About a month had passed since Nishiki had tried to kill Hide. Kaneki had become more possessive over his sunshine. No one else could touch Hide without his permission, he'd made sure of that.
In that month, Kaneki's reading skills had rapidly improved. He had found out that he rather liked reading. It took his mind away from his sessions and all that entailed. While he struggled a little bit a some parts, he could now fully read the Black Goat's Egg. He was rather excited about this, in Cochlea he had only been able to look and never understand.
While his reading skills were improving, the same could not be said for his people skills. The only people he really interacted with were Auntie Rize and Hide. Occasionally the Anteiku staff, but they didn't like him too much. Most people were just generally boring to Kaneki, and majority were scared of the white haired man. It was a win-win situation for both. He didn't have to interact with boring people and they could stay away from the insane looking white haired boy.
But never Hide.
He was always by his side. And it made Kaneki oh, so happy. He hadn't even know what true happiness was until he had met his sunshine. And he would make sure that no one else would take his sunshine. Maybe he was being selfish, but could you really blame him?
So, it was a month later when Kaneki's happiness grew even larger.
"Hey Kaneki?"
"Yes?"
"You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Kaneki was thoroughly absorbed in his book. He was aware enough that he could have the conversation, but his attention was more focused on his book. His Hide was safe, so his immediate attention for the moment was not all that necessary though.
"Yeah Hide, I know."
Along with his reading abilities, Kaneki was surprisingly a bit more mature now. While he still didn't care for most – and would often act out like a child – he was actually doing a lot better. He was a lot more calm now, and was actually beginning to act normal. Well, as normal as someone like Kaneki could be.
"Hey Kaneki?"
"Yes Hide?"
"Would you like to go on a date with me?" Hide was blushing heavily at this.
"Wh-"
Kaneki was quickly cut off by Hide's ramblings. "I mean you don't have too. Hell, you're probably not into guys. I'm sorry for asking. This doesn't make us awkward, right? We can still be friends? Please Kaneki? Rabbits die of loneliness." By the end of this Hide had begun to sheepishly scratch the back of his neck.
When Hide finally stopped to take a breath, he seemed to realize what he had said. "Oh god, this is so embarrassing!"
"What's a date?"
Hide was absolutely shocked. Sure Kaneki was a little weird at times, what with not knowing some common knowledge and acting rather childish at times, but to not know what a date was... What the hell had happened to this kid?
"Um...you know? Gah! I don't know how to explain this!"
"If you don't understand stand it, why did you ask me?" Kaneki curiously tilted his head following this.
"It's that I don't understand it, it's just that...I don't know how to explain it to you."
"Oh, okay! Take your time Hide."
"Okay... Well, when two people like each other in a romantic way, they go on dates. They're supposed to help them get to know each other and allow them to spend time together."
"I don't understand stand Hide. Don't we already do that?"
"Yeah, but we do that as friends. It's just...ugh! This is hard to explain!"
"So, it'd be basically like being friends with you?"
"Yeah, except we'd go on dates and stuff, we'd be a couple."
"What do couples do?"
"Well, they go on dates with each other. They kiss and other things. I don't know how to explain this Kaneki!" Hide was beginning to turn a bright shade of red.
"Do you want to kiss me Hide?"
"Yeah..." Whispered a very embarrassed Hide. A large blush covering most of his face.
"Do you want us to be a couple?"
"Yeah, I want you to be my boyfriend Kaneki. You don't ha-"
"Okay Hide, I'll be your boyfriend. You're mine."
Kaneki was excited, Hide was going to be his in more ways than one now! Now, Kaneki was going to make sure nothing touched his sunshine. Nobody was going to get Hide. He refused to let go of the one he claimed as his.