"So if we're going by the reaction he has to your blood, I'm wondering if maybe you're suppressing the ghoul side. If that's happening, it could give him a chance to heal, the only problem with that is you'd have to keep giving it to him until his human half recovers." Touka said thoughtfully.

"Yeah, but He's not gonna let that happen." Hide glanced over to Kaneki who slept peacefully beside him. "Do you think if we just give it to him-"

"He'll know." Touka said. "I know it sounds weird but you would have a different taste to him,he'd know from the first drop."

"Then I guess he'll have to learn to deal with it. I can't let him go through all this." Hide said. "He can be angry all he wants, but if it's good for him, that's what we'll do.I'll just have to have a talk with him when he wakes up."

"But you talking to him doesn't seem to work, he'll still-"Touka pointed out

"Maybe if we keep putting half of that cube stuff in it he wouldn't feel so bad I mean, it seems to go a little further that way. "

"Yeah, I guess it's worth a shot."

"I'm kind of worried though, he's been asleep for a while, since last night I think. I dozed off for a few minutes but I haven't-"

"Hide, he's fine. He hasn't slept really well for a while, the sickness kept waking him up. If he's finally able to rest better, then you should let him. He's still breathing, he's fine." Hide frowned.

"I just came so close to losing him too many times, I guess I'm scared.I've had some stuff happen to me but...to think that I could lose the most important person in the world to me-"Hide shook his head.

"That's understandable." Touka sat down on the chair next to the bed. "He's okay."

"Yeah." Hide stroked Kaneki's white hair lovingly.

"Maybe you should take a break, you haven't left him other than to get a few things for him."

"No, I can't do that. If he wakes up and I'm not here..."

"You'll be here, and he'll know. You have to look after yourself too."

"Yeah, but-"

"She's right, part of taking care of me is taking care of yourself first." Kaneki confirmed, not bothering to open his eyes.

"I was worried, I wasn't sure if you'd be up today." Hide said.

"Sorry, I'm just so tired."

"Don't be, sleeping is good for you. How are you feeling?"

"Not sure. A little better maybe." The ailing ghoul replied wearily.

"Good. Hey, there's something I need to talk to you about." Hide placed his hand on Kaneki's shoulder.

"If this is about the blood again-"

"Hear me out, Touka was running an idea past me today, if you take half a cube like we did last night, it'll last longer, you'll rest easier and I won't have to give you as often. It'll be just like when you donate-"

"Fine."

"You have to give this a chance, this-wait, what?" Hide stared at Kaneki in shock.

"Fine, I'll try it."

"Really?" Hide asked.

"Really. You'll love me and stay with me no matter what, that's what you said. There isn't one thing I could ever do that would make you stop loving me.. I need to know I can trust you to know when to give yourself a break from it. Promise me I can trust you with something that's more precious to me than my own life,and I'll do this."

Hide took Kaneki's hand.

"I promise." He said "will you take some now?"

"Later, I think I'm going to sleep a little more."

"Rest then,we'll try when you wake up."

"That was..weird. After all that he agrees to it." Touka shook her head.

"It's not really, he had to understand, he's been through so much, he needed a little reassurance, that's all. This is good, we've taken one more step in the right direction, I can feel it."

"Then let's keep going forward and hope he doesn't decide to slide back."