Kaneki looked up into her eyes. She was the only thing he ever remembered from being a ghoul.
He had always thought it was from wanting to eat her, but now, in this pseudo-ghoul state, he could see that he wasn't wanting to devour her.
Kuri smelled to him like a female ghoul. Perhaps his stalking in ghoul form had been some kind of weird mating dance? Kaneki shuddered.
Kuri mistook that for cold and wrapped him in a blanket. He smiled. That wouldn't stop his transformation.
"Not warm enough," He whispered, and nestled himself into her arms.
Surprised, Kuri stiffened, then relaxed with a look at his face.
Kaneki realized that he must look completely desperate. But he was. Desperate to stay warm, desperate to remain human.
There was no way he wanted to fade away now, with her so close.
It was warm in the car. She was talking, asking questions. He may have answered. He didnt know.
He wasn't Kaneki yet. He was somewhere in the middle.
The desperate struggle was exhausting. It was warm, he was safe. He had to sleep…
Xxx
Kuri woke with a start when the Nurse came in.
She had watched with baited breath as Kaneki was stitched up, then passed out in the chair next to his. Bed when he was sedated.
"You poor dear." Nurse said. "You don't want to go home, do ya. Can't say I blame you."
Kuri's cheeks grew hot.
"Don't wanna leave someone when they aren't safe." Nurse said. "But some people can't be saved."
Kuri tensed. What did she know? "What are you talking about?"
The Nurse sighed. "He is on suicide watch."
Kuri jumped to her feet. "Kaneki did NOT do this to himself!"
"You don't have to defend him honey." Nurse said. "We found the scars on his wrists."
Kuri looked over and there were scars on his wrist. The kind made by a razor blade and bled out until…
Kuri shook herself. He had his reasons, obviously. "Kaneki did not do this to himself."
"Believe what you will." Nurse said sharply. "He is still on suicide watch."
"I think you need to leave."
The nurse left in a huff.
There was a slight chuckling from the bed. "Didn't know you had such faith in me."
Kuri turned. "You were sedated."
"I was shot too." He pulled his gown aside showing the fresh scar.
"Oh…kay." Kuri whispered. "We gotta get you outta here."
"You really aren't going to ask if I'm suicidal?"
Kuri shook her head. "No. I know suicidal. You have neither the symptoms nor the signs."
Kaneki didn't know what to say to that. He sensed an inner darkness in her, and shivered, realizing she had not truly escaped her tragic ghoulish fate.
"This one." He indicated his left hand. "Was made by my father. This one." He indicated his right hand. "Was made by my mother."
It was Kuri's turn to fall silent. "Why are you a human now?"
"Because it's spring." Kaneki said. "Spring makes me human. I don't know why my hair is still white tho. It usually changes to black by now…"
"That's because it's September." Kuri informed him.
Kaneki went rigid. "It's not safe! You have to get out of here! I don't want to eat you!"
Kuri put a hand on his shoulder. "You won't. You could have eaten me years ago. You didn't."
He calmed a bit. "Still. We need to get somewhere warm, and safe. Before they discover that I'm not…"
"Human." Kuri breathed.
She stood up, opening cupboards till she found what she was looking for. "Ah."
She tossed him some scrubs. "Get dressed fast."
Kuri ducked out, and suddenly alarms rang out from the room next door. Nurses fled into the room.
"Kaneki. Cmon! We've got about fifteen minutes." Kuri grabbed his hand.
Kaneki marveled. How did she know a hospital this well? Oh. Damn that was a dark thought.
He followed her expert footsteps through the maze like hallways to the front door.
A cold wind curled beckoningly around him. He shivered; his fingers cracked.
"Easy." Her arms were around him, steering him back into the warmth. "I'll bring the car around."
She put her jacket on him.
"How do you know the hospital so well?" He ground out against the cold.
Kuri gave him a sad smile. "It's my second home."
A dark thought indeed.