The atmosphere in the café has never been worse.
Everyone saw the letter.
Everyone was shocked.
And most of all, they were all given a grim message that Kaneki will most likely never come back. And that is enough to throw everyone off the rails. Even Nishiki didn't talk much for the past week.
Yes, a week has passed, since they got the letter, since she cried herself to sleep. Touka looked like a monster, baggy eyes from the sleepless nights and an overall depressed mood. His letter affected her the most, knowing she was the most probable cause for this. She DID tell Kaneki to fuck off that day, and the nightmares of that day could not stop.
Lying in bed, her stomach started gurgling.
"Ah, fuck. I need food." Yet she laid there, too tired to move. She has been on that bed for about 5 days already, save for her going to the restroom. She has already skipped many of her shifts and avoided meals despite her hunger. She did not care. All she had on her mind was Kaneki. Kaneki. Damn Kaneki. How could I say that to Kaneki? She sounded like a robot, her mind far detached from the real world.
Eventually though, her hunger got the better of the ghoul. She lazily got up, clutching her stomach. Might as well find things to eat…
Walking to the storeroom, she ransacked the fridge, only to find nothing to eat. Shit. I'll have to go out… She groaned. That was the last thing she wanted to do, leaving the comfort of her room and facing the world. Her hunger would not let go, though. FINE FINE FINE. Just an hour. It's not that late anyways…
Opening her window, she jumped out onto the alley below. She could already smell the meat, the human flesh. Her mind almost went into overdrive, pushing for her to hurry up and find something… someone… Running about, she finally ran into a man in his thirties. Her ghoul eyes appeared and he was immediately on the floor, motionless. She tore him apart, feasting on him. Engrossed in her meal, she did not hear footsteps behind her…
Hoodie on, he walked the streets of Tokyo.
Nice blazer…
That movie looks cool…
Mmmm, coffee…
He was interrupted by a scent. A scent he had barely encountered, yet seemed so familiar… What was it? He could not put his finger on it… It was like…like…like…Touka? He realized. But not just Touka. Blood? Touka bleeding? Was she hurt? His mind went into a frenzy. He broke into a sprint towards the scent. I said to protect them…she's hurt, definitely. Shit shit shit shit SHIT.
Turning the corner, he found the scent to be exponentially stronger. He ran down the alley, and got to a bloody scene…
She felt her back open out. Blood erupted from behind, and she cried out in agony. WHAT IN THE FU… Her thoughts were cut out by another slash. This time, she released her kagune, and shot crystal bullets at her attacker. Turning around, her worst nightmare opened infront of her. SHIT A DOVE. FUCK. WHERE IS MY MASK?! I have no energy… He jumped back, skillfully dodging her attacks.
"Is that all you got, you weakling?" He arrogantly shouted out.
"Hng…" She attempted to turn and run, but she felt another sharp pain up her back. "ARGH." Turning around, she noticed her kagune gone… no, more like cut off. She fell in agony. Shuffling back, she could only look in horror and he strode forward. "Is that all you got? I didn't expect much from a starving ghoul anyways. Time for you to repent your sins. DIE."
Sorry Kaneki… Was all she could think of before blacking out. She swore she heard a confused grunt from the dove though…
He watched in horror as blood flowed openly from Touka. The dove was over her, preparing to bring his quinque down on her exposed body. "NO," he screamed, before he launched forward…
The dove turned back, confused. "Who's there?" No one. "Heh, must be my imagination." He turned back to raise his hands above his head. "Now, DIE," he slashed down, only to find his quinque… missing? He gazed around, confused. What the… He got a knee to the chest. A hard one. He flew back, blood spurting out of his mouth. WHAT THE FUCK…
Kaneki dashed forward, taking advantage of the distracted dove to rip his quinque out of his hand. Breaking it in half, he hid in the shadows.
He took a good look at the dove. Mid-twenties, relatively muscular. Amon is probably stronger... The dove turned back around, swinging down with empty hands. It was quite the sight, and if not for a bloody Touka beside him, it would have been funny.
Taking the chance, he launched forward again, kneeing him in the stomach. He flew back and crumpled onto the floor. Walking towards the dove, Kaneki held him up by his collar. His mask was, of course, already on. His one ghoul eye stared directly into the dove's two. He raised a fist…
He felt himself being lifted. Still dazed from the previous blow, he took some time to look up. What he saw made him regret every life decision he made leading him to this situation.
The Eyepatch?! FuuuuuUUCK, I'm so dead. He felt a fist to his face, the most powerful he received yet. He spit out blood. "Rank SS, Eyepatch… What have I gotten myself into…" Ready to die, he looked in fear at his killer, right into his one exposed eye. He gulped, accepting his fate. Then, he fell to the ground.
"Wha…" "You listen here you piece of shit," he looked up fearfully at the Eyepatch. I'm still not dead?! God saved me! "Never come back here ever again, get it? Or the next time, you will not feel your guts anymore." The dove nodded in fear and amazement. "Now get the fuck out of here. NOW." Running off, he wondered how he was still alive…
Kaneki ran to Touka. "Touka! TOUKA. Are you there? Touka, wake up, please…" Tears welled up in his eyes. Please be alive… Please be alive… He checked for a pulse. It was there, albeit EXTREMELY weak, but still there.
"Oh thank god…" He had to give her food. Quick.
Grabbing a piece of flesh from the dead man beside him, he put it gingerly into her mouth. He had her swallow it. Not enough… Too much blood loss…He had no other choice. He bit down on his wrist. Ignoring the pain, he dripped it into Touka's mouth. His blood, as he discovered some time ago, can help in quickening the healing process for a ghoul. Not so sure why either, but he just accepted it.
He waited until her condition has improved, then he laid her on the floor. He proceeded to clean up the corpse, deciding to give it to Anteiku. Anteiku… He had to go there. He felt the tears already. He carefully carried the corpse and Touka, and ran off to the café…
