Don't Ever Let Go [A Touken Fiction]

Chapter 9 : The Aogiri Tree

A/N: hi~~ I'm back again~~ here's chapter nine~~ and readers, just wait for a few chapters and you'll see what you want~ please enjoy~~~

A month passed, and the winter vacation was over. They all went back to school. Touka never wanted to see Kaneki again after the day he told her that he was going to join the the Aogiri Tree. On the first day of the semester, she groaned as she woke up, thinking that she had to see Kaneki everyday again. She sighed and did her routines and went to school.

On the way she met Hide and Yoriko. They greeted one another, but all of them seemed a bit down. They still smiled, and laughed, and chatted, but somehow, it wasn't the same anymore. Sadness was deep in their eyes, and when they smiled, it wasn't the same anymore either. They all grew after Kaneki left them, all became more mature, quieter, more troubled......

"So Hide, did you really travel to Hokkaido?" Asked Touka, and Hide nodded. "Yeah, I did. Tell you what, it was awesome!" Said Hide. "The view was beautiful, and the hot spring was.... well, I can't really describe that. You must go there yourselves!" Said Hide. "Cool, wish I could go too." Said Touka. They reached the gate, and headed for their classrooms. And in the corridor, they met Kaneki.

He was walking with the Aogiri Tree, with Ayato, Eto (she didn't wear bandages in this fiction), Rize, who joined after she met Eto at the masque (yeah I know Rize wasn't in it but I'll just ignore that) and Naki. Eto was holding Kaneki's arm, but Kaneki didn't look happy or bothered. The emotion on his face was unreadable. He saw them, and gave them a quick nod, and entered their classroom. Ayato left and the three entered their classroom.

"I want to punch him...." Muttered Touka, gripping her fists tightly. "Yeah, I never know there are Aogiri Tree members in our class." Said Yoriko. Hide just smiled weakly and the two left and Hide entered the room as well.

The classes were boring, and Kaneki didn't pay much attention on them. Most of the time he was daydreaming and thinking about Hide, Touka, and Yoriko. He didn't know why it went like this, but what was done, was done, and he had to keep going. And it was time for lunch.

Kaneki went to the roof where the Aogiri Tree usually hung out. He got there, and sat down, and took a bite of his sandwich. "Gross....." He thought, and threw it away. "Mom.... I miss you...." He mumbled, and Eto jumped onto his back. "Hi Kaneki-kun!" Said Eto happily.

"Eto, please get off." Said Kaneki coldly. Eto giggled and let go of him. Ayato and Naki walked to him. "Hey bro. Ready for tonight?" Said Ayato, smirking. "Yeah, I'm ready." Said Kaneki. "Hey guys, what're we gonna do tonight?" Asked Naki blankly. Ayato sighed, his eyebrow twitching.

"For the last time, we're gonna splash paint to the Tsukiyama mansion tonight!!" Said Ayato. "Ah, got that!! Paint the Tsuyakima mansion!!" Said Naki, Ayato slapped his forehead, and Eto giggled again.

"Hehehe..Tsuyakima mansion...how funny...heehee.." Muttered a voice from behind. It was Takizawa Seidou. "Switch back! You freak!" Said Ayato, and he slapped his head. Seidou shook his head. "What happened?" He asked. He was back to normal again.

"Who the hell is he?" Asked Kaneki, backing away from him slightly. "Oh, I'm Takizawa Seidou. I joined yesterday." Said Seidou. "He has issues, serious issues." Muttered Ayato. "Yeah, apparently I have dual personality." Said Seidou, laughing awkwardly.

"Oh....okay...." Muttered Kaneki.

"Yoriko-chan! Don't steal my food!" Shouted Hide. They three were eating under a tree, and Yoriko was trying to steal Hide's lunch, and she giggled. "Okay, okay, you can have it back." Said Yoriko, handing him his lunch. "You two look cute together." Said Touka, smiling. Hide wrapped his arm around Yoriko's shoulder and pulled her closer. She blushed and the three continued on chatting.