The boy with a eyepatch

Kaori sings

We pushed the kids in front of us to walk into Anteiku first. Yukki turned the doorknob and pushed the door open before stepping in. "Go, you idiot!" Kaori pushes him inside. "Happy birthday!" They scream. "Oh my god! You don't have to scream it." Akki complains.

"Yes we do." Hinami says patting his on the back. Hinami is 24 years old yet she still lives with Touka. "No, you don't." He says under his breath. Yukki walks up to him and wraps his arm around Akki's shoulder with a huge smile. "Enjoy it." Yukki tells Akki.

"You look stunning, Kaori." Touka looks at her. "Thanks." Hinami runs up to Kaori, bouncing up and down. "So you have to open the present I got you." She says ecstatic. "What I thought we weren't doing presents." Kaori looks at me and I just shrug.

"Come on, come on." Hinami pulls her to a super long box with black wrapping paper on it. Everyone stare Kaori, she looks at me. "Get ahead." I say. Kaneki walks up to me and warps his arm around my waist. Kaori starts to rip open the paper then stops before it's all the unwrapped.

She looks at Hinami with big eyes. "Do you like it?" Kaori's eyes swell with tears as she nods yes. "Good I'm so happy." Kaori hugs her. Everyone still doesn't know what it is but Kaori finally rips off all the paper. The boys sit there staring at Kaori. "I'm pretty sure the boys are jealous." I look at Kaneki.

"They'll get over it." He smiles. "Do you want help opening the box?" Hinami asks. "Yes. Please." Kaori smiles. Hinami rips open the box and Kaori pulls out a panio and a stand. "Nice goin." Nishiki fist bumps Hinami.

You could tell just by looking in her eyes she loves it. "Are you going to play?" Touka asks. I used to play a little panio so I taught her some and she fell in love with it eventually just got music and started playing. "Can i?" She asks everyone.

I walk up to her and whisper in her ear, she nods her head. And starts playing as everyone watches she begins to sing.

Sweet love, sweet love

Trapped in your love

I've opened up, unsure I can trust

My heart and I were buried in dust

Free me, free us

You're all I need when I'm holding you tight

If you walk away I will suffer tonight

I found a man I can trust

And boy, I believe in us

I am terrified to love for the first time

Can you see that I'm bound in chains?

I've finally found my way

I am bound to you

I am bound to you

So much, so young, I've faced on my own

Walls I built up became my home

I'm strong and I'm sure there's a fire in us

Sweet love, so pure

I catch my breath with just one beating heart

And I embrace myself, please don't tear this apart

I found a man I can trust

And boy, I believe in us

I am terrified to love for the first time

Can't you see that I'm bound in chains?

I've finally found my way

I am bound to you

I am bound to

Suddenly the moment's here

I embrace my fears

All that I have been carrying all these years

Do I risk it all? Come this far just to fall?

Fall

I can trust and boy, I believe in us

I am terrified to love for the first time

Can you see that I'm bound in chains?

And finally found my way

I am bound to you

I am, ooh I am

I'm bound to you

She finished singing and a stop playing the piano as everyone stared in amazement. Kaori looks around at everyone, "What was it that bad?" She asks with sad eyes. "Uh uh uh..." Nishiki stutters. "It was beautiful." Kaneki says.

Yomo smiles at Kaori. "Wwwow!" Hinami smiles and hugs her. Kaori smiles as Akki and Yukki continue to stare at their sister. Everyone starts talking to the kids about how old they're getting as me and Kaneki stand back and watch.

"Are they old enough?" I look at Kaneki and ask. "I don't know." I wrap my arm around his waist as I think. 'Are they even strong enough? Will we even survive? I thinking to much, come on this is your family. Enjoy your kids birthday.' I tell myself and take in a deep breath.

"You okay?" I nod my head. Kaori starts playing the piano again as everyone socialize. "I love this." I say quietly. "Hm?" "Nothing."