One of the things you hear constantly from shitty romcom's is that you get one great love of your life. Of course that movie ends up with them falling in love, fighting, and eventually marrying; having children. Some shit like that. The only part that Ryoko took from the whole excerpt was that you get one great love. Did she believe it? Who knew. But she felt it, right now. Right in this moment, she felt love. Something she had truly only felt once towards Ayato, even that was not the exact feeling she surely knew why her chest suddenly got so tight. Why every time Ryoko had questioned when Kaneki became important to her hadn't actually mattered; because she loved him. Maybe not to the level of letting him know, or outright admitting it but she was sure he knew.

"Of course Kaneki," Ryoko throws her arms around him, totally disregarding the bags that were once weighing in on her elbow. They don't matter right now. "Of course," She mumbles into his shoulder again. She's in complete shock, she knew their relationship wasn't exactly just friendly anymore, however, she wasn't expecting him to ask any time soon. Her heart was beating almost as fast as when he stole a kiss, if that's even what it should be called, in the hallway last night. Only he had made her feel this way.

She feels the release of air from Kaneki's body, his current stone exterior finally morphing into normal squishy Kaneki once more. His arms seemed to latch onto her as if she were going to disappear if he didn't hold on tight enough. "Thank goodness, I thought you weren't going to say anything at all. I panicked," He pulls Ryoko back, placing a kiss on her lips.

She wonders if it is as good for him as it is for her each time.

After Kaneki and Ryoko spend some very thorough time consummating their new relationship with their mouths instead of their bodies, she finally returns home to her best friend. Ayato is lounging on the couch, still wearing his sweatpant and no shirt combination. She sets her bag of books down in the chair that nobody ever sits in, proceeding to fall into the lap of her purple haired companion. A smile creeps onto his face, Ayato and herself had always found themselves in this position. When they didn't have the apartment, really when they didn't have anything, this is how the two slept.

She didn't so much miss the not having a place to live part, as she missed spending so much time with Ayato. They were always together, and she was really happy that way. Of course now even if Ayato was always home they wouldn't spend near as much time together as before, she could always drag him along to hang out with Kaneki and his friends, but knew he wouldn't like that very much.

"Long day?" Ayato looks down at Ryoko interrupting her reflection on a few years ago, "Or well, long day and night." He snickers, running his fingers through her hair, gently pulling out some tangles.

She sighs with disgust, "Nothing happened."

"I don't know Ryo, I've never known you to be one to stay at other men's households," Ayato slowly begins building himself into a fit of laughter, clearly amused by the entire situation. "I'm kidding, don't give me that look. Did he finally ask you?"

Ryoko stares blankly for a moment before connecting eyes with her best friend once more, she narrows her own, "How did you know?"

Ayato is taking all of this surprisingly well, she guesses he really was okay with Kaneki now.

"You had that dumb look on your face that you get whenever you're really happy about something so I just assumed it must be that or you guys fucked," Ayato's laughter finally died down enough to answer Ryoko. She feels her face morph into a pout, he obviously instantly regrets the way he worded it. "It's cute. You're cute. I'm sorry," He beams.

"You don't have to be so vulgar! Sheesh, whatever you say," She reaches up to touch the pink sliver that goes across Ayato's torso. It had healed up quite nicely thanks to her…boyfriend. Ryoko shivers in delight at the word. "Your wound healed well. Wouldn't have thought that a week ago when you were dying on the floor of our apartment."

Ayato knits his eyebrows together at her, "You are just as vulgar as I am. Damn Ryoko, you act like I wanted to die or something."

"I'm not convinced you don't," She can feel the deep abyss begin to swallow her heart whole, her throat feels like she's just swallowed a large rock. Every time she thought of Ayato on the floor of their apartment covered in blood these emotions rise very quickly.

He catches my hand in his own, she gapes up at him; his eyes seem so lonesome. Ayato always smiled, he never showed any hint of sadness, but this time she could see the world of darkness that lived behind them. "I don't purposefully put myself in danger, Ryoko, I would never want to leave you. You're my family. You having to see me like that, makes me feel gutted. I'm supposed to protect you. Not die in your arms." Ryoko sees his bottom lip quiver, "I never wanted that to happen. Never." His voice is trembles.

"Ayato," She leans up so that she can hug him, she holds him close to her. He's never broken down before, it breaks her heart. "Nobody said you had to be my guardian or protector whatever you want to call it, but you have done a damn good job at it anyways. I appreciate it, but it's okay to falter. I don't blame you, I'm just so relieved that you're okay. I love you so much, please don't beat yourself up so much. You try so hard to be perfect and you just-" Ryoko finds herself smiling through wet eyes. "You already are. You don't need to try so hard, idiot."

Ayato closes his eyes, and proceeds to lean his head back against the couch. His whole posture changes showing the relief he felt, once tensed muscles visibly loose, "I love you too, Ryo. I'm sorry I'm just not used to being the one that has to be taken care of." His amethyst eyes darting down to look at her, mischief clearly arising in them. "You think I'm perfect?" A sly smirk forms.

She punches him in the shoulder and he lets out a loud groan, "Yes I do."

Ryoko squeezes him harder, he yelps out of pain, whoops. "Ryo! I'm still sore."

"Love hurts," She slowly smiles earning a laugh from him.

"But sometimes it's a good hurt," He quotes back to her a lyric from one of their favorite songs.

Ryoko shakes her head, Ayato and her truly were one and the same. It astonished Ryoko sometimes, but the only thought she had was that she was wrapped around his finger, and he was wrapped around hers.

Ayato and Ryoko end up falling asleep on the couch that night. Just like old times. It was more peaceful than usual, that should have been her first indication that something was going to go horribly fucking wrong.

When Ayato and she were out the next day, he told her to go shopping for whatever she wanted leaving her with a wad of cash he had just pulled out of his pocket. Ryoko had no idea what he was doing, but he had blatantly insisted that they go to the shopping centre for some reason. She agreed because she wanted to look for a new sweater considering she had left the one Ayato gave her at Kaneki's, and was running very low on them anyways. Winter was coming, and there was no way she was going to be that dumbass who was wearing a t-shirt. She was flipping through the rack of them finding only extremely ugly, colorful ones. Why weren't plain sweaters a trend?

Her phone finally buzzed after her failed attempt at finding another sweater to wear. Thank goodness it was Ayato telling her to come outside. Ryoko had no idea what he was planning, but he was being so secretive today she knew it had to be something. Ryoko walks out of the store, with absolutely nothing to show for her trip inside, and finds him standing there with something furry in his arms.

"You didn't!" Ryoko lets out a large gasp, remembering an argument she had with Ayato such a long time ago, something about 'nasty felines' being in their apartment.

"I broke, I decided you need a cat. It gets lonely at the apartment," He side eyes her momentarily, a sheepish grin on his face. "Even though you probably won't be lonely with Kaneki over all the time."

"Don't ruin it," Ryoko smiles brightly at him, and he lets out a nervous laugh. Ryoko guessed it was because her "scary" face appeared. Something he had named off that she gets whenever she's angry, but trying to pretend to be fine. Ayato has said multiple times that it scares him more than when she's actually mad. He hands the jet black kitten over to Ryoko, it meows softly at her and her heart melts. She had wanted a cat for so long, but it had never been convenient. And Ayato absolutely despised the thought of having fur all over the couch at the apartment, but it seems something had changed his mind. She guessed being at the apartment alone yesterday really made him realize how fucking boring it was.

She gives Ayato a hug, both of them beginning their walk back to the apartment. Ayato also had all the cat's materials in a big bag that was hanging on his arm. Ryoko thought the label read something like Pet Paradise.

"What should we name him?" She grins down at the kitten in her cuddled into her arm, she had already made the decision that she would not let go of him ever again.

Ayato looks over at her, scratching the top of the cat's head with his finger, was this really her best friend? All she could think of was the hundreds of times he had told Ryoko he hated cats. There was: no Ryoko we are not getting a fur shedding fanged monster, and: you don't need another carnivorous companion you already have me! Ryoko snickers at Ayato's unique way with words.

"I was thinking Ichiro."

"First son, huh?" She begins laughing, Ayato sticks his tongue out at her. This truly is their first son, though. "I like it, I think it's perfect. Hopefully-"

"Ryoko!" She can hear his voice, and turns to see Hide, as she waves at him he jogs in Ayato and Ryoko's direction. As Hide moves over there, she also sees who he had originally been standing with at the shop a little ways down the road. Touka. Fuck, she momentarily thinks that pushing Ayato into the alleyway is a good idea, but there's no doubt in her mind that he would kill Ryoko 15 times over. Hide is approaching them faster each moment, there's no way that she can get out of this. Touka stays over by the store for a moment but she could be over there any second. "Ryoko what's up?"

Hide gives Ryoko a hug, and she nervously pat him on the back after handing the kitten over to Ayato who looks extremely pale.

"What are you doing out? Who's this!" Hide asks happily, looking between her purple haired friend and herself.

"We went shopping, he surprised me with a cat. This is my roommate um-"

Touka's yell rips through the comfortable aura they had with just Hide around, Ryoko hears her stomping over in their direction. "Ayato!" Once she reaches everyone, her face is twisted into that of absolute rage. "Ryoko, what the hell are you doing with this guy?"

Ryoko facepalms immediately, she guesses now is better than never, "Hide, Touka, this is Ayato, my roommate, and my best friend."

"I can't believe this." Touka looks like steam's about to come out of her ears. Her words spill out like poison, "This is the girl you ran off with all those years ago? You left me when we needed each other most for her!"

Ayato scoffs in disgust, "As if dumbass, I left you because you were weak just like dad. I don't need someone as pitiful as you in my life, Touka." Ayato practically snarls, Ryoko has never in her life seen him this angry.

"Touka's brother? Is your best friend? Ha! No wonder he looked so familiar. Wow, this is uh," Hide breaks the argument with his cheery but obviously concerned voice, scratches the back of head, and looks away with a very troubled look on his face.

Touka looks as though she's made a realization, and an evil smirk on her face appears. She suddenly sprints away, Ryoko assumes, to Kaneki to inform of Ayato. It took her a few moments of getting over her anger to realize she finally had something against Ryoko, she guessed Hide blinks a few times as if he's trying to process what the hell just happened.

"Well that was weird. Nice to meet you Ayato," Hide shakes his hand and smiles at Ayato, Ayato returns it his previous exterior now completely changed. "I'll see you later Ryoko,"

Hide runs off, she also assumes, to catch up with Touka and figure out what the hell that was about. She knows Kaneki already knows about Ayato, so she doesn't know how that situation with Touka is actually going to go. Ayato and Ryoko start walking again. She stares mindlessly at the concrete as they go down the sidewalk.

"Man Ayato," Ryoko exhales loudly, "Your sister is a fucking bitch just like you said."

Ayato blatantly bellows, "I tried to tell you. Where'd she run off to?"

"I think she's going to inform Kaneki of my absolute act of treason," Ryoko giggles, and Ayato nods his head in acknowledgment.

"If only I could get him to take a picture of the look on her face when she learns that Kaneki already knows." Ayato furrows his brows in bewilderment, "Does she have a thing for Kaneki or something why does she think he cares that I'm your best friend?"

Ryoko frowns, thinking of the day a couple weeks ago when they were at the zoo. "Yeah she does, I guess she feels like Kaneki should be on her side since they've known each other longer." Now the fact that Touka felt that way just irritated her, Kaneki was hers.

Ayato grumbles under his breath something that sounds like, "Dumbass."

"You guys really dislike each other, huh?"

He shrugs his shoulders, staring at the black furball in his arms, "It's complicated."

Ryoko leaves it there, knowing Ayato really isn't particularly fond of talking about Touka. It had always been a sensitive subject and the one day that she had broken down, it turned into an absolute war between Ayato and Ryoko. We had gone for everything that either one of them had ever done wrong before, but eventually the two ended up laughing at each other, hugging it out. She hadn't brought it up since, she knew it had to be complicated. Ryoko didn't exactly know what it was like to have a sibling, but she imagined it was close to what Ayato and herself had. Despite that one incident the other day at the park. Why did everything that had importance in her life happen at the park anyways?

When they got home, Ayato set up all of the kittens things in the laundry room. There was extra space in there, so it was a pretty decent setup for Ichiro. She decided to take a shower since she hadn't from the other day she was at Kaneki's. After she got out she found Ayato cross-legged on the floor next to the cat's litterbox.

"Ichiro come on, for every time you don't make me clean up your disgusting shit I will personally buy you a new toy. You have to make sure to let Ryo know our deal though." Ayato is gently stroking the cat's fur, it mews at him loudly. A soft, very cute smile stretches across his face. "When the hell did I get so soft, huh? Is it your fault?" His purple hair bounces as he shakes his head, he narrows his eyes, "Nah, it's definitely Ryoko's fault."

"And it's your fault I cuss so much," Ryoko ruffles Ayato's hair; he glares up at her immediately meeting her cheesy grin. "So we're even."

She can hear her phone go off in the living room, Ryoko races to see who it is. Although she does know who she was hoping it is. She was almost giddy with excitement as she sees his name lit up across her screen.

"Hello Kaneki," Ryoko says with the utmost amount of allure possible.

She can barely hear his agitated groan, but she's sure that it happened. "Hey Ry, I just got off work. Had a very strange encounter with Touka, she informed me that you were friends with her brother Ayato? I'm absolutely taken back by this information, I can't believe you would keep something of such dire importance from me? I am so-"

"Jesus Kaneki," Ryoko's practically crying from laughter with all the sarcasm that's dripping from his complete sardonic tone, "Was it that bad?"

"She let me have an earful, and when I didn't get upset that you had befriended her abhorrent brother, she punched me!" Kaneki sounds extremely offended, "Yoshimura let her go home for the night, Nishio kept laughing at me, and Irimi and Koma were trying to stifle their laughter but I knew they were amused by it too!" He let out a deep audible breath expressing how annoyed he was. "Anyways, mind if I bring Hinami over, she hasn't really gotten out much, um, since you know..and she's been dying to meet you ever since Nishio confirmed that you know, you were indeed a real person."

Ah, Ryoko had almost forgotten with everything that had been going on with Ayato, but Hinami's mother and father were killed a week ago. Before Ayato had been hurt, but she remembered him saying something about how she was a sweet kid but just really didn't take the loss of her parents well. Not that any child is expected to, she just never knew her parents so she didn't really have that sort of connection with anybody. Ryoko also heard about their run in with the CCG, Kaneki really was testing the limits, she yelled at him for getting himself in so much danger. Ryoko couldn't bare it if Kaneki and Ayato were both in critical condition at the time. She personally hadn't ever ran into an investigator, but Ayato had multiple times. If she ever did who even knows if she could fend them off?

"Let me ask Ayato, we have someone for you to meet too!" She exclaims excitedly.

"Oh no there isn't some long lost kid you two had that showed up right?"

Ryoko can feel her heart rate rise every moment, "No Kaneki, Ayato and I do not have a long lost child that is ridiculous." She travels back to the laundry room where Ayato is playing with the cat, "Ayato Kaneki and Hinami are coming over."

Ayato looks up, a kind of stunned expression on his face; like as if she took him out of his happy place for a moment, "Yeah, sure."

"I thought you said you were going to ask, Ryoko," Kaneki chuckles.

"He's preoccupied anyways, he won't mind. Just come in when you get here the door's unlocked,"

"Alright see you in a bit," Kaneki says as both of them hang up.

Ryoko slumps into the couch as Ayato follows shortly behind with Ichiro in tow. Ryoko reaches over, and Ayato hands her the kitten. She lays him on her chest petting his soft fur as both of them sit there staring at the new addition to their family.

"I think I'm going to get in the shower, you and Kaneki don't have too much fun without me," Ayato winks at Ryoko as he pushes himself up off of the couch walking towards his room.

She grumbles to no one in particular, "Fucking Ayato."

Before she knows it the front door is open, with Kaneki and a smaller brown haired girl following behind him. Ryoko set Ichiro on the couch for a moment, pointing a finger at him as if to tell him not to move. As soon as Kaneki closes the door behind him she throws her arms around his neck, pulling him into her. He chuckles as he returns the hug snaking his arms around her waist. She let go of him and bends her knees to make eye contact with Hinami.

"Hi Hinami, I'm Ryoko, it's very nice to meet you." Ryoko graciously beams at her. She closes her eyes, signaling that she's accepted Ryoko's greeting.

"Nice to meet you too! You really are as pretty as Nishio said.." She gapes at Ryoko momentarily, before both of the girls erupt into a chorus of laughter. Ryoko looks up to Kaneki who looks more than pleased that Hinami is laughing for once.

She resume her original poster, being a tad shorter than Kaneki, "Now I have something to show you guys."

Ryoko struts over to the couch picking up the furball, who hasn't moved just like she had directed him not to do, what a good cat! Ryoko picks him up gently cradling him in her arms. She turns back around meeting Kaneki and Hinami halfway.

"This is Ichiro, he is Ayato and my 'child' as Kaneki said over the phone," Ryoko glares at Kaneki, who nervously scratches the back of his head with an apologetic smile on his face.

"He's so cute!" Hinami gasps, Ryoko hands her the cat and she cradles it just as she had. She's cooing at him, and his response is to pur. Ryoko assumes he is enjoying himself. All of them take a seat, thankfully Hinami gets some use out of the chair Ayato and Ryoko never seem to use. Ryoko removed her new books from it this morning adding them to her shelf. Except for the one Kaneki wrote in, that one was right by her bed.

Kaneki peeks around into the hallway, returning his gaze back to Ryoko, "Where's Ayato?"

"In the shower, he's been in there for awhile though I don't-"

"Ryoko, where are my jacket and pants? I have an Aogiri thing to do and I can't-" Ayato walks into the living room towel drying his hair, wearing only his boxers. "Oh shit I forgot people were coming over."

"Hinami!" Kaneki leaps over to cover her eyes.

"What the-" Hinami is clearly surprised.

Ryoko shakes her head, shoving Ayato back into his room. Ryoko walks to his closet and pulls out the clothes she knows he's talking about, "Do you even look before asking me?" She pinches the bridge of her nose, "I did laundry this morning."

He grins at his green haired best friend apologetically, "Sorry I didn't mean to scar the kid for life. Or Kaneki, for that matter. We gotta stop seeing each other like this,"

"It's fine, when are you going to be back? Who's going with you? What are you-"

Ayato covers her mouth with his hand to shush her, he narrows his eyes at Ryoko, "I'm going to be back in about an hour. I am going alone, and the only thing I'm supposed to do is watch out for investigators that have gotten close to the hideout. Not even engaging anyone, I'll be fine Ryoko."

"One hour Ayato," Ryoko scowls completely against this whole operation, "Then I'm coming to get you."

"You really want to deal with Eto?" Ayato asks as he slides on his black jeans, strapping on his boots shortly after.

Ryoko chews on her bottom lip momentarily, "She told me her offer still stands."

"You continue to think on that offer then," Ayato pulls his jacket over his shirt, and then walks to her placing a kiss on her forehead. "I'll be back soon."

He leaves, she hears him say his goodbye's to Kaneki and Hinami. Ryoko returns back to Kaneki's side on the couch, he wraps his arm around her rubbing my shoulder. He knows she's not comfortable with Ayato going back to working for Aogiri with Yamori still there, she was sure Eto wouldn't try to pull another stunt like that but Yamori sure doesn't give a shit. Kaneki also places a kiss on the top of her head, she can hear Hinami playing with Ichiro next to them.

Kaneki and Ryoko talk about rather uneventful things, but it's just nice to have him around. Hinami engages in a very argumentative conversation about Takatsuki Sen, both of them ganging up on Ryoko for refusing to read any of her books. It was Kaneki's favorite author, but she felt like if she gave into reading her books she'd lose some game neither of them knew the other was playing. Before Ryoko knew it, two hours had passed by and Ayato still wasn't home.

"Shit, it's been two hours, I have to go look for him," Ryoko jumps up off of the couch, Kaneki following after her to her room.

"I'll come with you." Kaneki says, "I have my mask with me."

"Hinami?" Ryoko questions as she throws on a jacket like Ayato's, he got it for her because he said that if she ever did end up joining Aogiri he would want them to match. Ryoko reaches for her mask that she has put in the drawer of her nightstand. She looks down at my black jeans, and boots. Ryoko really did match with Ayato.

"She can take care of herself, we shouldn't be gone long."

Ryoko nods in agreement, Kaneki and her heading back to the living room.

"Hinami, Ryoko and I are going to pick up Ayato okay, lock the door and don't do anything bad!" Kaneki tries to act like he has authority, but Hinami seems to giggle at him.

"You can read any book you want on my shelf, tv is good to, take care of my dear Ichiro."

"Okay, be careful please." Hinami looks sad, it must be so hard for her to let people go nowadays.

Kaneki and her go out of the building the back way down the stairwell, it's easier to get out of without being seen. The masks were pretty much a dead giveaway that they were ghouls, and walking out on the sidewalk like normal really wasn't a viable option for them. As soon as they got out of the building both of them put on their masks, and threw their hoods over their heads. They started down the back alleyways, she knew where the hideout was but it would take them longer to get there considering they had to sort their way through the maze behind houses and apartment complexes.

After walking for a bit, Kaneki questions her sense of direction.

"Do you know where you're going?" Kaneki asks, his voice muffled through his mask.

She nods her head, "Of course I do."

"It just seems like we've been walking for awhile and-"

"Well, well, well, what do we have here Koori?" A girl with the CCG trenchcoat and briefcase combination stands across from the pair, along with another male in an identical trenchcoat.

The male called Koori, although short and having a very androgynous feel to him, was somehow extremely menacing in his appearance. His hair was cut into a sleek, chin length bob, and the suit underneath his signifying investigator trench coat was dark; a hint of a black shirt could be seen peeking underneath the uniform. His face gave off a no bullshit kind of feel. The girl, much like her partner, had an angled bob haircut with straight light pink hair. Her features delicate, and her eyes were seemed to be laced with a hint of sleepiness. Ryoko hadn't imagined investigators got a lot of sleep, but she knew not all of them looked this way. The girl appeared to be against the normal skirt attire Ryoko has seen so many women CCG Investigators wear, trading them in for slacks and a vest underneath her own trench coat. Her posture suggested she was more playful.

All together, the both of left Ryoko feeling shaky. She didn't know if it was because she'd never ran into Investigators before or if it was because they gave off an extremely sinister vibe despite their appearances being the complete opposite. Ryoko glances over at Kaneki, him having the same look on his face that she felt. Fearful.

The man she called Koori has a sly smirk on his face, his voice oozing with smugness. "It seems we've finally ran into some excitement, Hairu."