Hi hi! (￣▽￣)ノ I hope you all had fantastic holidays! Since it's only 22:41 (10:41 pm) where I live, it was almost mandatory for a New Year's Eve fic, right? So here ya go, you cutie patooties!

Update: To that wonderful guest reviewer that said "this is shit": Yes, but could you please explain, in detail, why you feel that way?

[Stay tuned for A/N]

"It's freezing!" Touka blew on her hands and rubbed them together furiously. "Why did we have to come again?"

"Because it's their very first shrine visit," Kaneki said, "and it's New Year's Eve, so why not?"

Touka glared at her husband before crouching in front of the double stroller. She looked at her children, wrapped in layers of warm clothing with their red, chubby cheeks peeking out. Minoru sneezed twice, so Touka wrapped his little scarf tighter and pulled an extra baby blanket from the baby bag to cover him with. Looking at her daughter, the young mother sighed. Miyu was making frustrated noises as she tried to pull off her mittens. Taking her hands, Touka adjusted the mittens correctly and tucked Miyu's hands into her coat. How did I end up with one very calm child and one very active child? They're twins, but they're completely different… Rising from her crouch, Touka blew on her hands again and walked ahead as she spoke to her husband.

"Because they're only a month and a half old, Ken. They won't remember this and it is way too cold to have infants out here, no matter how many layers you put them in." She looked over her shoulder from Kaneki to Minoru, as if making a point.

Kaneki paused and stretched over the stroller to look at the twins. Miyu smiled at her father and reached one mitten-covered hand out to him. Kaneki smiled and waved at her before turning to her brother. Minoru looked back at his father with his red nose that crinkled with every sniffle. Kaneki frowned slightly and gently rubbed his fingers over Minoru's tiny nose, warming it.

"Okay, so maybe this wasn't the best idea-" he started.

"You think?" Touka snorted.

"But we're already here, so we might as well keep going." Kaneki pushed the stroller forward, passing Touka.

The young woman clicked her tongue and followed her family. Then you're responsible is one of them gets sick.

After waiting in line for fifteen freezing minutes, it was finally their turn. Kaneki and Touka paid their respects first, clapping and bowing according to the instructions. Though Touka didn't necessarily believe in this tradition, she participated for her husband. Having done it with his mother during his childhood and with Hide after she died, Kaneki could finally bring his own family with him.

Kaneki lifted Minoru out of the stroller, waking him up, while Touka did the same with Miyu. Turning back to the shrine, they placed a coin in one of the twins' hands and guided them in dropping them in the right place. Once the coins disappeared from sight, they moved Miyu and Minoru's hands to the bell rope and covered the tiny hands with their own. Kaneki pulled the rope back and let it fall back, ringing the bell. The ring sounded throughout the small area loudly, causing Minoru to whine. Unlike her twin, Miyu giggled gleefully and tried to move the heavy rope by herself.

Touka pried her daughter's hands away from the rope and settled her back into the stroller as Kaneki comforted the fussy Minoru and did the same. Once they were bundled into the stroller, the young family moved to the area surrounded by small stalls. As they passed by the many stalls offering amazake, Touka covered the twins' face with their scarves as she and Kaneki did the same. Good thing it's so cold, they thought at the same time. It won't look unnatural.

"Let's go get fortunes for the twins before we leave," Kaneki said after they were outside the stalls.

"… Fine." She continued under her breath, "Though it's not like that's gonna mean anything to infants…"

"I heard that." Kaneki began to steer the stroller towards the vending machine, standing at the back of the line.

It was only a five minute wait until their turn; not many children came this late at night. Kaneki got a fortune for Miyu as Touka did the same for Minoru. The parents crouched on either side of the stroller and unrolled the papers at the same time. Miyu was given 'small blessing' with the word 'studies' underneath. Minoru received 'great blessing' followed by 'wish' and 'studies.' Kaneki laughed,

"Maybe they'll be better at classical literature than their mother with this."

"Shut up, you jerk!" Touka threw a small handful of snow in his face.

Kaneki blinked and started to scoop a bigger handful to throw back. He stopped short and dropped the ball when he saw the look in his wife's eyes and the tone of her voice.

"Ken," she warned, "if we don't leave soon, Miyu and Minoru will get sick."

"… You're right," he conceded, looking at the twins.

Both Miyu and Minoru were struggling to stay awake. Their eyes would close for a second and then they would jolt awake again. Kaneki chuckled while Touka sighed slightly. Still crouched, they began to wrap the twins' coats a little tighter and tuck blankets around them. It had gotten colder as the night went on so Touka tucked an extra blanket around them to be safe.

Content with the amount of layers around the twins, Kaneki and Touka stood up and began adjusting their own coats and scarves. The clock struck midnight and the New Year's bells began ringing. Kaneki turned to his wife and retied her scarf around her neck while Touka blew cold hair up into his face. Touka giggled softly as he smiled and leaned his forehead against hers. He was still for a few seconds before he suddenly kissed her nose lightly and grinned.

"What do you say we be responsible parents and get these babies home, Rudolf?" He tapped her bright red nose with a gloved finger.

"Christmas is over, come up with a better nickname," she said, covering her nose with her hands.

Kaneki laughed, turned the stroller in the direction of home and began walking. Touka moved briskly to catch up, tucking her hand into the crook of her husband's elbow. The small family left the shrine with the sounds of the bells accompanying them to the street. They turned and began walking leisurely to their home, Kaneki smiling, a corner of Touka's lip turned up, and the twins asleep. The first New Year with Miyu and Minoru was just beginning.

So, so? What do you think?

I apologize for falling off the face of the planet this past week, a lot happened. Between family and emotional issues, I haven't really been up to writing. But, I'm back now! Christmas is over, we're starting a new year, and I got my first car! :D But that's neither here nor there. Moving on!

I researched Japanese New Year's traditions to be as accurate as possible, so I hope it is. I did it according to Wikipedia and past manga I've read. If there's anything important that I missed or messed up on, please let me know.

Regarding all of the comments about Ayato: Worry not, my friends. I know that Ayato becomes less of a douchebag in the future, but I think of him as the type that's mean to everybody except Hinami. But still less mean than he was before. Idk, that's just how I imagine him with her. - The comment Touka makes to Ayato in Ch. 5 is also just sibling banter. Of course Ayahina children would be drop dead gorgeous, look at their parents. But I'm glad you asked and commented about him, it helps a lot and I appreciate it! :3

What else, what else... Feel free to suggest/request a scenario you want to read and I'll try to make it happen. c:

As always, a big thank you for reading! Questions/comments/concerns/opinions are always welcome in the form of a review, pm, or tumblr message.

And with that, I wish you all a fantastic new year! (ʃƪ ˘ ³˘)

Stay fabulous,

Tschüss!