he kneels, his fingers sweeping through the red liquid. The blood is cold, but still fresh.
Hide's mind goes out of control. He thinks about what happened that could have caused so much blood to spill. His nerves break loose and he feels himself sweating. His heart beats rapidly. Lost and unable to reach for him.
The world spins and the cold blood drips from his fingers. The blood splashes onto his shoes, staining them the longer he stands there. He can't feel anything.
He can only smell blood. His blood.
He can hardly speak. His eyes dart all over the place and he steps further into the darkness.
When he hears his own voice, it's too loud.
"Ken!"
No one responds to him.
He grips his head, blood staining his blond hair.
His eyes don't see anything when he gazes out into the distance. Empty. His breathing is ragged, the only sound he can hear now.
It's too dark. The sky is pitch black and so are his eyes.
Where are you?
"You're going to last much longer than my last toy. I can't wait I can't wait I can't wait!"
I'm scared. I don't know what to do.
He tastes old blood in his mouth and he coughs it all up, large clots spilling from his lips.
"Look at you! I stabbed right through you and you've already healed so perfectly like it didn't even happen!"
True to his words, his vision blurs but when his hand pats his chest and stomach, he feels no gaping hole. Just sticky blood and his clothes ripped apart. His body is intact and there is no pain whatsoever.
Wherever he is, it reeks of rotting flesh and blood. Like that night, it's pitch black. It's cold.
What do I do?
He blacks out more times than he can count. He's been tossed around and carried and despite healing that wound, he feels too weak. He needs to fight.
Where am I?
The next time he wakes, his consciousness is fully intact, but his body is like lead. His eyes are blinded by the vast room he's in. No, not a room. It's too spacious. Too broad.
The floor below him is black and white like a chess board. Cracked in several places and it smells like it's been cleaned recently.
I need to get out of here!
"Finally awake, huh? Too bad for you. Now the real fun begins!"
Heavy footsteps approach him and when he looks up, the giant man from before stands above him again.
"Ah, I've got something for you. Think of it as a welcome to my special playroom." He laughs, a maniacal one that drills through his skull.
"What do you want from me?"
His voice is as weak as he feels. Raspy and choking on blood.
"Didn't you hear me? I said you're going to be my new toy. You belong to me!"
The man grabs the front of his ragged shirt, lifting him in the air. His legs dangle and he grips onto the man's muscular arm.
"I never imagined I'd capture a half-ghoul into my play pen. Like a diamond in the rough."
The man shifts his arms so that his large hand grasps onto Kaneki's neck, keeping the half-ghoul right where he wants him. Kaneki can't catch his other hand reaching for something behind his back.
I can't see you.
A large needle is jabbed into his left eye and immediately, it feels like half of his face is on fire. His scream is suppressed by the man's other hand that now envelops his mouth and jaw.
"Now, you'll get to be almost human for a little while. Tell me, which side did you like better? The ghoul side or the human side?"
The beastly ghoul roars in laughter.
His whole face burns and it travels down to his neck.
"You'll know your answer soon enough."
I can't find you.
…
…
…
"Don't let go of me."
…
"I won't."