Big Book of Anime One Shots [REQUESTS CLOSED]

Kaneki x Reader ~ Protector

Requested by @Lucanorith, I hope it's what you wanted!

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You dodged out of the way as the other ghoul swung his spiked kagune at you, barely missing its razor sharp edge. Your red pupils glinted as you grinned like a feral animal, blocking your opponent's attack with your own [kagune type] kagune. The ghoul that you were fighting was from a rival street gang, whereas you were from Aogiri Tree- you were here under Eyepatch and the Black Rabbit, who were currently completing a mission of some sort. You weren't high enough in the ranks to know exactly what was going on, but you did know one thing- for the moment, your job was to either kill or greatly damage this ghoul in order to stop him from interfering with Eto's plans.

Attempting to dodge another attack, you gasped in surprise as the other ghoul's kagune razed your side. Cursing, you looked down to see crimson blood seeping from the wound. Damn- it was deep.

Unluckily for you, your momentary lapse in attention was enough for the enemy to gain the upper hand, knocking you to the ground with a single blow. With a cry of pain you instinctively curled inwards, trying to ward off the multiple attacks that struck your already weakened body. You stared up dazedly into the wildly grinning face of the other ghoul.

"Well well, it seems that the little ghoul has fallen," he hissed, licking his lips. "I wonder how you taste?" His spiked kagune rose up behind him like a snake, preparing to plunge down into [y/n]'s chest. You cringed, looking away. Was this the end? Would these be your last moments in this cold, cruel world?

Your [e/c] eyes closed. Well, if this was the end then you would accept it. You braced yourself for the blow and the agony that was sure to follow, but none came. What did happen, however, was that the ghoul standing above you let out a cry of pain. Your eyes flew open once more, only to see Eyepatch- Kaneki- standing above you, kagune braced for impact and single kakugan blazing with fury.

"You will not hurt [y/n]," he hissed. "I protect the ones I care about."

The other ghoul snarled wordlessly. "You won't steal my next meal so easily, Eyepatch. I've heard quite a bit about you. Why don't we see how well you do against me, eh?"

Kaneki's white hair covered his eyes and expression as he faced the other ghoul. No words escaped his lips, but his kagune whipped around and and smashed into him. The other tried to use his own kagune in defense, but it was of no use- Kaneki was too strong, his kakuhou too many and his experience much greater. The battle was over in seconds, leaving the enemy ghoul bloodied and lifeless on the ground.

Quickly he turned to you, kagune disappearing and eye returning to its normal grey color. "[y/n], are you alright?" He asked quietly as he sat down next to you. You spat up a bit of blood onto the ground, but nodded.

"I'm fine," you coughed. "I should be back to normal in a little bit. But what about you?" As you were talking he had placed your head in his lap, and your fingers reached up to touch a cut on his cheek that was already beginning to close up.

"It's nothing," Kaneki muttered, looking away.

[e/c] eyes quizzical, you tried to meet his gaze. "Then what's wrong?" You pressed him. "You seem to be acting a little weird."

He looked down at you, and you saw that his grey eyes were full of unshed tears. "I was afraid of losing you!" he burst out. "I was afraid of losing you, of being unable to protect yet another person that I care about."

You looked at him, speechless. "Y-you care about me?"

Kaneki laughed shakily. "I believe the real question is how can I not care about you, [y/n]. You're just one of those indomitable people that draws everybody in, that makes them content with who they are. Even here, in Aogiri tree, you accept me for who I am and make me feel like I'm not a monster."

"Kaneki..." You whispered, reaching up to touch his pale face once more.

"I thought I was over emotional outbursts like this," he said quietly. "I thought that, after Yamori, nothing like this would faze me. I guess I was wrong."

A smile touched your lips, and you slowly sat up, even with Kaneki's protests of you still being too weak. "I suppose it's a good thing, then, that I feel perhaps as strongly for you as you do for me." He turned to look at you, almost startled. Your smile grew slightly.

With no warning at all, he wrapped his arms around you, embracing you. He wasn't trying to kiss you, perhaps not even trying to be romantic. But he was here, he was with you. Instinctively your arms wrapped around him, and your face nestled into his shoulder.

No, maybe it wasn't romantic quite yet.

But you could always work on that.