A Twisted World

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"Are we home?" I mumble as I hide from the sudden bright lights into Kanekis dark armpit.

"Yeah." He says as he sets me down. He's about to pull me into his room with him until I rest my hands on top of his.

"I think I'll take a shower first." I say.

"Sure." He shrugs. "I'll see you in half an hour?"

"Definitely, Ka-ne-ki-San." I say as I stand on my tiptoes to peck him on the cheek.

With that, I head into my room and I shut the door.

As I flip on the lights, I register how unchanged it was. Had it really only been eleven days?

I quickly pick out the softest pajamas I own and I head into the bathroom. I nearly drop the clothes when I see my appearance.

My hair, which had already been too long, was grazing my thighs. It even seemed whiter than before, and that didn't help the fact I was already even paler.

I run my fingers across my face.

It's amazing... No matter what happens to my body, it's always going to try and fix it. I think.

I think there is more dried blood then skin. I look like some creepy girl from a horror movie.

Bloody tears trail through the stains on my face when I think of how horrified my family would be.

I squeeze my eyes shut and I allow myself ten seconds to be miserable.

One.. Two.. Three.. Four.. Give.. Six.. Seven.. Eight.. Nine.. Ten..

I take a deep breath and I strip off my ruined suit. Thank goodness Tsukiyama made several.

I tight pang fills my chest at the thought of him. I quickly shake my head again. I just need to shower and get dressed then go to Kaneki. Everything will be better when I'm with him.

In the shower, I notice how dry and matted my hair has become. I try every thing I can to make it soft.

After twenty minutes of this, I step out of the shower into the warm steam. I quickly towel off and I put on my pajama bottoms.

As I'm about to put on my top, that same pain fills my shoulder. Only this time, it's a thousand times worse. My vision blackens around the edges as I grip the counter.

A large ripping sound fills the air and blood dribbles down my back. A dark teal kagune that resembles my rinkaku one begins to wrap around my arm. I stare at it in terror as it continues along it merry way. It keeps growing after it passed my hand, extending into a three foot blade.

"What is this?" I whisper in fear. I reach out to touch it. It pulses under my finger tips as of it were electric.

Koukaku.. Like Tsukiyama... I realize.

As if spooked, it shoots forward into the wall. Luckily,  it doesn't break anything. I stumble backwards and I fall into the tub.

"No!" I gasp as I try to retreat it. Unable to control it, it twirls around my arm but doesn't grow.

"No!" I say louder. I turn to look at my back in the mirror. Blood continues to dribble from my shoulder.

Not knowing what to do, I run to my bedroom.

A light knock on the door sends a feeling a dread over me.

"Keiko?" Kaneki calls. "Are you okay?"

"Uh, yeah! I'm good!" I shout, not knowing what to do.

"Are you sure? I heard some loud crashes and yelling so I was worried." He replies.

"Oh, sorry!" I say. "I just dropped something on my foot."

"Oh.." Kaneki says, though I doubt he believed me. "Are you almost ready?"

"Um... I think I'll sleep in here tonight." I say. "Maybe tomorrow? I kind of just want to be alone.."

I can hear the hurt in his voice when he says. "Sure, that's okay.."

I listen as he walks off. I lean against the door and I slide into a seated position.

What am I going to do?

I stay like this for quite a while before I notice something gleaming on my dresser.

I slowly get up and stumble towards it.

Ten blades. Quinquae blades.

As if in a trance, I pick one up. I bring it over my shoulder and in one quick motion, I slice the kagune off at the base.

My right arm falls slack as the kagune slides to the floor with a loud thump. I follow it as I fall to the floor from the sudden weight shift.

I sigh in relief when my back seals. I quickly change and I head for Kaneki.

I quietly unlock the door and I sneak in. I watch as his chest heaves up and down in the darkness.

I hold back my own tears at the sight and I slip into his bed. I move slowly and quietly as I slide up behind him.

"Should just.." He chokes through his tears. "Just die.. Just die. Just die. Just die."

I wrap my arms around him and I pull him closer to me.

"I wouldn't be able to live without you.." I whisper. "You're the only thing keeping me going."

His body shifts between stiff and relaxed so I'm unable to tell what he's feeling. Finally, he swings his shoulder free from my grasp.

"You said we should be alone." He says, his voice a mixture of hurt and anger.

Suddenly, my shoulder begins to sear. I struggle away until I'm at the edge of the bed.

"Please, please, please." I whisper almost silently as I grip my shoulder.

"Keiko?" Kaneki asks. I look up to meet his eyes and they're full of worry and concern. Any attitude he planned on having had been washed away.

"It's nothing.." I say finally once the pain disappears. I crawl back towards his and he snuggles me.

"That really sucked." He mumbles into my hair.

"Yeah, it did." I agree.

"We can talk about it tomorrow if you want." He says.

"Maybe.." I agree. Of course, I already knew I probably couldn't. I need to see Kanou as soon as I can.

"I'm sorry for not saving you sooner." He cries slightly.

I sigh and I look up at him. "It's not your fault. And you did save me.."

"Eleven days.." He says.

"I think I fell asleep." I say, trying to change the subject.

"Eleven days.." Kaneki says again, only this time he does it quieter.

We both remain silent until sleep saves us from the awkward situation.