Author's notes: Okay, so it has been almost seven years since I last updated this fic. I'm truly sorry! Life has been busy – I met a wonderful guy, fell in love and now we have two kids together! Life has been super busy. Yep. But I haven't forgotten about this fic. It keeps on lingering at the back of my head that I need to finish it so…

As I've mentioned in the previous chapter (which was almost seven years ago LOL), I said I will only update the drafts or description of what's going to happen. But it's kinda cruel to do that so let's see… for today's chapter, it's something that I have written back then with some additional writing from presence. Heck, I haven't written for so long so I'm sorry if they're super bad. And I'm sorry that this chapter is super short. At least there's something haha.

The journey back to Re Kingdom was filled with silence. Kanou's words still didn't sound very believable, but Kaneki had to believe in that suspicious doctor. He has nothing to lose, after all.

Meanwhile for Touka, sitting in the cart like this brought back old memories.

"Ayato and I used to sit like this, with dad."

Kaneki turned his gaze towards his beloved wife, waiting for her to continue.

"I would sit on his left, resting my head against his arm like this. And Ayato would sit on his right. He would hold both of our hands, singing lullabies."

He lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Good memories remained. I still miss him a lot, but I know there's nothing I can do about it. At least, he's happy with mom now, don't you think so?" He took her hand in his, his thumb stroking her soft skin.

He had been contemplating whether to tell her this, but he knew eventually he had to.

So he did.

He took a long deep breath before started speaking.

"He covered me."

"Hm?"

"Your dad. Years ago, we were fighting some thugs in Anteiku. We thought we had killed all of them, but we didn't realise one of them was still alive. He was charging from behind me, aiming his sword straight at me but..."

"I think that is all, Arata. We should be heading back now-"

"Kaneki, look out!"

It happened too fast. An enemy was still alive, trying to charge at Kaneki from behind but Arata was able to see him coming.

He pushed Kaneki to the side, but he himself getting pierced instead.

"ARATA!" He fell to the ground, and Kaneki strike the enemy down with a single move.

"Arata, hang in there. Hirako! Call a doctor, now!"

"There's no need for that, Kaneki. I-I don't think I can hold much longer."

"What are you saying? You can't die. Your kingdom needs you. Your children needs you."

Arata smiled weakly, his hand gripping Kaneki's arm.

"Kaneki, please, tell Ayato, don't push himself too much. He's still young. There's a lot that he needs to learn. Tell him I'm sorry for leaving him. Tell him… I love him."

"Arata, no! Youwilllive. Just hang in there!" Kaneki sounded desperate, he can't let this happen.

"Touka... please, take care of my daughter. Don't let Nimura marry her. Please, Kaneki. Promise me you'll take care of her."

Kaneki stared at the older king, they both knew what the promise was meant for. A short, thoughtful moment passed before he nodded. "I promise."

He had never seen Arata looking so relieved in his whole life.

"Thank God... I'm relieved... Touka is in good hands... Tell my children I love them."

"Arata..." Kaneki cried. The king was like a father figure for him, for he did not know the feeling of having a father. At that moment, it felt like he has lost a part of him. He held the late king in his arms for almost an hour, it was very hard to process what just occurred as it all happened in a split second.

Tears were accumulating in Kaneki's eyes as he was telling the story, but they didn't fall as he was holding back. Touka, on the other hand, tried her best to cry silently, but failed.

"Why... why are you telling me this?"

"I think you deserve to know. Also, about the promise."

"Did you... did you regret it? Fulfilling his promise? Marrying me?"

He shook his head slowly. "I don't."

Touka stared at her husband's face, she felt warm, touched, yet guilty.

"I'm sorry... He forced you into this."

"It's okay. I'm happy. You're- very patient with me. Even though- I think you know- that I'm hiding a lot of things from you. But you're still here, by my side. I can't thank you enough."

"Silly Kaneki. I'll always be here." She smiled softly, her left hand cupped his cheek, her eyes were crystal clear, displayed unyielding love. He felt it. He could see it. Her affection. Her tender gaze confirmed his uncertainties. His wife- whom he married because of promise- cared for him. He didn't love her at first. But after seeing her determination, her willingness to stay by his side, her presence when he had a nightmare- her actions, it all touched his heart. She was able to make him feel appreciated, wanted, loved.

It wasn't long ago when he realised that he loved her too.

He wasted no time capturing her lips with his. Her hands tangled in his hair, scooting her body closer to him, her lips pressing against his before she pulled away and rested her head on his warm chest.

"You're welcome."

He chuckled.

Time passed very fast when you were happy, and it passed very slow when you were sad. And time was something that you can never regain, no matter how you wished for it.

Three weeks had gone by quickly, and it was soon the time for war. Naki and Miza's wedding ceremony was postponed as Kaneki didn't want Naki to become a widow- in case the worst situation happened.

The soldiers were ready, the horses were trained, and the king was anxious.

Tomorrow would be the day, but the one-eyed-king was scared. For the first time in his life, he didn't want to die. He has been on war numerous times, and in each war, he was prepared to die. But this time, he had a reason to live. So he couldn't die. But a war zone is totally unpredictable. Who was he to say he will survive and lived?

"An army of donkeys led by a lion is better than an army of lions led by a donkey." Kaneki recited the quotes from Genghis Khan as he held the old book. They were on the bed, her head rested on his chest, and his left arm was wrapped around her shoulder, circling her with the book in his hands.

"Donkeys, huh? But we have goats in Re. Lots of them."

"This is just a metaphor. It means we need to have a great leader in war. No matter how strong your army is, if the leader is bad, it will fail."

"Heh~ Do you think you're a lion? Or a donkey?" Touka asked as she turned her head towards him.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm a lion." He turned towards her as well, and noticed the closeness between their faces. His gaze automatically shifted to her lush lips, they never cease to allure him.

"Hmm... You look like a very weak lion."

"Really, Touka? I look weak?" he started to get on top of her, tickling her which made her laughed uncontrollably.

"Alright! You're a strong lion! I give up!"

"That's my queen."

Eventually his forehead rested on hers, their eyes softened – but it spoke everything. He was worried. And so was she.

"Don't die. Come back in one piece."

"I'll try my best."

"Promise me."

There was a long silence. He shouldn't promise something he wasn't sure of.

So he just smiled. Albeit weakly. But deep inside, he's determined not to die.