Coexisting || Uta x Reader

➺ Chapter Twelve

Uta spotted you huddled in the corner and he could sense how distraught you were. As he set down the cooler and began to approach you, he feared the worst--you despising him.

"(Y/N)," Uta whispered gently.

You glanced at him and didn't react differently from the way you were sobbing uncontrollably, but it took a second to register who was saying your name and whose kakugan was shining at you.

"Uta," you choked out. "Help me."

Uta's felt like his heart shattered and the pieces fell to his feet. You were undeniably petrified of something, possibly thinking yourself a monster. That was not what Uta wanted.

Cautiously, Uta knelt down and lifted you in his arms, then sat where you were with your body in his lap. You curled into him and continued to cry on his shirt as he gingerly stroked your back. You felt much safer in his presence, you couldn't deny. He was your person and your everything. It was like he owned your soul.

"What happened?" you murmured once you composed yourself a bit.

"Your kidney failed and Yoshimura performed an operation to transplant one of mine to keep you alive. It was my doing. I'm sorry," Uta answered bluntly.

You closed your eyes and let out a shuddering breath, then to his surprise, snuggled closer to his warmth as you always did. You weren't different at all. You were just as sweet and exceptional and intriguing as you had been for years.

You knew of how Kaneki had a similar operation done and turned him into what you both were. It was weird thinking that you and Uta would be even more connected and similar, but you welcomed every part of it.

"I'm not mad," you revealed, reading his concerns. "You did what you thought was right, and it was. I would have agreed to it."

"Why? Why would you become a monster?" he questioned.

You lifted your head from his chest and laid a palm on his cheek, whispering, "Because ghouls aren't monsters, Uta. You're not a monster; you're the love of my life and the most incredible man I know."

Uta's chest tightened. "Is that the bond talking or you?"

You smiled through the sloppy tears and blotchy cheeks. "I thought we always had a bond, and I have never failed to express how much I utterly adore you."

"You're too good for me," Uta said, "but even so, I'm too selfish to let anyone else have you."

"I would never let you go," you admitted. "You're mine whether you like it or not."

Uta grinned. "Good, because I feel the same way," he replied.

A noise rang out and you blushed when you realized it was your stomach growling. You also came to the conclusion that the metallic smell earlier was human blood and that it was closer than you initially thought.

"I'm nervous," you said shyly.

Uta brushed your hair back and kissed your forehead. "I know, but I'm right here."

You nodded and the two of you rose from the floor. Uta took your hand and led you to the other side of the bed and sat you down. You waited as he dragged the cooler across the floor and hesitantly opened it to reveal a selection of human hands and arms.

"You know, I always wondered exactly what was in there and I think I was better off not knowing," you commented somewhat jokingly.

Uta rolled his eyes and effortlessly picked up a hand and outstretched it to you. You shakingly took it and felt the coolness from the ice on your skin, sending a shiver down your spine. You examined it for a few minutes until the lifeless appendage thawed and the blood began dripping on your own skin.

You gave Uta a hear-goes-nothing look before putting the flesh in your mouth and tearing it apart with your sharp teeth. The taste was instant--it was like your tastebuds were flared to life and were consuming each flavor. It was delicious and you didn't realize you devoured the entire appendage, leaving nothing but the bone until you noticed Uta's incredulous expression.

"What?" you asked, wiping the blood from the corner of your mouth.

"You're so... comfortable with it. When Kaneki turned, we had to force the food down his throat," Uta responded.

"As I've said, I find this to be normal. It's a ghoul's way of life and there shouldn't be anything uncomfortable or weird about it. Plus, this is so good," you said happily.

Uta took in your smile and watched your kakugan eye fade back to the same as your human one. He had a feeling you weren't going to struggle as much as he initially thought you would. You were so poised and calm when tasting your first dose of human flesh that it almost bewildered him.

"I like that we can share this now," Uta said, taking a bite of a forearm.

"Me too," you replied, then frowned. "I was scared, Uta. I thought I would become an uncontrollable monster who hungered for humans. Not because I think that ghouls do that, but because I didn't understand what I was."

"You're still you, (Y/N)," he said. "You're the same you you were yesterday and the same you you'll be tomorrow. The only thing that changes is your diet and your place. You have to watch out for Doves for yourself instead of just me. Also, other ghouls since they'll be attracted to your abnormality."

You looked down. "You're still going to stay with me, right? You're not going to become distance because I'm not human anymore?"

Uta tilted your chin up and pressed his lips gently to yours with a tearse fiery passion before giving his answer.

"I would never leave you."