Chapter 16

3rd

The two of them entered the bookstore, the once noise filled streets was quickly replaced by an atmosphere so tranquil the second they stepped through the doors. It was rather a nice change they can appreciate. Walking side by side, Yuzuki following Kaneki's lead since he was the one looking for a book, and they reached the stairs that'll take them up to the second level.

Everything was going fine, it was just stairs, and Yuzuki has dealt with them before, yet she couldn't be more distraught that she miscalculated a step- one step that made her fall forward. However, Yuzuki wasn't expecting to be pulled back, not when she was focus on grabbing the railing to restore her balance.

Kaneki grabbed her, keeping her steady until she balanced her footing again, but he saw the annoyance that flashed across her face as if she experienced this type of incidents before. He could imagined this wasn't the first, but it did scare him at how sudden it was to watch the dove almost trip on the staircase.

"Sorry," Yuzuki apologized, waving off the misstep as nothing to worry over, but she admitted one of her visual flaws, "My depth perception isn't the best especially with stairs."

Kaneki stared at her, concern, but he listened to her as she explained her experience, and probably answering his questions since he has seen her used stairs before and hardly seen her almost trip.

The dove held the railing as they continued up the steps, "It seems everything disappears, a bit hassle at times if you tell me." Chuckling, she shook her head at the bitterness that comes from dealing with her disadvantages that came along with her eyes. "Like children who haven't developed a sense of depth perception, you know the visual cliff. The number of times I've had someone catch me when I miscalculate a step, well, I'll have a lot of numbers."

"How do you manage?" Glancing over to her, he kept a study eye on her as he stayed near in case she'll forget another step.

Yuzuki shrugged, "With help, and I remember if I'm already familiar with the place." Sighing, she tilted her head up for a brief second as she recalled the countless times she had to learn, and relearn how to function in her current state while teaching herself new tricks, but Yuzuki offered a smile over to him. "I had years to adapt."

However, her eyes widen once she noticed that her arm was now interlocked with his, the two of them linked together as they went up the rest of the stairs. Kaneki felt his face heat up, but he looked away, "I-It's okay," He returned a smile as he kept close to assure that she won't deal with anymore issues, "I don't mind as long as you're okay."

She closed her eyes, smiling back, appreciating his concern and his kindness, "Thank you."

It still felt strange to have someone actually help her as a guide. So many years since she had someone offer, and she's grown accustom of handling it on her own, or have someone like Arima, Fura or surprisingly Hirako, and at times she'll allow Juuzou to drag her around with him if he's in a hurry then she won't complain about it. Yet she couldn't fully get on aboard on having someone- to let Kaneki assist her.

Yuzuki pulled out the compacted walking cane so he could see, "But I do have my walking cane on me, so don't feel obligate to guide me."

So she decided to let him go once they've reached the floor Kaneki planned to go on. It was irrational, but she couldn't accept the help.

"I thought-"

She smiled, unfolding it as they continued up the steps while informing him, "I carry it on me in case of anything really. I'll admit I don't necessarily use it for my sight, but I like having it as insurance. I have two, one laying around in my apartment and one on me. Never know when I'll need it."

"Oh, okay." Kaneki didn't say much afterward, but the two of still had their arms interlocked until they reached the floor they were heading to.

He let go as he walked alongside her in silence, which only made the dove to start up the conservation again. Not like she wasn't against the silence between them, but she could tell there was some form of awkwardness, more from his part than hers, which wasn't all bad due to how reserved he was.

"I haven't been in this one before," Yuzuki started, she tapped the cane against his foot as she stifled her laughter while she tilted her head. "I just haven't made the time to stop by a book store."

"Me either. I've been busy with everything." Kaneki smiled back, "But I remember about the book I wanted."

"They usually have everything," He looked over to her, and Kaneki wondered, "How are the bookstores in the 1st Ward?"

"There isn't any difference aside from the atmosphere you get from the Ward itself," Yuzuki knew the tension any ghoul feels within the first ward, and despite her technically being a ghoul investigator. She bumped her shoulder against his while she smiled. "But it feels nice here. More welcoming. Comfy."

"I'll come by whenever I'm searching for a book, sometimes I'll bring Hide with me or I'll spend my time alone here," Kaneki explained as he walked alongside Yuzuki while they moved through the aisles. "I've been to a few different book shops, but so far this one is my favorite."

Kaneki furrowed his brows, recalling another shop he went to once or twice when he was younger within the 20th Ward, but he can't remember the name, "However, I do remember one that isn't around anymore, but I didn't go there too many times before it was gone. It was here in the 20th Ward, but something happened to the place."

Still there wasn't enough information on the place since it's been gone for a decade or so. Something about a fire that burned down the whole place, and supposedly the family that own the shop was caught in the fire, so the news has reported, but it wasn't covered much. Like it never happened, but Kaneki knew there was a shop he visited once or twice that stood in the 20th Ward years ago. He didn't ponder too much over it, but he took notice in how quiet Yuzuki fell after he brought up the brief mention of the bookstore that once resided in the ward. For a moment, he saw the somber look that the dove wore before she shook her head to look over to his direction.

"Then it's a real shame, isn't it?" Whispering herself, recalling her times at the bookstore her mother once had where she'll spend most of her days in. Yet the dove didn't wish to dwell on the past, so she smiled despite the sadness that began to sip through her. Instead, Yuzuki laughed faintly before making light of the mood as she teased him, "You wouldn't be able to explore more bookstores."

Kaneki stared for a minute as he saw through the façade she held, and he knew there was more to the story then her just brushing it off as a way to tease him. But it wasn't something he wanted to get into nor does he believe he should probe for answers until she decides to talk about it. He only nodded before switching topics, "I'm actually hoping that the book I saw last time is still where I left it."

"Aren't you a sly fox, hiding books for yourself," Yuzuki giggled at the thought of him storing away a book so he could easily pick up later, and she could imagine it was something he would do.

Kaneki flushed, scratching his hair as he looked away, but he did defend his case, "I couldn't get it last time because Hide was rushing me, so I was going to come back for it soon."

"You're cute," This only got the dove to laugh at how true he was about it, and it didn't surprise her one bit to know that Hide would rush him, which lead him to stash away the book he planned on getting.

"W-what? No, I'm not-" Blushing, Kaneki stumbled to form a proper sentence, which was soon followed by her pushing him forward so he could take the lead.

"Just go, I'll follow," Motioning to go on, she was fine with following close behind him while he went to search for the book he wanted to pick up.

"I used to do that too when I was young since there were days I spent most of my time in a book shop," She admitted, there was no shame in wanting to make sure that a book remain available when you could get it. Yuzuki kept her head low as she recalled old memories, which she was happy to share with him, "I'll hide my favorite books so I could get them easily, but I'll recommend them to others to check out."

"I basically knew the place like the back of my hand." Yuzuki smiled back at the old memories she held close to her heart. Recalling how she'll remembered almost every single book within her mother's bookstore, and how her little old self would gladly search for whatever book someone needed without a problem.

Her days were spent surrounded by books or instruments, depending on where she chose to spend her time with. Would it be with her mother who handled books, or with her father who submerged himself with music, but whatever choice she made. None of them left her feeling bored or alone because she had something to learn everyday she spent with her parents in their jobs.

"Enough to fool around by misplacing books." Laughing, she tapped her walking cane against her foot as she covered her mouth at the little pranks she used to do during her time with her beloved mother.

Pausing for a moment, Yuzuki could find herself reliving the old memory, even if it was for a second, she could see it all like it happened yesterday. A memory she hasn't called back to for years now, but going out with Kaneki to the bookstore just brought her back to the old days where her life was normal. How her smaller self would join her father in messing with some books as a joke, but Yuzuki would always remember where they were so her mother wouldn't be too upset.

Kaneki couldn't help himself from laughing alongside her, jokingly remarking on her childish stunts, and he didn't bother to think as the words fell from him.

"You monster-" Kaneki's eyes widen as the words left his mouth and he was quick to jump at apologizing while fighting back the heat spreading across his face. "Ah- What I-I didn't mean it like that-!"

Yuzuki gave him a quick nudge with her cane while laughing it off, "Keep going."

She knew he meant it as a joke, and of course, it was an awful prank for any bookworm. Misarranging books might as well be a living nightmare for any book lover. Something her own mother would sigh in defeat whenever she would books out of their rightful place, but Yuzuki could remember the smile her mother would wear each time she returned the books to their proper place.

Kaneki didn't say anything else after that as he moved along to the area that he needed to go to. He'll spare a few glances over to the dove to check for any possible signs that he might've hurt her feelings. The last time he used the word 'monster' made him rethink everything he once knew, and he hopes that the dove doesn't bear anything against him for saying such a thing. Even if it was meant to be a joke, a distasteful joke in his opinion. But he was relieved to see that Yuzuki didn't seem bothered at all, still holding a faint smile as she followed closely, which was enough to ease his nervous.

Yuzuki followed after him, cane in hand as she swept the floor while keeping an ear out for any strange noise, and also using whatever sight she had left to keep close as she followed Kaneki and his search for the particular book he had in mind.

A/N:

Happy New Year!

Thank you for the reviews/favorites/follows/reading this fic!

It's been a long time since I've updated a new chapter to this story, and I'll openly state that this chapter had another part included, but I ended up not having it due to me losing interest in Tokyo Ghoul as well as this story, so I cut the chapter short in order to complete it and have it up while offer an explain.

By now, Tokyo Ghoul :Re the anime finished airing, and the conclusion of the manga has also happened. I, personally, haven't watched the anime since root A, but I have kept up to date with the manga and I have my own opinions on how the series ended. But regardless of how it ended, I did enjoy the series these past years.

So what are your thoughts on the anime and manga?

Like I've mentioned above I've lost interested in this story as well as for Tokyo Ghoul as a whole, and it became clear around the Third Cochlea Raid/Rushima Landing Operation Arc in TG :re, but I kept up with it since I was already this far along and wished to see it conclude eventually.

However, I won't deny that the conclusion has played a factor in writing for this fic since I've started it during high school where I was invested in the fandom and series, and due to my hiatus with college and lost of motivation in many of my hobbies at the time. It has got in the way of me working on this fic, which lead to the slow updates and along with me losing interest in the series somewhere along the way has further slowed the progress of this fic.

I know, I've mentioned that I won't abandon this fic, but I'll be honest after this recent break between updates that I don't know how far I'll go in writing this fic. And I know I shouldn't pressure myself in continuing to write when inspiration/motivation from this series has dwindled over time.

So I hope you all understand when I openly say that I'll be leaving this fic. It's been fun, but I can't find myself enjoying working on this fic as much as I once did.

So this is it for now and like always I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are :)