There was something in the air tonight.
Something that was making Shuu Tsukiyama increasingly uneasy.
The gourmet began to worry about Ken Kaneki as the evening continued on. Their leader hadn't made it home yet, it wasn't like Kaneki to be this late. What in the world could be keeping him?
Banjou was the one that suggested someone go look for the boy, for once Tsukiyama could agree with the other man. Someone had to stay with Hinami however. Banjou wasn't about to trust Tsukiyama to be alone with the young girl. With that Tsukiyama volunteered to be the one to search for Kaneki.
It was a gloomy night, not a good foreshadowing. The dark clouds above started to shower the earth with rain only making matters worst. Tsukiyama was determined to find the one-eyed ghoul.
Panic twisted in his gut. What if Kaneki-kun was in danger!? Tsukiyama couldn't stand that thought, the thought of not being there to help the younger boy. Non, non, non!
He broke into a sprint finally, his lilac eyes seeking the other ghoul. This couldn't be happening! Kaneki wasn't allowed to just leave them, he wasn't allowed to die! Kaneki-kun was his, his, his, his, his!
After a torturous couple of minutes, a loud growl alerted Tsukiyama to the one-eye ghoul's location. The gourmet knew that growl anywhere, stomach pains. Tsukiyama sighed, it was just like Kaneki to hide this from them. When was the last time he ate, the gourmet wondered.
"K-Kaneki-kun?" Tsukiyama's teeth chattered lightly as he took a step into the alley the growl came from.
"Stay away..." The response was curt and threatening, Tsukiyama ignored this warning however.
The cold rain continued to pour down on the two ghouls in the alley. Tsukiyama was already dripping from head to toe, there was a perfectly good suit ruined. The suit could be replaced however, Kaneki was irreplaceable.
The one-eyed ghoul was sitting on the wet gravel, his back against the wall, knees pulled up to his chest. Suffering on his on like this... Unacceptable! Tsukiyama approached warily even still.
"Let's go back," Tsukiyama spoke gently to the fidgety ghoul. "The little lady is very worried."
"Get back..."
"I very well can't leave you out in the rain can I?" Tsukiyama took another step forward, watching Kaneki carefully. "Come, I'll get you something to eat."
"Please... Stop it."
Tsukiyama didn't heed the request, he kept moving forward. He did this until he was standing right in front of one-eyed ghoul. The gourmet would drag the younger boy back if he had to. The way things were going he just might.
Tsukiyama leaned down to grab Kaneki's shoulder. That was when the ghoul with the white-hair pounced. Tsukiyama was thrown off his feet, into the alley wall across from the boy.
Kaneki was quick to lunge at the downed gourmet. He hopped right on top of Tsukiyama, straddling his waist, keeping him pinned into the wall with one strong arm. Tsukiyama looked up at Kaneki, shock and confusion written all over his face.
"What if I just eat you?!" Kaneki finally spoke firmly. His voice had changed and one of his eyes had changed colors. Tsukiyama's eyes widened, Kaneki's red pupil zeroed in on the gourmet like a predator. "It shouldn't come as much of a shock! It's just some ironic karma!"
"Kaneki-kun-.."
"Shut up!" The one-eyed ghoul roared seemingly done with talking.
"Come back to your senses!"
"What senses!?"
"O-Onii-chan...?"
Tsukiyama felt the boy on top of him tense upon hearing the third voice. This time it was Kaneki's eyes that widened before covering his ghoul eye with his palm quickly. Hinami... The little lady had come to his rescue yet again.
Ah... Yes, who was the maiden and who was the knight?
The gourmet glanced over at the girl standing at the mouth of the alley, he gave her a soft smile. A small show of thanks. Tsukiyama could make out Banjou down the street running toward them. Kaneki was still on top of Tsukiyama, only now he posed no threat.
The older man could feel the younger trembling on his lap. When Tsukiyama saw some tears rolling down Kaneki's pale cheeks his heart skipped a beat. He pulled the trembling boy into a tight embrace.
Stringendo!
"I'm sorry..." Kaneki muttered weakly, he didn't struggle against Tsukiyama's arms for once. In fact... Tsukiyama actually felt like Kaneki was leaning into his chest this time. They sat like that for a minute or two, the whole time Kaneki came repeating,
"I'm so sorry..."