Notes:
+ Busy weekend meant I couldn't finish this before Touken Week finished, but…eh. It's really fun for me to write that Touka/Sasaki AU, so here's another fic in it! Let's say it appears after "Usagisland"? Prompt: Halloween.
+ Thanks once again to those that have left faves/reviews once again. -heart-
+ And with this, all the Touken Week oneshots are done. Hope you enjoy~
Trick and Treat
"Sorry for the wait," Touka says hastily, coming back to position at the front of the bakery cafe. She sorts through the menus distractedly. "How many people in your party?"
"One," says the customer, in a familiar voice, and Touka's heart seizes — she looks up — the name is tumbling out of her mouth before she can stop it, "Kane —?"
It's Sasaki. Of course. As usual. She bites her lips shut.
His brow furrows. "'Kane?'" he repeats, and Touka clears her throat.
"Um…that is, can I...help you," she manages.
"Oh. Yeah. One person," he repeats, and Touka nods and turns and starts leading him to a table, cursing to herself. Did she seriously slip up?
"I didn't know you worked here," Sasaki says thoughtfully behind her.
"Well, it's pretty busy," Touka says dryly, setting a menu down at a table. "In case you didn't notice from the line of princesses and zombies and zombie princesses going down the street."
"Oh, I, uh...did kind of notice that," Sasaki says. He sits down, pushing aside a little pumpkin-shaped light and prodding at purple-and-black streamers hanging down from the ceiling. "So everyone is really interested in the Halloween promo?"
"Yeah. And Yoriko asked me to help out."
"That's kind of you, Kirishima-san," Sasaki says, and she shrugs and hands him a menu.
"Just choose something. Oh, and," she sighs, "I forgot. You need to decide: 'Trick, or Treat?'"
He tilts his head. "What happens when I choose one or the other?"
"It's a surprise. Though," she says, looking him over, "I probably shouldn't be giving you the offer, since it doesn't look like you're wearing a costume anyway."
He smiles. "Are you sure?"
She blinks. For some reason, her pulse speeds up. "What?" she says, but before he can respond, someone raps on Touka's shoulder.
"Touka!" Yoriko gasps. "I'm so sorry, but can you please help out over here? Oh," she says with a strained laugh, "hello, Sasaki-san! So nice to see you! Sorry I have to take Touka away from you!"
"You're not —" Touka says, at the same time Sasaki says, "It's —"
And before either of them can finish, Touka is dragged away.
So fucking busy. What is it with this city's love of Halloween? The sun hasn't set yet and people are arriving in costume, bustling between tables in bloody tulle and pasty facepaint, asking if they can lean big cardboard machine guns against the windows. The hours rush past in a whirl as Touka seats people and takes orders and brings them out with her best smile.
She barely sees the people she's interacting with — there are so many. (And yet, no matter many come in and out, Sasaki stays at his window table, sipping coffee. When is he going to leave?) She tries to focus on the customers (though side-eyes him every time she walks into the kitchen — he's been here forever, isn't he out of coffee yet?). Every time she passes Sasaki she can't help examining him through her periphery. Each time, he seems focused on the papers spread in front of him.
It's so busy — her cheeks hurt from smiling at customers — her feet, so far from her Anteiku days, ache from walking back and forth. For just a moment, she indulges.
This isn't Yoriko's cafe — it's Anteiku, back to full health, and filled with ghouls and a couple humans too, eating together in peace. Despite her screaming and hitting him that day — or maybe even because of it — Kaneki had come back, safe and sound. He's an editor now, or a publisher, or even a writer, calmly working at the table as he waits for her to finish her shift...and once they're both free, they'll leave together, walking side-by-side with their usual coordination.
They'll take a train together, maybe change into Halloween costumes and roam around the city with everyone else. They'll get drunk in a bar and smear their fake blood. Exchange stories of the frustrations and ridiculousness of their customers and clients. Afterward, they'll stumble back to the home they share. And once the door is shut, Kaneki will quiet suddenly, and his kind expression will turn into something a little more fierce than usual, and he'll reach for the zippers of her costume, and —
Touka yelps as her hip jams suddenly into the side of an empty table, making it shake. It's close to Sasaki's table, and he straightens and calls out, "Are you alright?"
"Fine — just fine," she says hurriedly. She feels her face turning red, and when Sasaki smiles at her, she finds herself returning it, despite everything. On the way back to the front, she makes him another espresso, and sets it down on his table.
"Thanks," he says, startled but pleased.
"You look like you could use the caffeine," she tells him, indicating all the papers in front of him. He clears his throat and stacks them together, then removes his glasses and looks up at her.
"And if the truth is that I'm just waiting for a certain someone?"
It's so close to her little daydream that she snorts and just walks away. Wouldn't that be nice — if for once it was Kaneki waiting for her, rather than the other way around? Thank goodness no one can tell how unusual her behavior is, how strange the wide grin is that's lingering on her face, how frankly weird the brightness of her voice is when she guides the next customer to a table and delivers her lines.
"Hello, and welcome to Cafe Pan. Thank you so much for waiting. We have a very special Halloween menu today, so I'd like to ask: 'Trick, or Treat?'"
"Nee-san?"
What? Touka looks more closely at who she just seated. "Hinami?"
Hinami smiles at her, uncertainly, setting the menu Touka gave her down on the table. Her bangs have been getting fairly long recently, and she brushes them out of her face. "Hi, Nee-san. Um, maybe it's a bad time..."
"No, no," Touka says, but her face turns redder. Shit, did Hinami see her earlier? Laughing like an idiot with Sasaki? The confused and thoughtful look Hinami is giving her seems to say yes. Hinami leans back, peering around Touka to see who Touka had been speaking to, and when Touka steps sideways to block her view, Hinami just leans forward. Her eyes narrow, squinting.
And then they widen.
"Hina —" Touka starts, but Hinami isn't listening — she's standing, rushing — putting her hand on Sasaki's shoulder.
"Nii-san!" she cries, and Sasaki looks up, startled. Despite everything, Touka swallows. Holds her breath.
"Nii-san," Hinami gasps, "I — I can't believe —"
"Sorry," Sasaki interrupts, smiling apologetically, "do I know you?"
Hinami is stunned into silence.
"Sasaki-san," Touka says, sweeping in, "ah, um, this is Hinami. She's — uh — my cousin."
"Sa…Sasaki-san?" Hinami echoes incredulously.
"I've told her a lot about you," Touka goes on. When Hinami remains silent and just continues searching Sasaki's face with confusion, Touka pokes her back. Hard.
Hinami gasps. A tear slides down her cheek and she fakes a cough, bends her head down to wipe it away discreetly.
"Ah — yeah — a lot," she sniffs. Another tear slips free and she bows, quickly and deep. "N-nice to meet you…Sasaki-san. I'm…I'm Hinami. Fueguchi Hinami."
"Fueguchi-san," Sasaki says, brows furrowing, "are you alright?" He sets a hand on her shoulder, and Hinami jumps.
"Ah — yeah," she says. Her face is back to its normal expression now: stoic, and still, and sad. She bows again. "Please excuse me."
She retreats back to the table Touka set her at, and collapses back into the seat. Touka swallows.
"Hinami —" she starts, and Hinami shakes her head.
"No, it's my mistake. I'm sorry for embarrassing you in front…that person, Nee-san. You just looked so happy…and that hair…I thought…well."
Her eyes narrow.
"I'm so stupid," she mumbles.
"Hey, quit that. We're going to go around for Halloween tonight, aren't we? Cheer up a little."
But instead of lightening, Hinami sighs and looks even dimmer. "About that. I'm actually here to tell you that we shouldn't."
"What! But you were so excited —"
"Ayato-kun said that he there's going to be extra Doves patrolling tonight. To keep an eye out, since a lot of humans have been writing in to the CCG and asking about extra defenses for Halloween."
Touka scoffs. "So what? There's no way they can keep an eye on everyone."
"But...with the..." Quinxes, Hinami mouths.
"I'm not afraid of some weird experiments either," Touka snapped. "None of them know how to wield as well as the real thing."
"Nee-san," Hinami says, "please." Her eyes begin to water again. "I — just if we go out, and if you — if you, l-like Nii-san —"
"Hinami," Touka starts, with frustration, with pleading, "I won't —"
"Touka?" comes Yoriko's voice from a distance, sounding stressed. "Touka, where are you?"
Dammit!
"One second!" Touka shouts back. She looks back at Hinami, trying to make her expression soft. "Come on, Hinami: 'Trick or Treat.' Choose one."
She doesn't take the bait. She sighs. "What's the difference?"
"Well, to be honest," Touka says in exasperation, "there's no real difference between the two. Here, anyway — you pretty much get the same thing. But it will be different at the places we'll go tonight."
"I said I'm not going."
"Hinami, you can't live like this. We can't live like this. We're going to go out tonight."
"If you're going to hang out tonight," Sasaki says, slipping in, "I wonder if I could join?"
"Sure," Touka says hastily, before Hinami can answer. "That should be fine, right, Hinami?"
Hinami's face is puckering with distaste. "Nee-san!" she whines.
"Are you scared?" Sasaki asks. "What of?"
"Oh...oh...you know," Hinami says, swallowing. "I just...hear a lot of stories...about men getting drunk...a lot of sexual harassment."
"Well, if I come with you, I can protect you," Sasaki says. "How's that?"
"You'd do that?" Hinami asks, surprised. Touka hears what she doesn't say: You, a human, would do that?
"Of course," Sasaki says brightly. "Um, I know it doesn't look like it, but I pack a pretty good punch."
"Yeah, right," Touka says, rolling her eyes, and Sasaki chuckles.
"Well, not as good as you, of course, Kirishima-san..."
"What! How would you know?!"
"Ah — hmm — it just seems that way, I guess."
"It seems that way? From what?"
"Um...from..." Sasaki stops. "You know, I think I'm going to withdraw my statement."
"Oh, and why's that?"
"Because I don't want my speculation of your punching power to become firsthand experience," he explains, and before Touka can give him a sample of firsthand experience, a sound interrupts them.
It's Hinami. She's laughing.
One hand jumps to cover her mouth. She looks just as shocked at herself as Touka is. Another giggle escapes her, helplessly, and her other hand slaps over her mouth as well, stifling the noise ineffectually.
There's no way that Sasaki would know that Hinami's laughter comes few and far between these days. But when Touka glances at him, his expression is soft, even — relieved?
No, no, no. She's just imagining it. She must just be imagining it.
"So I can come along?" he asks, and Hinami hesitates.
"Okay," she bursts. "Let's all go! Together."
Thank goodness.
"Touka!" Yoriko wails, and Touka rushes off.
:::
There's an hour left until Touka's shift is over, and Sasaki and Hinami spend it chatting at the same table. They don't stop talking when they leave the bakery, or when they board the train home, or when they start walking up the stairs to Touka's apartment.
"I'm glad to see you two have become best friends in such a short time," Touka says dryly.
"Oh, Nee-san — I — I wouldn't say best friends," Hinami stammers, covering her cheeks.
"I wouldn't either," Sasaki agrees. "But maybe, Fueguchi-chan, we could be...vest friends?"
He points at the two of them. Hinami gasps and tugs at their clothing.
"You're — you're right! Vests! Vest friends! Nee-san, can you believe it?!"
"Somehow, I can," Touka groans. "Let's get in the costumes already."
Hinami had picked out some anime princess thing but been too embarrassed to wear it alone, and had begged Touka to get the exact same thing. Sasaki waits in the living room while they do up the zippers, shake off excess glitter, and apply makeup and (in Touka's case) gore.
"Nee-san," Hinami says, "you look horrifying."
"Good," Touka replies, dabbing a line of blood down the corner of her lip and down to her chin. "That's the spirit of Halloween, you know."
Hinami looks unconvinced. "Let's hurry and go meet Sasaki-san," she says, nudging her.
"Ha! You're pretty impatient now, huh? Ms. I-Want-To-Stay-In?"
Hinami flushes. "W-well, it's different now."
"Because Sasaki-san charmed you out?"
"N-no," Hinami protests. She bites her lip. "It's — it's because you looked so happy, Nee-san. Way happier than I've seen you in...in a long time."
That silences her. Touka rubs fake blood between forefinger and thumb.
"It's just because Sasaki looks like him," she says dully, and Hinami starts.
"I — no, I'm sure it isn't just —"
"It is," Touka interrupts, "and you know it."
"But — no, Sasaki-san is so nice, and so funny, and —"
"And has practically the same face and voice," Touka says, standing and patting her dress. "It's okay if you like him. Or if you think I like him. But don't get fooled into getting too close. In the end, he's just some random stranger. Remember that, okay?"
Hinami opens her mouth to say something else, but then shuts it with a sigh. "Okay."
They exit the room. Sasaki is sitting at the table. "Oh," he says, stranding. "Hello there, princesses." His eyes sweep over the two of them, linger a bit on Touka — and settle on Hinami. He tilts his head.
Hinami brushes her long bangs aside apprehensively. "Um, do I look okay?"
"You look great," Sasaki says, but his brow is knit, and Hinami swipes at her bangs again.
"Then…um…what's wrong?"
"Ah, nothing — it's just — your hair is a little long in the front. Do you want me to trim it for you?"
They stare at him. Hinami grows very still. Touka is about to make an excuse for her when Hinami says, "Um...sure."
Touka points out the drawer containing scissors and a hand mirror, and Hinami sits up straight and unmoving as Sasaki clips off a couple millimeters of hair from her fringe.
"There," he announces, flourishing the scissors and handing her the mirror. "How's it look?"
"Great," Hinami whispers. She is quiet, but beaming. She examines herself, then abruptly looks up at Sasaki and stands and — oh no —
"Hina —" Touka starts, but it's too late — Sasaki falls back with an "Oof" as Hinami hugs him, hard. Her face is buried into his chest.
Sorry, Touka mouths to Sasaki, but he doesn't see; he's looking down at Hinami with an expression Touka can't read. He wraps his arms around her, one after the other, hugging her back.
Touka presses a hand to her head. What did she just say about getting close to him?
"Hinami," she calls warningly, and Hinami pulls away, pressing carefully at her teary eyes.
"Sorry...Sasaki-san," she says.
"That's okay," he tells her brightly. "I'm glad you like it, Fueguchi-chan. Well, should we get going? Princesses?"
He holds out his hand. Hinami reaches out to take it, and then takes Touka's hand and places it in his. Sasaki blinks but then recovers and lifts her hand to his mouth.
"W-wait," Touka sputters, and he stops, just before his lips brush her knuckles. Releases her with a nervous laugh.
"Sorry, Kirishima-san. Just a joke. Um, let's get going."
They head out, Touka following after them as her stomach churns with astonishment, and embarrassment, and regret.
:::
Now that the sun is down, the streets are clotted with people in costume. There are nurses and soldiers and bears and astronauts and cats and so on, all in a variety of versions: "cute," "bloody," even "disturbingly hyperrealistic." Touka and Hinami don't stand out too terribly, and though Sasaki asks if they'd like pictures taken with passerby, they always decline. Pictures aren't the safest thing for a ghoul to have, in any form; if one of them were caught, there'd be a clear link to the other.
"Thank you, though, Sasaki-san," Hinami says.
"Of course. Just just let me know if you see anything that's worth a shot," he says. He snickers and uses his fingers to press the shutter of an invisible camera, and seems disappointed when they just exchange bewildered glances.
"Of course. Just just let me know if you see anything that's worth a shot," he says. He snickers and uses his fingers to press the shutter of an invisible camera, and seems disappointed when they just exchange bewildered glances.
Disappointed, but not discouraged.
"Kirishima-san, don't you think it's weird how you never see a baby ghost? Is it because they're all at...dayscare centers?"
"Oh look, Kirishima-san, a vampire! I think! It's hard to tell with the face mask, isn't it? Maybe his...coffin...just got too bad."
"Oh, Kirishima-san, it looks like there's a lot of zombies over there. Maybe we should turn around before we hit a dead end, huh?"
Touka just rubs her head and does her best to smother helpless chuckles. Meanwhile, Hinami makes the rounds. Most of the stores and restaurants are part of a ward-wide "Trick or Treat" campaign and she seems intent on visiting every participating location.
"Trick or Treat?" ask the staff at various stores, and when Hinami replies "Trick!" every time, they hesitate and then hand over the proper promotional item: a popper, a paper monster mask, a fan with a holographic ghost, even, once, a half-hearted "Boo!" It's clear that "Treat" is the more popular option, but Hinami passes it up every time.
Touka can't blame her — with Sasaki around, she might have to force herself to eat the candy, or else keep coming up with excuses to save it for later. Still, Hinami's being a little too obvious. As she delightedly collects a sort of green goopy putty from another store, Touka glances at Sasaki to see if he finds anything strange. But he's looking in the opposite direction. Touka tries to follow his gaze, but doesn't see anything off. He's focusing on…some person with pigtails? Or — maybe that person with an eyepatch?
Before she can ask, Sasaki turns and calls out. "Fueguchi-chan, are you finished? I'd like to go this way next."
"Sure," Hinami says, and follows his finger down the street, in the opposite direction from where he'd been looking.
So weird. Touka eyes him warily, but no matter how closely she watches, he just continues to calmly scan the crowds — which is what everyone else is doing, really. He must feel her watching, because he turns and gives her that faint smile.
"Are you alright, Kirishima-san? Getting tired?"
"A little," she admits. "It's been a long day."
"Are you sure you don't want to participate in trick-or-treating? If you're worried about ending up carrying a lot of stuff, I can help you bring it around," he offers, and she snorts.
"I'm happy enough watching Hinami have fun." They watch and wave back as Hinami acquires a ghost-shaped bag and waggles it excitedly at them.
"How about you, Sasaki-san?" Touka asks. "Are you having fun?"
He doesn't answer. She looks over at him, and when she sees him staring at her intently, she looks away quickly, flustered. "What?"
He laughs. "Nothing. It's just…the first time you've asked me something like that."
Is it? Dammit. She makes herself shrug.
"It's just a question," she mutters, and Sasaki laughs again.
"Right. Yeah. Well," Sasaki says, "I'm having a lot of fun. The most fun that I've ever had on Halloween, that I can remember."
"Look at this!" Hinami says, running up and showing them a tiny cat keychain. "Isn't it cute? Its mouth is a flashlight."
"Really?" Sasaki asks, and when Hinami shines it in his face he cringes. "Ow!"
"Whoops — sorry, N — ah, Sasaki-san —"
"It's fine, it's fine. Here, can I see it?"
"Sure — wait, what are you going to do with it? No, no! Ahh, give it back, give it baaack!"
"What do you mean, it's just right here! You can't reach it? Maybe try jumping a little higher?"
"I can't! Ahh, Nee-san, get him, get him!"
"Me? Why do I —"
"I have heels! Go! Go!"
"I — augh! Hand it over already, Sasaki!"
Touka dances around him, huffing and grabbing ineffectually, getting in everyone's way as Hinami cheers her on. And when Touka finally executes a (fake) punch-and-kick to make Sasaki cringe long enough to snatch Hinami's toy back, all three of them are laughing.
:::
They wander around together until their feet ache, until Hinami's bag bulges, until even coffee can't fight off the exhaustion tugging at their eyelids. At their final stop, a cafe, Touka and Sasaki watch as quietly as possible as Hinami's head begins to droop...droop...and then pop upward with a blush and a gasp.
A minute later: droop...droop...pop!
The only evidence of Touka's her vehement laughter is her shaking shoulders. She looks over at Sasaki and sees he's doing the same.
She reaches out and shakes the satin poof of Hinami's left sleeve.
"Come on," she says, "let's go —"
She stops. Home, she was going to say. But she and Hinami and…he don't live together anymore.
She bites her lip. Waits. And when the sadness doesn't come, she feels even more disturbed.
I still miss him, she tells herself. She does, she does.
But. If she's honest. The happiness that she feels when she's with Sasaki…is so distracting.
"Are you alright, Kirishima-san?"
"Yeah," she sighs. She leans back in her chair. Searches for a good excuse.
"I guess it would have been nice to go trick-or-treating after all," she decides, and Sasaki turns around in his chair, facing her.
"Lucky you," he says, holding out two fists with the fingers down. "Because I have a treat for you after all. Uh, or, a trick. Depending on what you choose."
She blinks. "Are you serious?"
He puts his hands behind his back, making a show of swapping the contents of both fists around.
"Alright," he says finally, "they're mixed up. Let's boo it. Trick or treat?"
"You're serious."
"Come on, Kirishima-san! Witch one?"
Trick? Or Treat? Treat is the obvious choice — the kind she's seen human women making all evening. As her mouth opens, she eyes him. Sees his expectant, honest smile.
"Trick," she blurts.
He blinks. "Ah…"
"What?" she says, surprised.
"It's just…I really thought you were going to choose the other thing." He pulls the "Trick" hand out from behind his back. Opens his fist.
His palm is empty.
Well, that's irritating. "You don't have anything?"
"Um," he says, "the truth is that if you chose 'Trick,' then I was going to offer you a kiss."
"But it was just a joke," he says quickly when Touka doesn't respond.
"Was it?" she asks. "Where's your pun, then?"
"I — ah — um — there has to be one somewhere. Hold on, let me think — um —"
She puts a hand on his mouth and looks around. Everyone at the cafe looks occupied. She remembers how she felt earlier, leaving her apartment, stopping him impulsively before his lips touched her hand. She'd felt…so much regret.
"It's okay," she tells him. "If you…do that."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
He looks around, confirming no one is watching them, and then scoots his chair closer to hers. Raises the "Trick" hand to her chin. Rubs his thumb against the fake blood at the corner of her mouth, smearing it away. Leans down, eyes closed.
The white strands of his hair tickle her forehead before she closes her own eyes. His kiss is soft and warm and before she realizes it her tongue flicks out, presses against his lower lip, runs from corner to corner. She leans up against him, smothering his sound of surprise, and her hand raises into his white hair, pulling him closer.
When they part, it's with shivers and swallows. And a realization that it's been much more than a couple of moments, judging by an older cafe staff member shaking their head at them.
"Nice trick," Touka says, straightening her chair, and Sasaki does the same.
"Ah…yeah…thanks. You too," he adds.
This is so embarrassing.
And somehow still very pleasant.
"So…what was the 'Treat?'" Touka asks, and Sasaki chuckles nervously and shows her the other hand, which is still closed. He opens his fist.
His palm is empty.
"To be honest," he says sheepishly, "there wasn't any real difference between the two. Um, get it? It's kind of — it's like both a trick and a treat — I mean, I guess you ended up asking for a trick after all, so —"
"You — you —"
Her face turns red. She raises a hand to hit his shoulder, and he yelps and catches it. Twists it around. Their fingers intertwine. They pause, and Touka starts to pull her hand back — then stops.
His grip is so…nice. She pushes her palm back, gently, feeling the way their hands align, the strange and frightening perfection of it, so similar to how perfect his mouth had felt on her own. Something in her chest shakes, and for once, for the first time in a long time, it has nothing to do with the ache she has for who is missing.
The contact between them is delicate, as delicate as the breathless silence, and is broken by a yawn.
"Nee-san?"
They release hands immediately.
"Hinami," Touka says, turning. "Are you ready to go home?"
"Yeah," she says, rubbing her eyes. "Sorry…sorry that I…"
"It's fine," Touka tells her as Hinami covers her mouth with a fan. "It's been a long night. We've had a great time, haven't we?"
"Really great," Sasaki agrees. He walks them back to Touka's apartment, where Hinami collapses, princess dress and all, onto the couch. She's not awake when Touka drapes a blanket over her. Sasaki hangs back in the entryway, and when Touka walks back to him, he nods.
"Well," he says, "goodbye."
His silhouette — his back, turned toward her — his steps retreating down the hall — Touka leans out the door, calls out.
"Sasaki-san! I'll — I'll see you later?"
Sasaki pauses. Turns back.
"See you later," he agrees. And —
And, dammit. She believes it.