In Another Life

Chapter 102 Kaneki POV/ Maya POV/ Y/N POV

Authors note: hello lovelies! I just wanted to drop in and break this down. I on purpose always kept Kaneki age unknown and up for discussion. I left it open so I could have more wiggle room with his character and the future for him. So I'm going to come here and say now despite all the time jumps (I'm not sure if anyone was actually doing the math to keep track, with some of them I didn't even label how much time had passed, ON PURPOSE) but we are gonna say Kaneki is now 13. I'm still keeping him young but I do need him a little older for what I have planned. It will all make sense I promise I'm not just throwing random shit at you I promise! Sorry for the double update, I caught a error and needed to fix it😂
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Kaneki POV

"Common Maya, just a little bit further." I was pulling Mayas coat, as we made our way up the mountain.

"Kaneki I'm hungry can we go back? We're going to get in trouble. My momma said we should stay close to camp." Maya sighed as she continued to follow me up the mountain.

Maya stopped in her tracks causing me to stop along with her.

"Do... do you think it's safe?" Maya looked up at me through her hair. She was pink in the face.. that was weird because it wasn't cold out.

"Yes, I can protect you!" I brought my thumb up to my chest to point at myself. Giving her a reassuring smile.

"But why?" Maya was looking at the ground as she spoke, she was bright red in the face. It was really starting to worry me.

"Because I like you." My hand came over my mouth. Did I just really say that out loud. How could I be so stupid, I just told her I have a crush. Now she definitel-

Maya pushed herself up on her tip toes to kiss my cheek, just for a second before she pulled away. Trying to hide herself behind her hair. She was even redder now.

I didn't know how to react that was the first time anyone outside of my mom and dad to give me a kiss. But It felt alright, I didn't know how to explain it. I felt all nervous in my tummy.

"I like you too Kaneki." Maya pulled her jacket sleeve from my hand, just to grab ahold of my it.

I was shocked. I always had feelings for her but she just seemed to be a good friend, she never acted like she liked me.

Maybe she was confused, or maybe that's just how her family showed appreciation. Mother always told me all family's were different, that ours was.

I had to tell her though.

Looking up the hill, I can see that we are almost there. Giving Maya a soft smile I pull her along with me. Once we got to the top I'd tell her, but the sun was going down. If we waited any longer I wouldn't be able to show her it.

As we made it to the top Maya almost tripped over a rock, falling into my back as we both fell face first down to the ground.

"I'm sorry Kaneki are you okay? I slipped!" Maya was on her knees tugging me up by my arm to flip over onto my back. She had torn her skirt slightly from the fall, I felt bad.

"I'm fine, that was nothing." Trying to play it off but I could feel the blood trickling down my leg from where I hit my knee, it was already embarrassing enough that I fell I didn't want her to think I was weak.

Looking to the side I catch a glimpse of the sun setting.

Grabbing ahold of Mayas arm I yank he up and along with me to a boulder sitting at the edge of the cliff.

"My dad used to take me here while my mom watched my baby sister. He never told her, he said mommy wouldn't be to happy if she found out he took me beyond walls. But he said it was worth it, to create this memory." I looked to the side at Maya, she was staring at the sun set in awe, she was so pretty. I knew we were young but I knew I liked her, I knew it the second those other boys tried to hurt her.