Kaneki slunk down in the car, breathing in the warmth. Oh, why were they here.
Kuri's parents mostly ignored her, living their lives around her, not even sure they had a daughter. With his experience with Yoshimura, this was not how parents were supposed to behave.
But, as he examined his scars, Kaneki realized he was not one to talk.
Besides, it was good that they were so negligent. If not, there was no way they would let a boy sleep in their daughters bed. Especially a Ghoul.
It mattered not that their relationship was disturbingly wholesome.
And why was that? Kaneki was a man after all! But…despite the desire he felt for Kuri, he didn't want her to remember him that way.
To be her first…that would be wonderful; but…Kaneki scowled to himself. He wasn't about to ruin her like that.
What he was doing, he reminded himself, was getting a good slice of humanity until he disappeared into oblivion.
And all the classic novels he read had absolutely no sex, just gentlemen and ladies holding hands, and going on dates and…
Not sleeping in girls beds.
Ugh.
But as she beckoned for him to come in, Kaneki remembered that a lot of classic novel gentlemen snuck around scandalously with their ladies. Maybe he wasn't too far off.
He smiled to himself and curled into the warmth of the house while Kuri distracted her parents, ducking into her room.
He turned off the light, and curled into the bed, trying to stay warm and calm his shaking limbs. He had been thinking so hard, he had forgotten the danger.
Now he made up for it, curling up and trying to warm himself.
The door opened, and Kaneki stiffened until he neared Kuri's whisper.
"Kaneki?"
Kaneki straightened. "Yes. I'm here. I was waiting for you."
"The bath's free." Kuri snuck in and helped him up.
After his indecent thought, the closeness was almost unbearable. Kaneki leaned in anyway, placed a small kiss at the curve of her neck.
He had to tell her. This was just a dream. Very soon he would wake up to blood, claws, and flesh.
Suddenly her arms were around him. "Ken…" She kissed his neck in response. "What is it? You've been pensive since we got back."
Kaneki looked into her eyes. "I was thinking how this is wonderful, like a dream."
"Dreams end." Kuri said, suddenly sad. "Is that what you are trying to tell me?"
"Yes."
"But you turned human when you were shot." Kuri pointed out, like that settled the matter. Then her breath caught. "But that day…it was warm. Is this the last—"
Once again, Kaneki silenced her with a kiss. He could taste her tears as they fell, and they made him frustrated, angry at his helplessness, as he kissed her harder, trying to erase it, trying to lose himself in her, fisting her hair in his hands.
Kuri whimpered under his grip, and her arms wrapped around him, pulling off a bit, kissing down his neck, drawing his face into her shoulder.
That's when Kaneki realized he was sobbing. As she held him in the dark, he cried into her chest until there was nothing left but shadow and breath.