I'm sorry it got delayed for too long. I've been pretty busy IRL so I kind of forget about this and work on something else. Really-really sorry. Thank you for Delta Marauder for reminding me. And another thanks for guest for pointing that out. I rushed this one pretty much so I didn't really check the grammar again, but at least now I know where I should start. And another thanks again for everyone who read this story and leave some review/favs/follow.

This one got pretty long and I don't even know what it is about anymore. And no beta. Be prepared for or a lot of grammar miss. Please do tell me if there's any mistake! (But I'm hopeless at grammar...) PS: Halo juga for NollyLvn~ lol

Disclaimer: I don't own Tokyo Ghoul or any of the characters in any way.

ー Summer ー

Festival

Summary: Kaneki is still depressed post the Raid of Kanou's Lab and Hinami want to do something about it. They meet a unusual person there.

Featured Character: Kaneki Ken, Fueguchi Hinami, Amon Koutarou, Tsukiyama Shuu

That morning, Tokyo was adorned with a strange scene. A girl around middle school age was seen walking in front of one large macho man with strange beard and another 3 men with jacket and hood. The strange girl is usually seen during morning or late evening with those 4 strange men or an unusual young man with white hair. On some rare moment, one could see her walking around in the city with a handsome man with bright colored hair. If there anything similar about the men accompanying her, it would be the aura that scream "mess with her, and you die". That's when the rumors started. One theory said the mysterious girl is a rich lady or even a princess. Another theory said the mysterious girl is a sole daughter of some local Yakuza clan. In the end, no one has the guts to ask her or her "bodyguards". Stalk her is out of the question because that will be a death wish.

Fueguchi Hinami, the famous mysterious girl is walking hastily with a determined face towards your friendly neighbor cafe, Anteiku. Usually she would walk slowly while talking with her "bodyguards" with a dreamy face. The people of Tokyo who fortunate or unfortunate enough to saw that scene could only hope that no blood will be shed. With a clack and ring from the front door, the girl step into the cafe.

"Welcome. We're sorry, we still in pre… Hinami-chan?" A dark blue haired waitress greet her. "Kaneki is still not here if you're asking him."

"Yes, I know. Big brother is still not feeling well. He's resting in his room today."

"What? He's still not recovered yet?" The waitress, Kirishima Touka ask her. Kaneki Ken, the white haired 'Big Brother' of the mysterious girl has been absent from the cafe for a while now.

"Well, it should be a shock for him. Hell, even I was scared to death in that instant." Said the large (strange) bearded man, Banjou Kazuichi.

"Even though it is expected from Banjou-san, I do have to admit that it was sure scary." One of the hooded men, Jirou make fun of the larger man while agreeing with the said man. Banjou frowning in response.

"Um… That is the reason I'm here, actually. Big sister, can you come to our house after work to cheer him up? Flower man give him some books and I went to a signing of our favorite author with him but it seems like he's still depressed over the incident." Hinami bow her head low to hide her overly concerned face.

"I don't know if I could cheer him up. I don't like books like you guys do and I have to admit that I already lost the power to (literally) kick some sense into that thick skull of his. On top of that, I don't have enough verbal skill to talk him out of that damned episode of his." Touka slump to the counter. Thinking about her lack of skill on words reminds her of the upcoming entrance test for university. Aside from Hinami's concern, she really has to do something about that white haired bastard or she'll lost her prefered tutor since studying with that shit Nishiki never been anywhere near peaceful and she'll never manage to enroll to such high leveled university like Kamii with her own academic skill.

Sighing, Touka place her hand on top of Hinami's head and continue "I'll see what I can do. But I can't come today, I have a promise with Yoriko tonight."

"To the festival?" Hinami lift her head and face Touka.

"Yeah. Hey, why won't you take him there too? I heard from Yoriko that it is a fun place. Maybe he'll cheer up with the festival atmosphere."

"But I don't have a yukata…"

"Try asking that shittyama. He will gladly buy you one if it's for Kaneki."

"Flower man? I wonder… Thank you big sister! I'll try asking big brother anyway with or without yukata." Hinami stand up and bow down to her beloved big sister before proceeding to leave the shop.

"Tell me if he's still depressed. I'll come over tomorrow." Touka call her out.

"Okay."

Hinami and the others left the cafe and heading towards their house. They take a train from 20th ward (which makes a lot people wonder why the little yakuza princess won't take a car) and got off in 7th ward before proceeding to walk their way toward the 6th ward. On their way from 7th ward, they see a man with bright purple hair in front of a flower shop.

"Ah, flower man!" Hinami call out to the man.

The said man, Tsukiyama Shuu turned his head at her and smiled. "Bonjour, little lady. I didn't expect to see you outside with Kaneki-kun still locking himself inside his room. I guess Banjoy did accompany you." He smiled slyly towards the man who exclaimed "I'm not Banjoy!" and continue. "May I know what a fair lady like you doing here?"

"I just got back from Anteiku. Big brother is still depressed, so I'm consulting with big sister Touka about it."

Tsukiyama make a slight annoyed smile at the mention of 'Touka', but he still smiled anyway. If he fell out of favor from this little lady, he'll fell out of favor from Kaneki. "And then?"

"She suggested that we take him to the festival. But I wonder if it will go well without yukata." Hinami make a slight sad smile.

"Then, how about we go to buy them now? I'm sure Kaneki-kun will be pleased. I'll pay for it, of course." Tsukiyama wink his eye and stand up on his full height.

"Is it really okay? I mean, you already pay a lot for us and we can't make you pay more for unneeded things."

"It's not an unneeded thing. Kaneki-kun like to see you happy and I like to see Kaneki-kun happy. I'll even buy you a furisode if it could make you happy."

If one ask Kaneki about this, he'll surely say that Tsukiyama only doing his usual sweet talk. But as of lately, one could wonder if it's truly a lie or not.

"Furisode?" Hinami tilt her head at the new word.

"It's a formal kimono. But I guess you won't need it until you're 20."

Hinami take a note to ask Kaneki for the kanji and write them down later.

"Thank you." Hinami bow down to the man. Banjou cleary make an annoyed face at this. Just like their leader, he still don't trust this man.

"Je t'en prie, you're welcome. Shall we go?" Tsukiyama smiled once again before turning away to lead the way.

It took them a while to search for a shop and browse the collection. In the end, they got a pale yellow yukata with clover pattern that got a darker color towards the bottom for Hinami, a striped dark blue yukata for Banjou, and a plain dark grey yukata for Kaneki (they don't want to know how the hell Tsukiyama know Kaneki's size). The other three said that they didn't need any while Tsukiyama himself didn't pick anything either.

Half hour later, they arrived in the sharehouse and currently sitting in the couch. Hinami slapping both of her cheek and running to Kaneki's room. After a few knock, a quite "come in" come from inside. Hinami slowly turn the door knob and entering the room. She immediately focused her sight on the white haired young man who is laying down in his side while reading a book. Shifting her eyes a bit, Hinami can see a stack of book near the bed.

"Bi- big brother." Hinami called out to him.

The young man, Kaneki turning his head just enough to see the one who entered his room. After realizing it's Hinami, he put a bookmark on his book and place it on top of the stacked books. He then sit up, still not leaving his bed, and motioned Hinami to come over. Hinami hastily run up to the side of the bed and fidgeting a bit. Confused by her strange action, he asked with a smile.

"What's wrong, Hinami-chan?"

"U-um, big brother. Do you want to come to the festival with everyone tonight?"

"Sure. Do you have any yukata? Or should we buy a new one now?" Kaneki asked her, smile still intact.

"I already have one. To be honest we just bought one. I'm sorry we didn't invite you. Flower man said that we should keep the surprise. But we bought one for you too." Hinami explained. Kaneki seems to be surprised for a moment before chuckling.

"Eh? Are you mad? I'm really really sorry." Hinami hastily apologized.

"No, not that." Kaneki, still chuckling, pat her head to assure her. "It's just, you don't have too. Guys did not usually wears yukata, you see. I guess I never explained this one."

"A-ahh…" Hinami blushed and bow her head to hide her embarrassment. She didn't knew. "I'm sorry. I didn't knew. You don't have to wear it."

"No, I'll wear it. You guys pick it up for me afterall. Guys not usually wear yukata, but it doesn't mean that no guys wear yukata." Kaneki continue to pat her head. Hinami lift her head and in that moment, her eyes meet with his. Kaneki flash a sincere smile and muttering a warm "Thank you."

Hinami lost her word at a simple word of gratitude. Her mouth can't form any respond. So she put on her best smile for her beloved big brother. Kaneki smiled back in return and lift his hand from Hinami's head.

"It's already this late. We should get preparing soon." Kaneki got off from the bed and stretch his body. Hinami lift her head and take a look at a nearby clock. Sure it's already 5 PM. Kaneki walks toward the door and Hinami follows him. After a few steps Hinami stops.

"Big brother..."

Kaneki stops as well and slowly turns around to face her.

"I don't know how to wear a yukata..."

Kaneki walks toward Hinami slowly. He then bent down a little and place his hand on her head again.

"Then how about visiting the shop where you bought the yukata. I'm sure the staff will gladly help you."

"Eh? But..."

At first Kaneki confused at her hesitation, but then he remember that Hinami is actually a pretty shy girl. She's always so cheerful that he forgets.

"Um... I read how to wear women's yukata in a book before. If you cover yourself properly I think I can manage. That is if you want me to." Kaneki nervously asked. That is the only solution he can think at the moment since Hinami doesn't want a stranger to dress her up.

"Yes, please." said Hinami with a smile and a single nod.

It took him a while to get Hinami dressed up. Hinami cover herself with the yukata as she was told and Kaneki do the rest. He make sure just to touch Hinami only if necessary. Teaching Banjou to wear his yukata is another challenge. Men's yukata sure is easier to wear than women's yukata, but it's still awkward to see Banjou only in his underwear. The unexpected thing is how hard for him to dress himself. It's not like he doesn't know how to. It's keeping Tsukiyama out from his room that he finds the trouble to do. The ghoul only want to eat him at first, but lately he's been nothing but a normal (and nasty, Kaneki added) pervert.

It's already a half past six when they finished preparing. In the end, only Kaneki, Hinami, and Banjou who wears yukata. Ichimi, Jirou, and Sante wears their casual clothes while Tsukiyama wears his usual formal suit.

"It's already a bit late. We should get going now." Kaneki extends his hand to Hinami who take it almost too immediately.

The trip to the shrine didn't take long since Tsukiyama insisted that they took his car. Kaneki was about to decline, but since it's already late, he decide to take the offer.

As soon as they arrived in front of the shrine stairs, Hinami leap out from the car and begin to look around (just like the others who looked at her and the car. Some confirmed that she is indeed a yakuza princess within their heart). Kaneki descent slowly from the car and call out to Hinami.

"Hinami-chan! Don't go too far from the others."

"Okaaay"

She returned to the group a bit after they all got off from the car and walk alongside with her big brother towards the shrine. After a short climb on the shrine's long stairs, they arrived on the festival site.

"Hey, big brother! What is that?" Hinami pointing to one of stall that have pink stuff attached to a stick.

"That would be cotton candy. It's fluffy and supposed to be sweet." Explain Kaneki.

"May I have one?"

"Sure." Kaneki walk to the stall, buy one of the cotton candy, and offer it to Hinami.

"Here. But you may only look at it and don't try to eat…" Before Kaneki even finished his sentence, Hinami bit the cotton candy which still in Kaneki's hand.

"It taste strange…" Said Hinami while covering her mouth.

"Ahaha what an unruly little lady." Tsukiyama bent down and wipe Hinami's mouth. While everyone's attention drawn towards Hinami's sudden action, Kaneki pick a little bit of the cotton candy and have a taste of it himself. It taste like what he could define as… a genuine cotton. Not as disgusting as the other foods, but not edible either.

"Here. And don't try to eat it again." Kaneki hands the cotton candy to Hinami again.

"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have asked for food." Hinami bow down and apologized.

"It's okay, we have to buy some food to blend with the crowd anyway. Just don't eat it carelessly, okay?"

"Okay."

They strolling around for a while until Hinami sniffed out the air and begin running towards the crowd.

"Big Sister Touka!" Hinami hug the unsuspecting ghoul with one hand as the other hand still holding her cotton candy.

"Hinami!" Touka called back.

"Touka-chan, who is this?" Call out a soft voice from beside Touka.

"Ah, Yoriko. This is Hinami. She's… a daughter of a close acquaintance of mine. Hinami, this is Yoriko, my classmate." Touka introduce the two.

"Nice to meet you." Hinami bow her body to Yoriko.

"My, what a polite girl. Nice to meet you too."

"Hey, Hinami. Where's Kaneki? You came with him right?" Asked Touka.

"Ah, yeah. Big brother is…" Hinami tried to explain before a loud voice cut her.

"Hinami-chan!" Kaneki appeared from the crowd and walked hastily toward the girl.

"Don't run off by yourself!" Kaneki lightly scold her.

"I'm sorry. I got excited when I saw big sister Touka." Hinami apologized.

"As long as you understand." Kaneki smiled at her before facing the other two girls and greet them.

"Good evening, Touka-chan, Yoriko-chan."

"hmmph." Touka rudely answer.

"Go-good evening. Uh… ummm….?" Yoriko hesitantly greeted back.

"My name is Kaneki Ken, Touka-chan's co-worker. Nice to meet you, Yoriko-chan. Ah, I'm sorry for suddenly calling you with your first name. To be honest, I never heard your surname from Touka-chan."

"Ni-nice to meet you too. I don't mind, please call me Yoriko. But for your information, my surname is Kosaka. Kosaka Yoriko."

"Ah, it's nice to finally meet you in person, Yoriko-chan." Kaneki take a better look at Yoriko starting from her bob-styled blonde hair, her round face, her lime green yukata, the takoyaki in her hand and some other foods in a plastic bag. Kaneki then move on to Touka's hand which holding a half eaten takoyaki and moved up to her violet yukata and then to her slightly pleading face. Kaneki sighing for a bit and put on a smile. Well, Touka needs help.

"Thank you for taking care of Touka-chan." Kaneki bow to Yoriko which startled the girl.

"Me too. Thank you for taking care of Touka-chan." Yoriko bowed back. Meanwhile Touka feel pretty annoyed for being treated like a kid even though she understand that Kaneki is trying to help her from this food hell.

"And Touka-chan. I know this is festival, but don't eat too many, okay? You just got sick a couple days ago, and you can't work if you puke too much tomorrow. If you feel sick, there's a medicine in the cabinet."

Touka looks at Yoriko and feel guilty for being relieved at Yoriko's guilty face. But with this she can push her food consumption to a bare minimum naturally. But still, that guy treated her like a kid too much. Time for a little revenge.

"Okay moooom." Touka feel triumphant at Kaneki's annoyed face even though it only lasted for a split second.

"Okay then, let's go Hinami-chan."

"Eeehh? Why can't we enjoyed the festival with big sister Touka and big sister Yoriko?" Hinami whined. Kaneki smiled a bit and put his hand on Hinami's head.

"Hinami, we shouldn't barge into other people's date just like that. It's impolite." Kaneki softly explained.

"Eh?" "Wha!?" Yoriko and Touka surprised by Kaneki's explanation.

"I understand. We should let them enjoy the festival just the two of them." Said Hinami with a pair of sparking eyes.

"That's the good girl. Let's go, everyone is waiting." Kaneki pulled Hinami's hand and walks towards the crowd.

"Later then, big sister Touka. Please enjoy your date." Said Hinami with a loud voice which make a lot of bystander turned their attention towards the pair of girl.

"Wha- wait!" Touka tried to stop them, but they already disappeared into the crowd.

"What an interesting pair of acquaintance." Said the blonde girl, for the lack of better words.

"That shithead… I'll kill him later."

"But, Touka-chan. You should tell me that you feel unwell. We can go to the festival any other day when you already feel better."

"It's okay. I promised you anyway." Besides if I come "healthy" I'll be surely went back home sick. Thought Touka

"But it's a shame that you can't eat too much. Umm Touka-chan. I know this is a bit selfish, but can you stay a bit longer? I'll promise that I will make up for the food later."

"Sure. You don't have to make up for anything." Or rather, please don't. Touka plead in the deep of her mind.

"Thank you, Touka-chan." Said Yoriko with a smile. They walk around the festival while chatting some random things.

"By the way, Touka-chan. Isn't Kaneki-san the guy who was in you room before? You said his name was Kaneki."

Touka stared at her. She didn't expect Yoriko to remember about that little incident. To be honest, she's the one who forgot about that.

"Yeah, he was."

"I don't mean to be rude, but wasn't he had a tidy black hair before? Why did he dye it to white? Not that he looks bad on it though… It's just really unusual."

Touka thinking for a moment for a response. She remember that Kaneki often asked with the same question. Mostly by his 'acquaintance' that happen to visit Anteiku.

What was his excuse again? "Actually it was an accident. The doctor said it was a head trauma and mental stress that caused his hair to turn white. He was attending college back then so he dye it black again. But he stopped dying it as it was getting troublesome to dye it once in a while ever since he took a temporary leave so he just go along with the white hair. And the manager thinks it is okay since that unusual hair of him somehow attracts more customer."

"I see. So he attends college… Which college? Is he graduated? He doesn't look that old even with that white hair."

"He went to Kamii University. Two years ahead."

"Kamii? That high-leveled university you trying to get in? Since he take a temporary leave, then he will a year ahead from you, right?"

"Yeah, that Kamii. And no, he took extra class and manage to catch on. So he is still two years ahead."

"I wonder why he took a temporary leave in the first place. There's a lot of people struggling to get in while he just come and go like that."

Now she think about it, that guy really getting into her nerves. He leave just like that while she has to struggle really hard to get in. And he manage to catch on the curriculum on top of that. She looked at Yoriko and studied her face. She can just act dumb and go on, but she want to tell her. She's not sure why, but she doesn't want Yoriko to think bad about Kaneki. It won't hurt to tell her how admirable he is as long as she keep it short, adding some half-truths, and don't mention anything about ghoul.

"He's taking care of Hinami. She's an orphan just like me and him. He's working to pay off some basic necessities and teach Hinami in his free time. Hinami never went to school, you see. Besides now his 'family' getting a bit bigger, doing house chores took him more time so he said he doesn't have any time to attend classes, but Hinami persuade him into going to the university again. I'm surprised that he can attend class, doing projects, work, teach, cook, cleaning, doing laundry, shopping, and still have a time to read that stack of books, tutoring me, and worrying about almost everyone's health. He even make quite some money and went ahead to stock the medicines in my cabinet. I won't be surprised if his current life goal is to make Hinami attend school normally."

"Touka-chan." Yoriko call out to her dark blue haired friend before she could blab more.

"What?"

"Are you sure you're talking about Kaneki-san?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. Why is that?"

"I don't know. He just doesn't look like a person who did things like that." With that messy white hair and black nails, most of the people will think that he is some kind of delinquent or something in line of that. Including Yoriko. "By the way you talk about him, it sounds like you're talking about a mother." Yoriko laugh softly, half expecting Touka to blab a lot more of her boyfriend's manly side.

"I'm only half kidding when I call him mom, you know." Is not what Yoriko expecting. But if what Touka said true, it does make sense.

"I guess I can see why. It's a relief that he actually looked pretty manly."

Of course. If he looked like a girl on top of that, there will be a lot of man who step in the road of darkness. Then again, Touka is not too sure.

I wonder about that…

"Aaachooo!" Kaneki sneezed loudly.

"A cold?" A worried Hinami asked.

"I don't think so. Maybe someone blowing an unpleasant rumour about me." And it can't be helped since he did a lot of horrible thing to a lot of horrible -not- person.

"Should we go home?"

"No, I'm okay. We still have to search for the others anyway." He told them to wait at the gate when he went ahead to chase after Hinami. But they're not there when he came back. While it could be simple if he just call, he actually feel ashamed when he finds out that his phone battery died. Looks like he was that depressed to forget to charge his phone. So they walked around the festival area, looking here and there in search of their companion.

"Hey, big brother. What is that?" While enjoying the festival of course. The stall Hinami pointed out doesn't have food or games. It's just a simple stall with a lot of mask hanging with a lot of different shapes and color.

"They're selling mask. It's pretty common for a mask stall to be in a festival. Of course it's different from Uta-san's mask but it serve its purpose for having fun. Do you want one?"

"May I?"

"Of course."

Hinami run to the stall and begin looking this and that. It seems like she's having a hard time choosing one.

"Big brother, which one you think more cute?" Hinami held out two mask to Kaneki. One mask is a tea colored cat while the other one is a caramel colored dog.

"I don't know. Maybe the cat?"

"Then I'll be having the cat. And this one is for big brother!" Hinami pulled a white fox mask with red eyes and hand it to Kaneki.

"Fox?"

"I saw it in the comic book before and I think it's cool. Beside it's the only white mask that match your hair. You don't like it?"

"No, I like it. I just wondered why fox. Thank you, Hinami."

Hinami beamed a bright smile at Kaneki and he do think that it's worth really much if it can make Hinami smiles. He paid for the masks and give the cat one to Hinami who immediately wears it in her face. Kaneki himself doesn't really feel to wear a mask, so he just put it in the side of his head. Hinami then stopped and sniffed the air.

"Big brother! I found them!" Hinami exclaimed excitedly. She pulled Kaneki's hand and run through the crowd. Kaneki mused to himself maybe he should have picked the dog mask. But then he scold himself for comparing Hinami to a dog. Sure enough he could see a bright purple hair from afar. While it is still possible to mistake his white hair with some punk youngster, there's no way one could mistake the gourmet's bright purple hair.

"Flower man! Banjou-san! Ichimi-san, Jiro-san, Sante-san!" Hinami call out to the group.

"Ah little lady. Found you at last." Reply Tsukiyama with a dramatic gesture.

"Why did you go? I said wait for me at the entrance, didn't I?" Kaneki threateningly ask Tsukiyama.

"Dove" The reply come from Banjou who have a grim look on his face. Kaneki's eyes widen and his mouth opened as if he want to say something. But he close it again and calmly think the next action. Who would guess that they would meet a dove at their little trip. If he know this, he should have wear a black wig like Hinami suggested. That way they just can leave by posing as a regular visitor. He regretted his choice to go plainly.

"Tsukiyama-san please buy some yakisoba and apple candy. Banjou-san and Sante-san can get some prize from that ring throwing stall. Ichimi-san and Jiro-kun please get that big white plushie prize from the shooting stall. Hinami-chan can you get some water balloon from that stall?" Kaneki ordered around.

"May I ask for what?" Ask Sante.

"To blend in. Don't mind about that pervert over there, but my white hair really stands out. So I'm thinking to blend in with that plushie. If someone carry the plushie close beside or behind me, it will be harder to notice my white hair. The other merchandise are just for decoration and the food for oblivious reason. We'll split the role on who will be carrying items and who will eating foods." Explain Kaneki.

"Then I'll carry the plushie" Tsukiyama offered the role himself.

"I'll buy some takoyaki over there. Meet me here in half hour." Said Kaneki as he walks away, ignoring Tsukiyama.

"Please come again."

It's rare for people who work for public safety such as police and ghoul investigator to have some time just for slacking around. But now, Amon Koutarou is spending his night on a festival along with the rest of 20th ward investigators even though he just got separated from the rest of his group and ended up walking alone in the crowd of youth. Since he can' seem to find the rest of his group, he decide to buy himself some taiyaki and walk around the food booth. Maybe he can spot Goori around if he's lucky enough.

The longer he walks around the crowd, the less he could understand younger nowadays. They got a wide range of hair color from bright pink to green hair that fade into blue near the tip, male wearing weird rings and earrings, and some strange color to polish their nail with. For example, the boy with grey yukata in that takoyaki booth. What kind of guy would dye their hair white and nails black.

No. Now that he think about it again, he do know a guy who has white hair and black nails. But there's no way he would be here, in a festival, buying takoyaki. Even though his height is about the same as the last time he saw him with black hair and his posture is somehow similar to the last time he saw him when he went berserk in Kanou's lab. Then the boy, no young man, turned his head towards him a bit. He saw an eyepatch. It's in the wrong side and it's a white medical eyepatch, not his usual black leather eyepatch.

He only can see a bit of his face which covered in that white eyepatch. He tried to take a better look at his face to confirm if the young man is really "him" or not until he remember that he never seen "his" face before. So he decide to get closer and listen to the young man's voice. As he got closer, he could hear him talking with the takoyaki seller as he pay for the takoyaki. His voice is a lot calmer and less sad, but there's no doubt. It's "his" voice.

Before he can think about this carefully, he found himself grabbing the young man's shoulder as he turned to leave. He feel the young man jolt at his sudden touch and turned to look at him a bit before turning away again in a split second. Not enough to see his face clearly, but enough to notice that his single eye has the same color as "his" normal eye. And more than that, the young man recognize him and acknowledge that he realized about him.

"Eyepatch." He test to call him, half expecting the young man to act dumb or release his kagune and run away.

"Can we talk in a more secluded place?"

Amon relaxed his hand and lift it from the young man's shoulder. Taking that as a cue, the young man walked towards the back of the stalls into a darker forest surrounding the shrine where the festival is held on. The young man slide the fox max to his face before turning to him and stand there in silence. Amon assumed that the young man is waiting for him to talk first which he will do.

"What are you doing here?"

"Enjoying festival?" The young man giving him an innocent gesture.

"There's no way a ghoul like you can enjoy a festival. You can't even eat those takoyaki. And what's with that fox max anyway?"

"That's rude. Of course we can't eat the food but we still can enjoy the games and fireworks. And like I said, I came here to enjoy the festival so there's no point to bring my ghoul mask along with me. It's just a chance that I buy this festival mask. And I can eat these takoyaki. It taste gross but I can eat this much."

Amon doesn't have to see his face nor his single face to know that he narrowed his eyes. Sighing in defeat, he decide to believe that the ghoul is only here to enjoy the festival and won't cause any trouble.

"Why the fox mask?"

The ghoul taken aback at his sudden acceptance. Amon can clearly see that the ghoul panicked by how he turn his head left and right as if trying to find someone or something that could cover him. The ghoul stopped looking around and make a move that he assumed as sighing and hung his head low.

"My… my sister said that it suits me."

Amon Koutarou never learned in his 27 years of life that a voice could show so many expressions. For example, just now he can see the blush in the young ghoul's voice even though the mask show absolutely nothing. He do admit that the mask kind of suits him in a weird way even though he still prefer the usual eyepatch mask since it still show an eye that could tell so much things about the ghoul. He secretly glad that he didn't wear a white yukata and begin to glow or become translucent since he will be a spitting image of the fox spirit in that horror movie that his foster father, Donato Porpora, shown to him when he was a child.

He said nothing in return. The ghoul begin to squirm under this awkward silence and looking everywhere but him.

"I always want to ask you something."

The ghoul set his gaze on him, noticing that he broke the silence. He just stand there waiting for him to continue.

"Why did you spare me that day? Why were you crying?"

He feel a hard stare at him from the ghoul as the said ghoul looking up and down at him.

"I don't want to be a murderer." The ghoul simply stated.

"What a nonsense. You're a ghoul, a being that devour human. It's already a common sense that ghouls are murderer." He felt his anger rising.

Yes, ghoul devour humans by killing them. There's no way for a ghoul to survive without killing human.

The ghoul just laughing softly in return.

"Let me tell you a good thing." The ghoul began.

"I never killed any humans before. So is Fueguchi Ryouko-san and many other ghouls you guys killed before." He leaned back a bit. A gesture he recognize as a mocking smile.

"I wonder who is the murderer here."

Amon is taken aback at the sudden accusation. He grit his teeth and reply.

"Liar. Ghoul has to eat human and to eat means to kill. Or what? do you suggest that there's a lot of cannibalistic ghouls?"

"Well, I'll admit that I'm preying on ghouls. But no, there's only a few cannibalistic ghoul. At least from what I know. Besides that's not the point. I mean there's a lot other way to get human meat without killing them." The ghoul tried to explain.

"Like asking other ghoul to kill for you which is more sickening than going for the kill yourself." Amon retorted sharply.

"Ugh this is getting nowhere." The ghoul massaged his temple through the mask.

"Let's try this. If by a chance no one is able to kill you, will you live forever?"

Amon shut his mouth and think for a while. Of course there's a lot of other things that could end a human's life without being killed like disease, old age, accident, natural disaster, and suicide. But all of death body are taken in by the family and buried or cremated, which means…

"How low are your kind. Do you monsters even know how to respect death people?"

"At least, better than you guys. Seriously, using death ghouls to make weapon to kill ghouls is lower than eating already death human to survive."

Amon narrowed his eyes. He has to admit that this ghoul is sure know how to play with words. At least better than him.

"Lets get back to the point, most of the pacifist ghouls are going with grave digging. I heard that they makes sure to only take a necessary amount and put the grave back like how it is before. And I guess you guys at CCG already considered this before."

Yes, CCG is already aware of the existence of grave digger ghouls since the biggest case of the said kind of ghoul, Kirishima Arata. Even though there's still a missing link on why the cannibalistic kakuja Arata have to go with grave digging if he was preying on ghoul. The investigator in charge hypothesized that Arata was feeding his children as several witness said that he have two children which is unproven even now as the said children of Arata are still not found.

"You said most. What about the rest?"

"I said much enough. Investigating is your job, and I'm not your informant. Try to think about it yourself. You're free to tell your colleagues about this."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"I said it before, didn't I? We have to learn more. About humans. And about ghouls. I have several ghoul acquaintance who actually take their time and effort to blend in with humans just to know more about them despite the risk of being killed if they found out. They even go as far as limiting their food to the most minimum amount and spending their time, days and night with human, doing human activities including eating. And I know a human who actually think what it was like to be us and accept us for what we are. I just thought how nice it will be if everyone could think like that."

The ghoul become still after that. It's hard to accept, but the ghoul sounds so sincere. Just like that night. Looking at the ghoul, Amon thought.

Maybe there's really a way to fix this mistaken world.

"And just for sure, you guys better not causing any commotion here. You already guessed that I'm not the only ghoul here, but I can guarantee that we're here just for the festival. We'll make sure that no one eating anyone here."

"Why should I trust you?"

"You don't have your weapon and we have our kagune."

Amon could recognize him gesturing to someone behind him. So he turn around and see a young girl standing about a meter away from him. The girl has a short brown hair and cat festival mask. Then he move down to her yukata pattern. Clovers.

Daughter Fueguchi

He recognize the girl as one of the ghouls who responsible for the death of his superior, Mado Kureo. Forget about his lack of weapon, he's not even sure he can take both of them with his quinque.

Amon weight his option and choose to retreat for now. There's no good in facing death when he don't have to.

"I understand. I'll pretend not seeing nor hearing anything for tonight."

Tense in air lifting up and he could feel both ghouls relaxing.

"Thank you. Ah, please take these takoyaki. They're better eaten by someone who could actually enjoy it."

The older ghoul bow to him, give him his takoyaki, and walk past him.

"Make sure you keep your end of promise too."

The older ghoul offer his hand to the younger ghoul, who excitedly take it.

"Don't worry. We will."

Said the elder ghoul as he lead the younger one back to the festival. The younger one looking back towards him and wave her free hand.

"Bye-bye mister meanie investigator."

Amon watching them silently until their form disappear in the crowd. Daughter Fueguchi's parting word stuck in his head. Her voice is so soft and held no malice. Her word held deep sadness and acceptance. She has not forgiven him. Yet she forgive his existence as it doesn't matter anymore.

She looks and sounds like a nice girl.

Eyepatch's word recalled back. The possibilities of the truth in his word came back to him in the form of guilt. If Fueguchi couple were really innocent, that means he killed that young girl's parents. That means he IS the murderer.

He grit his teeth in frustration. He can't let the words of a mere ghoul got into him. There's nothing to prove his claim... just like there's nothing to deny it.

Amon sighted and walks back to the festival. He will forget it for now. He did promise to pretend that he see and hear nothing for tonight.

"Kaneki!"

"Kaneki-san!"

"Kaneki-kun!"

The rest of Kaneki's group called out to him.

"Why are you guys all here?"

"Tsukiyama saw you being followed by that guy. Hinami said she recognize him an investigator, so we got worried and followed you around."

Banjou hastily explain. Kaneki lower his gaze to their hands. Some of them holding food or toys, but not many.

"Sorry Kaneki-san. We were so worried of you that we forget to get the rest of the items. Should we get it now?"

Sante slowly explained, maybe a bit ashamed. Kaneki shake his head.

"No, I think they won't do anything tonight. But you guys better buy some festival mask for precaution."

They walk to the mask stall and buy mask for the rest of them. Banjou and the trio just pick one randomly for each of them while Tsukiyama insist on getting the same fox mask as Kaneki which Kaneki protest so strongly. But Tsukiyama still wins anyway since he's the one who pay. Tsukiyama won't let this rare chance of getting a pair look with Kaneki away after all.

"Then, shall we go home?"

Tsukiyama offer his hand to Kaneki in gentlemanly manner. Kaneki stares at the hand for a moment and looking straight again without any intention to take the hand.

"Actually, now that I kind of sure they won't do anything, we should stay a bit more to watch fireworks. There's not so many people on the main shrine anyway. And the view is good there. We should head there for now."

"You trust him?"

Hinami glanced up to Kaneki. Her festival mask eyes glittering with a strong lantern light.

"I am."

Kaneki held his hand to Hinami who reluctantly take it. They walk to the shrine in a comfortable silence. For a moment Kaneki could swear he saw a blur of a familiar blonde among the crowd but shrug it as a hallucination of his longing. How good would it be if Hide is here.

Amon keep walking around the festival in search of his separated comrades while eating his taiyaki and holding takoyaki that Eyepatch has given him. Not too long after, he manage to spot Goori on the crowd. Just before he reach her, he hear a voice from his side.

"Amon Koutarou. Where did you go?"

He turn his head to the source. A professional looking woman with a braid adorning her fair blond hair. She wear a pale yellow yukata and hold several serving of yakisoba. His subordinate, Rank 2 Investigator Mado Akira.

"I... got lost"

"And decide to buy yourself some snacks. Not that I mind. By the way I didn't buy your share."

Akira gesturing towards the stack of yakisoba she holds.

"Not that I want it. You made them spicy anyway."

Amon take some box from her and walk toward the group followed by Akira.

"Amon-san! Akira-san!"

A hand flailing around for their attention. Not to long after, a young blonde young man appeared. Unlike Akira's fair blond hair, the young man's hair is rather a dirty blonde.

"Nagachika, you're late."

Akira scold the young man, Assistant Investigator Nagachika Hideyoshi.

"Sorry. Tried to invite Kaneki but his phone was off. I think I saw him in the crowd, so I went to search for him. But no luck. Maybe it was only my imagination."

It's not a secret among the investigator working in 20th ward that Nagachika work for CCG to search for his missing friend. Turns out that friend of his is taking care of his friend's recently orphaned daughter. He stays in CCG even after his friend came back.

They tried to meet this Kaneki after the name of Kanou Akihiro appears in Binge Eater case, but keep missing him for a suspiciously varied reason. So far only Nagachika manage to contact him. If an occasional text message and catching a glimpse of him could be called one.

Based on the rough explanation from Nagachika about that friend of his added with the information they got from raiding Kanou's lab, it was suggested that the centipede monster is an actual human-turned-ghoul, who is Kaneki Ken. Of course they have not tell Nagachika about this cruel possibility yet.

"That guy sure know how to disappear completely. He's already missing for the past week. Again."

While rarely meet in person, Kaneki always give a hint to Nagachika that he's still around from time to time. This time he just completely disappear again. Just like half year ago when he said he began to take care of his friend's daughter. His disappearance this time was just in time after the raid to Kanou's lab.

Amon about to say that he meet someone who he believe is Kaneki Ken after seeing Nagachika's disappointed look. But decide against it since he did promise to pretend that he saw nothing.

And the fireworks shot into the night sky.

A loud explosion sound. Followed by one, two others.

Brilliant lights erupted into the dark starless sky.

"Good thing that you made it for the fireworks."

Akira comment. Nagachika stares to the sky and smile solemnly.

"We used to watch fireworks together."

Amon and Akira stares at their assistant. His usually bright eyes are a bit clouded.

"Really sad huh? Two guys watching fireworks together."

"Naga…"

"But again, he'll show up when things had calmed down. I just hope he won't ignore me again this time."

Amon feel the guilt again. If, by any means, if Nagachika's friend is really the ghoul eyepatch, he won't have any idea what to think. On one side, he was a human who is a victim of Kanou's inhuman experiment. On other side, he is a ghoul who choose to live as one on his own free will. If he has to accept what is the current him, of course it will be illogical if he keep deny the rest of the ghoul for the same reason. If he has to accept the being known as ghoul, he also has to accept the fact that he has murdered the parents of a innocent young girl.

"I wonder if he see this too."

Nagachika muses.

"Big brother, it's so pretty."

Hinami remove her mask so she can see the fireworks clearly. The other followed her example soon after. They don't need the mask anymore as they stand in the main shrine on top of the hill. The building itself is pretty far ahead from the festival ground in the entrance, so there's barely anyone around to see their face.

"Hey, big brother. How could the explosion produce such a pretty light? Isn't explosions usually dangerous?"

Kaneki smile at Hinami's antics. She really want to know a lot of thing. Which is a good thing from Kaneki's perspective even though he found himself not being able to answer some of her question which make him a bit sad.

"It is dangerous, Hinami-chan. There's a reason why a big fireworks like this need to be launched by an authorized person. As for the light, they are an actual fire just like in the name. Just not strong enough to burn anything in the ground. The color comes from some mix of chemical substance which I don't know the detail of which substance produce what color. As for the shape… I guess it's the secret of the artist."

Kaneki put one finger in front of his lips to emphasize the word of secret. Hinami 'oooh'-ed excitedly. And they watch the rest of the colorful light peacefully.

"Ah, it's ended."

Banjou muttered, a bit disappointed as this is the first experience to most of them.

"Yes it is."

Kaneki stand up from where he sat at the patch of grass and dusted some dirt on his yukata.

"Let's go home."

Kaneki helps Hinami to stand up and address all of them. They put on their mask again and walk down the hill.

"You know, I think I'll try to talk with Hide again."

Kaneki began. The rest of his group looking at him, waiting for him to continue.

"But it would mean I have to confront the doves too. I'll talk with Yoshimura-san about this. I want to work something out with the doves. But it would also mean that I'll risk the rest of you guys too."

Kaneki walk ahead from them and stop after they're a few steps ahead. He hastily turn around and face all of them.

"I know this is really selfish. But, can I?"

Kaneki look straight at them. While he know most of them doesn't have a place on society to risk, he definitely know that his choice could cost Tsukiyama his whole fortune. He did doubt Tsukiyama and tends to avoid him as much as he can, but he is not cruel enough to put the man who already did so much for him into an even more distress.

"Of course it is."

Banjou is the first one to respond.

"I'm glad big brother want to make up with Hide-san."

Hinami smiles. Tsukiyama is a bit taken aback. This is the first time Kaneki act like his opinion matter. Not just his money, power, nor Chie's information. But his personal opinion. Honestly, he don't want him to be close with the doves, but going against it now will disappoint Kaneki more. He'll agree for now and plan a fallback for when it's going bad. He'll manage as long as Kaneki lives.

"Everything for you, mon chère."

Kaneki close his eyes and smile softly. A smile they rarely see nowadays.

"Thank you."

He turn back to the road, but still not walking.

"We should go back now. It's getting late."

And he start walking. The other following behind him in a comfortable silence. After walking for a while, Kaneki start to speak again.

"Um, Tsukiyama-san? Do you want to stop by for tonight? It's already pretty late after all."

He still walk in the same pace, and didn't turn around as he speak. So they keep walking. Tsukiyama is surprised for a moment. Kaneki never let him stay in the house. But thinking about his earlier request, he guess that now is about the time HIS Kaneki start opening up.

"Of course, gladly. I'll be sure to make you stay warm."

Kaneki jolt for a split second and turn toward Tsukiyama.

"No way! You're staying in the guest room!"

Kaneki huffed and increase his walking pace. Hinami giggled and run after him. Tsukiyama look a bit disappointed for a moment, but smile nevertheless. Banjou breath out a pleasant sigh and chase after Kaneki, followed by the trio.

In spite of his "outburst", Kaneki is having a pleasant mood. He got a nice friends and manage to talk to that Investigator without any blood spilling. He sure he could work something out with Hide. Hide won't mind as long as he apologize properly.

Maybe, this world is not that mistaken after all.

A/N If you get any romantic hint, it's not (intentional anyway). I really want to make Amon and Hinami meet even for a moment. Actually I want to put in a scene where Hide eat Amon's Takoyaki (which he get from Kaneki and uneaten) and find it's spicy which makes Akira suspicious but I missed the opportunity... sob. And even though this is AU, it follow the original event, so we pretty much know how it ended up. I'll think whichever I'll write more or not while lamenting Digimon Adventure tri.