Kaneki's Suffering

Chapter 8

"Touka-chan, how do you feel?" Kaneki walks until he's one meter in front of her.

"Wound still hurts a little but other than that, I feel okay."

"That's good. I don't know what I'll do if you say you're not okay.."

"Mm." She looked down at her lap.

Awkward silence...

"Touka-chan, let's break up."

Huh? Why? Touka looked up at Kaneki.

"If I continue to be with you, I'll just hurt you so it's better if we go different ways. After we break up, I'll leave Anteiku and go somewhere far away."

Touka stood up and walked towards Kaneki. She raised her hand and slapped him.

Eh? Kaneki placed his hand on his reddening cheek. "Touka-chan?"

"Why?! Just because you stabbed me once and now you have to leave?! Don't be stupid! I'm not that weak to die after a single stab!" She started punching his chest lightly. "You idiot... Idiot... Idiot..."

"Touka." Kaneki grabbed Touka's wrist. His voice was very stern.

"No. I refuse." Touka tip-toed and kissed Kaneki.

His eyes widened. Then their lips separated.

Touka hugged Kaneki and laid her head on his chest. "Don't leave me alone... First was father then Ayato.. I don't want to lose you next..."

Kaneki's eyes softened and he hugged Touka back. "Okay. I won't leave you alone."

"Hey promise me you won't eat ghoul meat anymore. You don't have to protect everyone. And me. You don't have to shoulder everything alone. That's what I told you when I went to your house, didn't I?" Touka said after a while.

"Yes you did. I guess I'm quite a stubborn guy, believing I needed to protect everyone but I was the one who needed saving. Thank you Touka-chan. I promise." Kaneki planted a kiss on her head.

The two ghouls separated.

"So I'm gonna take a shower now. I feel disgusting not having showered for 2 days..."

"Irimi-san and Hinami helped to clean your body."

"That's nothing compared to really showering." Said Touka as she rummaged through her cupboards to find a bra, shirt, panties and shorts.

Kaneki hugged her from behind. "Do you need me to help you? I did see your body after all." Kaneki covered his mouth after realizing what he just said. Oh shit."

"What about my body?!" She yelled.

"YOU. SIT. DOWN. THERE. RIGHT. NOW." She pointed to the floor in front of her bed as she gave Kaneki a menacing look.

"Yes." Kaneki said timidly. I'm dead.

Kaneki kneeled on the floor, folding his legs underneath his thigh and rested his buttocks on his heels. He placed his hands on his thighs.

Touka sat in front of him and crossed her legs.

"So you will tell me what happened right?" She grinned.

Oh god help me. Kaneki screamed internally.

- 5 mins of explanation -

"I see so you had to take off my shirt to put the bandage. You didn't see my chest right?"

"I didn't. I used my Kagune to cover your chest area and used my hands to clean and wrap the bandage around your wounds. Only your stomach."

"Okay. I'm gonna go take a shower." She stood up, took her clothes and went to the shower.