Do you mind if we drive past Hinami's?" Kuri asked, wrapping a heated blanket around him. "It's gotten colder. I'm so worried. But they say that Hinami has been in touch with a ghoul. Scratches at her door."
"Then we should check it out." Kaneki said. "Could be Amon."
He held her hand in his, hesitating before kissing it gently. She was so warm; he placed her hand on his face to ease his shaking.
He stayed like that until he was sufficiently warm and then pick up his Rilke book and began to read.
"What are you reading?" Kuri asked curiously.
"Rilke. German poetry." Kaneki replied. "It only really sounds right in German, so Tsukiyama has been teaching me."
Kuri's eyes widened in surprise. "How many languages do you know Ken?"
"English," He smiled. "German. French. Russian….Japanese."
"Wow. Can you read manga in Japanese?!"
A smile proud smile. "I'm very proficient in kanji."
"I like poetry." Kuri smiled. "I like writing it more than reading it. There are so many forms. Did you know there are some were every syllable has to rhyme?!"
Kaneki smiled. "I did know that. It sounds quite a challenge. The only poetry I ever write is haiku or free verse."
"I love a challenge!" Kuri beamed.
That was when they saw the ghoul.
He leapt across the road, and Kuri was a bout to pull over when Kaneki leapt from the car.
She had never seen him like this. He was crouched over, and his kakugan were clearly visible. He was coherent, so he wasn't fully a ghoul, but she was scared, so scared, as he approached Amon.
But as Amon rushed into the trees, Kaneki lunged—
And was drop tackled by Kuri. She enveloped him in her scent, in her heat. It was so hot.
The blanket was burning hot.
Suddenly his senses were clear again.
Kuri. He had to get back to the house with her. Amon would keep for later.
As they settled back in the truck, Kaneki whispered one name. "Yoshimura."